What are harmonised standards?

Harmonised standards are official technical guidelines that give companies a clear way to prove their consumer products meet legal safety rules. While the European Union uses a formal legal definition for them, the United States and Canada use different terms and systems to achieve the same safety goals.

European Union (EU):

• Official Definition: A standard created by official groups like CEN, CENELEC, or ETSI after the European Commission asks for it.
• Legal Effect: Once published in the Official Journal of the European Union, it becomes a true “harmonised standard”.
• Benefit: Following these gives a “presumption of conformity,” meaning the product legally meets EU safety laws (like the General Product Safety Regulation or CE marking rules).

United States (US):

• Alternative Term: The US does not use the exact legal phrase “harmonised standards” for general consumer goods.
• How It Works: Federal agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) rely on rules and consensus standards set by groups like ASTM International, ANSI, or UL.
• Compliance: Manufacturers often use Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) to test if goods match these national safety baselines.

Canada:

• Alternative Term: Canada also does not use the term “harmonised standard” in the EU sense, though it aligns heavily with North American trade rules.
• How It Works: Consumer product safety is governed by Health Canada under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA).
• Compliance: Products commonly follow standards set by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), CSA Group, or UL Solutions to prove safety.