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European standards by sector

Find European standards by industry

Explore 27 sector guides to identify relevant EN, EN ISO, EN IEC and ETSI standards, understand the European context and move to the current catalogue record or the right specialist route.

Live standards catalogue Search by reference, title, product or keyword

The search continues on Genorma, where current catalogue records, editions, formats, prices and availability are maintained.

01

Industry-first discoveryStart from the product, service or operating context.

02

Current catalogue routeVerify editions, amendments and availability before use.

03

Legal distinctionStandards and mandatory legal requirements are not interchangeable.

04

Task-specific supportLaboratories, auditors and consultants have different roles.

Browse 27 sector guides

Explore European standards by industry

Each guide introduces commonly relevant standards families, practical applications and the checks needed before selecting a document. The guides support discovery; they are not exhaustive catalogues or legal determinations.

27 industry guides shown

AGR

Agro, Food & Forestry

Food safety, hygiene, traceability, agricultural production, forestry, feed, packaging and testing.

  • ISO 22000
  • ISO 22005
  • Forestry
Open industry guide
BUS

Business Services

Quality, customer satisfaction, business continuity, governance, project management and service delivery.

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 22301
  • ISO 10002
Open industry guide
CHM

Chemical Industry

Chemical products, analytical methods, process safety, disinfectants, hazardous substances and environmental control.

  • EN 14885
  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 45001
Open industry guide
CON

Construction & Real Estate

Structural design, construction products, BIM, fire safety, accessibility, execution and building performance.

  • Eurocodes
  • EN 1090
  • ISO 19650
Open industry guide
DEF

Defence & Security Equipment

Protective systems, security glazing, resilience, information security, critical infrastructure and equipment testing.

  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • EN 1063
  • EN 1522
Open industry guide
DIG

Digital, Telecom & Electronics

Cybersecurity, telecommunications, radio equipment, IoT, software, AI governance, data protection and interoperability.

  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • ETSI EN 303 645
  • ISO/IEC 42001
Open industry guide
EDU

Education & Training

Educational management, learning services, competence, training providers, accessibility and digital learning.

  • ISO 21001
  • ISO 29993
  • EN 301 549
Open industry guide
ELC

Electrotechnical

Electrical safety, installations, EMC, switchgear, cables, batteries, machinery equipment and testing.

  • EN 50110-1
  • EN 60204-1
  • EN 61439
Open industry guide
ENE

Energy & Utilities

Energy management, audits, power quality, grids, metering, renewables, hydrogen and utility resilience.

  • ISO 50001
  • EN 16247
  • EN 50160
Open industry guide
ENV

Environmental & Cleaning Services

Environmental management, emissions, waste, circularity, cleaning services, hygiene and disinfection performance.

  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 14064
  • Cleaning services
Open industry guide
FIN

Financial & Insurance Services

Information security, payments, business continuity, sustainable finance, financial planning and risk management.

  • ISO 20022
  • ISO 22301
  • ISO/IEC 27001
Open industry guide
FUR

Furniture & Household Equipment

Domestic and contract furniture, children’s furniture, outdoor products, ergonomics, strength, durability and safety.

  • EN 1335
  • EN 581
  • EN 716
Open industry guide
HLT

Health Industry

Healthcare service quality, medical laboratories, patient safety, health information, infection prevention and competence.

  • EN 15224
  • EN ISO 15189
  • ISO 7101
Open industry guide
MAT

Materials

Metals, cement, concrete, polymers, timber, textiles, test methods, grades and technical delivery conditions.

  • EN 10025
  • EN 197-1
  • EN ISO 6892-1
Open industry guide
MCH

Mechanical & Machinery

Machinery risk assessment, safety-related controls, electrical equipment, guards, hydraulics, robotics and ergonomics.

  • EN ISO 12100
  • EN ISO 13849-1
  • EN 60204-1
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MED

Medical Devices & Healthcare Equipment

Quality systems, risk management, biocompatibility, usability, electrical safety, sterilization, symbols and labelling.

  • EN ISO 13485
  • EN ISO 14971
  • EN 60601
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MIN

Mining & Metals

Mine machinery, mobile equipment, sampling, ore analysis, metal products, occupational safety and testing.

  • ISO 19296
  • EN 1889
  • ISO 3082
Open industry guide
ART

Music, Sport & Art Goods

Fitness equipment, sports products, playgrounds, musical instruments, art materials and consumer safety.

  • EN ISO 20957
  • EN 1176
  • EN 71-3
Open industry guide
SOC

Community, Social & Personal Services

Social responsibility, accessibility, inclusive design, care services, continuity and community-facing service quality.

  • ISO 26000
  • EN 17161
  • ISO 22301
Open industry guide
PUB

Public Administration Services

Local government quality, anti-bribery, information security, records, emergency management and public service delivery.

  • ISO 18091
  • ISO 37001
  • ISO/IEC 27001
Open industry guide
REC

Recreation, Culture & Sport Services

Amusement rides, ropes courses, events, cultural venues, leisure activities, sustainability and operational safety.

  • EN 13814
  • EN 15567
  • ISO 20121
Open industry guide
MRO

Repair, Maintenance & Installation

Maintenance terminology, personnel competence, asset management, condition monitoring, repair data and reliability.

  • EN 13306
  • EN 15628
  • ISO 55001
Open industry guide
RET

Retail Trade Services

Customer service, complaint handling, food safety, payments, business continuity, accessibility and supply chains.

  • ISO 10002
  • ISO 22000
  • ISO 22301
Open industry guide
TXT

Textile, Fashion & Accessories

Fibre and fabric testing, colour fastness, clothing safety, protective garments, sizing, labelling and durability.

  • EN 14682
  • EN ISO 13688
  • ISO 105
Open industry guide
TRM

Tourism, Hotels & Catering

Hotel services, sustainable accommodation, tourist information, guides, catering, accessible and adventure tourism.

  • ISO 22483
  • ISO 21401
  • EN 15565
Open industry guide
TOY

Toys, Games & Amusement

Mechanical, chemical, flammability and electrical toy safety, activity toys, age grading and warnings.

  • EN 71
  • EN IEC 62115
  • Activity toys
Open industry guide
TRN

Transport Equipment & Services

Road vehicles, railways, cargo, functional safety, cybersecurity, traffic safety, logistics and transport services.

  • ISO 39001
  • ISO 26262
  • EN 50126
Open industry guide

European standardisation explained

How EN, ISO, IEC and harmonised standards work

The reference printed on a document identifies its origin or adoption, but does not by itself determine legal effect. Always verify the exact edition, lifecycle status and legal citation relevant to the product and market.

EN

European Standard

Adopted through the European standardisation system and implemented nationally as an identical standard.

EN ISO

International standard adopted in Europe

An ISO publication adopted as an EN. Always confirm the complete European reference and edition.

EN IEC

Electrotechnical adoption

An IEC publication adopted through CENELEC, potentially with European conditions or amendments.

ETSI

Telecom and digital standards

Standards and specifications for radio, networks, cybersecurity and digital technologies.

hEN

Harmonised Standard

A European Standard with legal relevance under specific EU legislation and an applicable official citation.

Do not treat “EN” and “harmonised” as synonyms. An EN may be widely used without being cited under a specific EU act. A harmonised citation may cover only part of a standard or include restrictions and transition dates.

A defensible selection method

Identify the correct standard before purchasing or citing it

Use this sequence for technical files, contracts, tenders, procurement and management systems. Record the reasoning so the decision can be reviewed when a product, market or document changes.

Search current records
  1. 01

    Define the product, service and intended use

    Record users, environment, interfaces, materials, energy sources, foreseeable misuse and target countries.

  2. 02

    Identify legislation and contractual obligations

    Separate legal duties from standards, customer specifications, tenders and certification-scheme requirements.

  3. 03

    Search by reference, scope and technical function

    Use product terms, hazards, functions, classifications, related parts and normative references.

  4. 04

    Verify edition, status and legal context

    Check amendments, corrigenda, supersession, withdrawal, official citation, restrictions and transition dates.

  5. 05

    Obtain the licensed document and monitor change

    Confirm language, format and user licence, then assign responsibility for tracking revisions and impact.

Business value

Why industry standards matter

Used correctly, standards turn expert consensus into repeatable technical and management practices. The value depends on selecting the right document, edition and application context.

01

Consistency and quality

Common requirements, terminology and methods support more repeatable results across teams and suppliers.

02

Safety and risk control

Established approaches can support hazard analysis, testing, protective measures and risk reduction.

03

Interoperability

Shared interfaces, formats and test methods help products, services and systems work together.

04

Trade and market access

Common specifications can reduce technical barriers and simplify communication across supply chains.

05

Evidence and documentation

Recognised methods can support technical files, procurement, audits and conformity assessment.

06

Efficiency and resilience

Defined processes, responsibilities and performance measures help reduce variation and manage disruption.

Professional support

Choose support by task, evidence and independence requirement

A standards question can become a testing, management-system or regulatory project. Select the provider type that matches the exact activity rather than treating all compliance services as interchangeable.

Frequently asked questions

Industry standards and European compliance FAQs

These concise answers cover the distinctions that should be understood before selecting, purchasing or citing a standard.

View all frequently asked questions
Are European standards mandatory?

European standards are generally voluntary. Mandatory obligations normally come from legislation, contracts, procurement conditions or certification-scheme rules. A harmonised standard may provide a presumption of conformity only for the requirements and conditions covered by the applicable official citation.

What is the difference between an EN and a harmonised standard?

EN identifies a European Standard. “Harmonised” describes a legal relationship under particular EU legislation. Not every EN is harmonised, and a citation can include limitations, dates or partial coverage.

Can an ISO or IEC standard be used in Europe?

Yes. International standards can provide useful technical evidence, and many are adopted as EN ISO or EN IEC documents. For a particular EU legal effect, verify the relevant European version, official citation and any European modifications.

Is the newest edition always the correct edition to use?

Not automatically. The correct edition can depend on legislation, an OJEU citation, a transition date, a contract, a certification scheme and when a product was placed on the market. Document why the selected edition is appropriate.

How do I know which standards apply to my product?

Start with intended use, users, hazards, technologies and target markets. Identify applicable legislation, then review candidate standards by scope, exclusions, related parts and normative references. Complex products usually require several standards.

Can my company share a purchased standards PDF internally?

Only within the applicable licence terms. A single-user purchase does not automatically permit company-wide copying, email distribution or shared-drive access. Confirm the required number of users and obtain the correct licence.

Next step

Find the exact document or describe the project

Search by reference when you know the standard, or share the product, target market and compliance question so we can direct you to the most relevant guide or specialist pathway.

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