Standardisation is an activity, which lays down provisions to solve existing or potential problems for general or recurrent use with the purpose of achieving an optimal level of regularity in the given context.
Standardisation is a market-oriented activity – the future user of the standard decides whether it is necessary to prepare a specific standard.
All interested parties may participate in the drafting of a standard as well as initiate the drafting thereof. Through
Technical Committees or temporary workgroups, manufacturers and service providers, representatives of consumers and the state and research institutions participate in the drafting of a standard on a voluntary basis proceeding from a common interest in the given topic. The final draft standard is a consensus, in case of which there are no fundamental disagreements in important matters. The purpose and process of drafting standards is therefore not the same as in the case of the preparation of mandatory legislation, the preparation of which is primarily the task of authorities of different countries.
Currently, the activity of EVS, to a great extent, means work on European and international standards, primarily because of Estonia’s obligation to implement all European standards as Estonian national standards. A large part of future Estonian standards are therefore initiated by interested parties outside Estonia. Therefore, the participation of Estonia's interested parties in European and international standardisation work is very important.
In the case of absence of an appropriate international or European standard, the drafting of a original Estonian standard may be commenced. It must be observed that the standard to be drafted does not present requirements that contradict any European or international standard (differences from an European standard must be introduced as a National Special Requirement into the European standard).
Employees of EVS do not draft standards, but while co-ordinating all drafting processes, we provide information about the drafting of standards and bring together interested parties with similar interests.