The ESOs-ANSI information exchange meeting is the yearly opportunity for all parties, including representatives of the European Commission and the American National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to exchange best practices and explore areas of mutual interest and potential avenues for closer cooperation. The agenda this year focused on several horizontal and political issues, bringing out a clearer mapping of how certain issues are dealt with on both sides of the Atlantic. The discussions tackled political issues such as the involvement of SMEs in the standardization process, the comparison of both sides’ external relations activities and a review of the regulatory cooperation, and other issues with a more technical scope. CENELEC also seized this opportunity to meet separately with its American counterpart, the US National Committee (USNC) for a more in-depth and specific exchange of information on electrotechnical standardization and the way both Organisations are present at the international level through their involvement in the work of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The conference on “Supporting Transatlantic Trade: Standards and Conformance for Business and Regulators”, aimed at fostering a dialogue on the use of standards and compliance programmes as tools to facilitate transatlantic trade. Standardizers, industry and government experts from a broad range of industrial sectors presented a series of standards and conformity assessment case studies that highlighted successes and challenges related to market access and how the lessons learned are influencing current and future EU-US trade. Several European and US policies supporting the promotion of the use of voluntary standards and their role in conformance mechanisms were also discussed. The themes and presentations made by the panelists gave way to open discussions and an instructive debate. CENELEC Vice President and Chief Executive of BEAMA, the Association for the electrical industry, David Dossett took part in panel 1 giving the European industry perspective and represented CENELEC is panel 4 on the use of standards to support transatlantic regulatory and economic cooperation. To view the programme and the presentations please see below.

Further information please contact:

Sarah Penny

Head of International Cooperation & Communication Unit

info@cenelec.eu

About CENELEC

The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization - is officially responsible for standardization in the electrotechnical field.

In an ever more global economy, CENELEC fosters innovation and competitiveness, making technology available not only to major businesses but also to SMEs through the production of voluntary standards. CENELEC creates market access at the European level but also at the international level through its cooperation agreement with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Conference Organized by the American National Standards Institute in conjunction with the European Standards Organizations

Hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and BUSINESSEUROPE

9:00 am

Welcome
Gary W. Kushnier, ANSI Vice President of International Policy

Sean Heather, Executive Director- Global Regulatory Cooperation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Opening Speaker
James Matthews III, Corning

Panel I – The Value of Standards and Conformance to Transatlantic Trade:  Industry Perspectives

Moderator:         Jim Matthews III, Corning                                  

Speakers:         Alec McMillan, Rockwell Automation                          

                        Douglas Liu, QIAGEN                              

                        Gene Eckhart, NEMA                 

                        David Dosssett, ORGALIME                       

                        Questions and Answers                                  

AM Break

Panel II – Government and Regulation: Review of U.S. and European Policies which Encourage Regulator Use of Private Sector Standards and Conformance Mechanisms

Moderator:         Mary Saunders, NIST                                        

Speakers:         Susan Dudley (or designate), OMB          

                        Quinn Dodd, CPSC

                        William Hurst, FCC       

                  Norbert Anselmann, DG Enterprise and Industry, EC

                  Ima placencia-Porrero, DG Employment, EC                            

                  Questions and Answers                                  

LUNCH
Summary readout of previous days ANSI-ESO/JPG meeting         [1:00 pm]

Keynote Speaker – Joe Bhatia, ANSI President and CEO [1:45 pm]

Panel III – How to Use Standards to Support Transatlantic Regulatory and Economic Cooperation

Moderator:         David Miller, ANSI

Panelists:          Dan Bart, ANSI

                        Ernst-Peterr Ziethen, CEN

                        David Dossett, CENELEC

                        John Phillips, ETSI

                        Michel Jeanson, DG Enterprise and Industry (EC)

                        Gunnar Selvik, EFTA

                        Louis Santamaria, U.S. Commercial Service