EU product safety standards are generally not freely available for manufacturers or the general public. This practice is due to several reasons:
Intellectual Property Rights: Product safety standards, like other technical standards, are often developed by standardization organizations that hold intellectual property rights to these documents. These organizations invest significant resources in developing and maintaining these standards, and they may charge fees to access and use them as a way to recover their costs.
Funding Standardization Organizations: Standardization organizations, such as the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), rely on revenue from the sale of standards to fund their operations and continue developing new standards. Charging fees for access to standards helps these organizations maintain their activities without relying solely on government funding.
Quality Control and Accountability: By charging for access to standards, standardization organizations can exercise greater control over who can access the documents. This can help ensure that the standards are used responsibly and that users are aware of any updates or revisions to the standards, promoting accountability and proper use.
Encouraging Membership: Charging for standards can also incentivize manufacturers and organizations to become members of the standardization organizations. Membership often comes with benefits, such as early access to drafts of standards, the ability to influence standard development, and discounted rates for standards.
Fair Competition: Making standards freely available to everyone could potentially lead to misuse or exploitation of the standards by non-compliant or unethical entities, which might not prioritize safety and quality.
However, it's worth noting that while the standards themselves may not be freely available, the EU often provides guidance documents, directives, and regulations that reference these standards and outline the essential requirements for products placed on the EU market. This information is typically available for public reference to help businesses understand the safety requirements and comply with the relevant regulations.
If you need access to specific EU product safety standards, you can typically purchase them directly from the relevant standardization organization's website or through authorized distributors. Some organizations also offer limited access to certain standards for free, providing an overview of the requirements without disclosing the full content. Always ensure that you obtain the standards from official and reputable sources to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations.