Standards Making Process (SMP)

The objective of the ETSI Standards Making Process (SMP) is to convert market needs for standardization into ETSI standards.
It also involves interaction between the ETSI Technical Organization, the ETSI members and the ETSI National Standards Organizations.
The general conditions for the Standards Making Process are defined by the ETSI Directives, in particular the Technical Working Procedures.

The process itself consists, of:

  • identifying needs for standardization
  • defining the most suitable technical committee for such standardization
  • identification, definition, approval and adoption of work items
  • drafting, editing and publication.

The most important factors in the Standards Making Process are:

  • standards' quality;
  • timeliness;
  • cost.

Different procedures are set in process depending upon the deliverable type to be used:

The Publication procedure applies to ETSI Technical Specifications (TSs), ETSI Technical Reports (TRs), ETSI Group Specifications (GSs) and ETSI Special Reports (SRs):

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The draft, approved and adopted by the technical committee according to the decision making procedures in clause 1.7 of the ETSI Technical Working Procedures, is submitted to the ETSI Secretariat within 30 days of the approval. 
Providing that the draft complies with the ETSI Drafting Rules, the ETSI Secretariat publishes the TS, TR, GS or SR within 30 days.

The Membership Approval Procedure (MAP) applies to ETSI Guides (EGs) and ETSI Standards (ESs): 

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The draft approved and adopted by the technical committee enters into 'Membership Approval Procedure', for more details see article 2.2.3.1.1 of the Technical Working Procedures (TWPs). 

The EN - Approval Procedure (ENAP) applies to ETSI European Standards (ENs):


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This procedure is the default one for ENs. It comprises a Public Enquiry (see Article 13.4 of the RoP) and a weighted national Vote (see Article 13.5 of the RoP) performed in a single process.

For more details see Article 2.2.1.1.1 of the Technical Working Procedures (TWPs). 

The Two-step Approval Procedure (TAP) applies to ETSI European Standards (ENs) produced jointly with a co-operating partner:


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This procedure, which is only for the ENs produced jointly with a co-operating partner, involves the NSOs at two stages with, as necessary, resolution actions taken by the Technical Body responsible for the draft.

The draft approved and adopted by the technical committee enters into 'Two-step Approval Procedure', for more details see article 2.2.1.1.2 of the Technical Working Procedures  (TWPs).