ANEC
Encyclopedia
ANEC, the European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation (known informally as 'the European consumer voice in standardisation'), is an organisation promoting and defending consumer interests in the processes of standardization
and certification
and in legislation
related to standardization and certification. In November 2008, ANEC adopted the strapline 'Raising Standards for Consumers' as part of an initiative to improve the visibility of the association.
ANEC provides technical expertise and advice drawn from a network of more than 200 consumer representatives across Europe. The organisation's experts contribute directly to the work of more than 80 technical committees and working groups of the European Standards Organisations, CEN
, CENELEC and ETSI.
under Belgian
law. Its principal motivation was to ensure organised consumer participation in the development of European Standards intended to support European legislation introduced under the New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standardization. However, its competence also extends to other European Standards developed by the European Standards Organisations as well as to other standards that may impact directly or indirectly on the European consumer (for example, certain standards of W3C, the World Wide Web Consortium).
ANEC represents consumer organisations mainly from the European Union
Member States and the European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) countries. The organisation's General Assembly is composed of one national member per country, nominated jointly by the national consumer organisations in that country. Its Working Groups bring together volunteer experts who define the consumer position in fields related presently to eight areas of priority (Child Safety, Design for All, Domestic Appliances, the Environment, Information Society, Innovation, Services, and Traffic). ANEC reimburses the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of its volunteers .
ANEC is funded by the European Union (95%) and EFTA (5%), while the time of the representatives of the national consumer organisations and experts is accepted by the EU and EFTA as a 'contribution in kind'. In 2010, the ANEC budget was almost 1.4 million euros. The ANEC Secretariat calculated the "contribution in kind" in 2007 to be worth 260.000 euros.
The ANEC Secretariat is based in Brussels
. The Secretariat team is responsible for leading the political lobbying activities of the association. ANEC has signed the European Union's Transparency Register (with identification number 507800799-30) and accepted its Code of Conduct.
On 1 June 2011, Arnold Pindar (United Kingdom) was elected ANEC President for the term 2011-2013. The current Secretary-General is Stephen Russell.
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
and certification
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
and in legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
related to standardization and certification. In November 2008, ANEC adopted the strapline 'Raising Standards for Consumers' as part of an initiative to improve the visibility of the association.
ANEC provides technical expertise and advice drawn from a network of more than 200 consumer representatives across Europe. The organisation's experts contribute directly to the work of more than 80 technical committees and working groups of the European Standards Organisations, CEN
CEN
CEN may refer to:*Cen, or sen, is the currency of the fictional nation of Amestris of the anime/manga "Fullmetal Alchemist"As a three-letter acronym:* Cambridge Evening News, former name for the Cambridge News...
, CENELEC and ETSI.
History
ANEC was set up in 1995 as an international non-profit associationVoluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
under Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
law. Its principal motivation was to ensure organised consumer participation in the development of European Standards intended to support European legislation introduced under the New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standardization. However, its competence also extends to other European Standards developed by the European Standards Organisations as well as to other standards that may impact directly or indirectly on the European consumer (for example, certain standards of W3C, the World Wide Web Consortium).
ANEC represents consumer organisations mainly from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Member States and the European Free Trade Association
European Free Trade Association
The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,...
(EFTA) countries. The organisation's General Assembly is composed of one national member per country, nominated jointly by the national consumer organisations in that country. Its Working Groups bring together volunteer experts who define the consumer position in fields related presently to eight areas of priority (Child Safety, Design for All, Domestic Appliances, the Environment, Information Society, Innovation, Services, and Traffic). ANEC reimburses the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of its volunteers .
ANEC is funded by the European Union (95%) and EFTA (5%), while the time of the representatives of the national consumer organisations and experts is accepted by the EU and EFTA as a 'contribution in kind'. In 2010, the ANEC budget was almost 1.4 million euros. The ANEC Secretariat calculated the "contribution in kind" in 2007 to be worth 260.000 euros.
The ANEC Secretariat is based in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. The Secretariat team is responsible for leading the political lobbying activities of the association. ANEC has signed the European Union's Transparency Register (with identification number 507800799-30) and accepted its Code of Conduct.
On 1 June 2011, Arnold Pindar (United Kingdom) was elected ANEC President for the term 2011-2013. The current Secretary-General is Stephen Russell.
External links
- ANEC: The European consumer voice in standardisation (official website).