SESEC

The ESOs (European Standards Organizations) Standards Attache in China

Major economic, political and social changes in Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world in recent years have opened new markets and have created new opportunities for trade and investment relations between these regions and Europe.

Recognizing the importance of this development for the European economy, the three ESOs: CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and their members, decided to look for opportunities to intensify their dialogue with key partners in the different regions, such as Asian Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean area, Northern Asia, South and Central America and Africa.

This initiative is in alignment with the stated desire of the EC to establish a post for a 'standards attache' in EU delegations in strategically important regions/countries. The first country with such a post established was China in July 2006. 

Challenges in China

The European standards bodies can share 20 years of experience with their counterparts in other countries and regions of the world on the effective referencing of technical standards in support of regulation, in the best interest of co-regulation and progressive innovation.

However it is often the case that there is a deficit of information to ensure those counterparts have access to the basic principles of the European system. As a consequence, the role of European standardization and the recourse to international standards is not always correctly understood. In some regions/countries, there is a growing tendency to undertake actions for the development of home-grown standards.

The growing importance of the Chinese market, its size and its rate of growth, in a political scenario which is looking for closer co-operation, has made it become a priority of the whole European industry. Standardization, as a tool for market access, is becoming more and more important in order to ensure the trade flows between the EU and China.

This market has become a priority in terms of competition with other regions. Hence, there is a need for greater consistency between the different actions undertaken by the European interested parties (EC, EU Member States, EU manufacturer's organizations) at different levels of the Chinese standardization and manufacturing quality infrastructure.

The role of standardization

The standards making process is a voluntary, consensus-driven activity carried out by - and for - the interested parties themselves, within the operational framework of independent and recognized standards organizations, leading to the adoption of standards, compliance with which is voluntary.

Standards should be fit for purpose, give a reply to identified market needs, have a high degree of acceptability as a result of the full involvement of all relevant parties in the standardization process, be coherent with each other and allow for technological innovation and competition.

Accordingly, the European standards making process applies the basic principles defined in the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, i.e.: transparency, openness, consensus building, effectiveness and balanced participation of stakeholders, including environmental and consumer interests.

European standardization, in support of the New Approach legislation, has proven to be a successful and essential tool for the completion of the European Single Market, the only existing harmonized regional market in the world.

The essential message to be carried forward regarding the value of the European standardization model in support of legislation is based on:

  • Formal recognition of the ESOs at European level;
  • Reference to the European standards in conformity assessment procedures;
  • Principle of national implementation of the European standards.

In this respect, the major assets of the European Standardization Organizations are:

  • the effects of the harmonization of European standards on a voluntary basis and with the involvement of all interested parties;
  • their role and recognition as the European standards bodies entitled to produce harmonized standards in support of European legislation;
  • the strong commitment of the members of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to liaise with their international partners in order to ensure co-operation between standardization at the European and international level.

Purpose and objectives of the SESEC

The overall objective of the SESEC is to represent the interests of the European standardization community in China as a whole.

The SESEC is located in the premises of the EU delegation in Beijing (Trade and Commerce section). He is in charge of the following tasks:

  • To promote the European Standardization System in China;
  • To support the European Standards Organizations (ESO's) in their activities in China, perform market analysis, identify opportunities for cooperation;
  • To promote the cooperation between China and Europe in the field of standardization and conformity assessment policies;
  • To constitute the focal point in China for all players involved in the above mentioned activities;
  • To explore the ICT markets in China in order to identify standardization needs, find possible interest in standardization as well as new possible partners and foster cooperation with European counterparts;
  • To use standardization related co-operation in order to help promote bilateral and multilateral trade and economic policy with China;
  • To encourage bilateral market access, in particular reporting on standardization aspects of the implementation by China of its WTO commitments;
  • To establish and maintain contacts with Chinese economic ministries and agencies.

More information on the SESEC can be obtained by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .