Standards

Austria is a member of the Europe Union and adheres to EU Standards requirements. Products tested and certified in the United States to U.S. regulations and standards are likely to have to be retested and re-certified to EU requirements due to the EU’s different approach to the protection of the health and safety of consumers and the environment. When products are not regulated by specific EU technical legislation, they are always subject to the EU’s General Product Safety Directives, as well as to possible additional national requirements.  EU legislation and standards are harmonized across the Member States and European Economic Area countries to allow for the free flow of goods. For detailed information on harmonized trade standards, see the U.S. Commercial Service’s Commercial Guide for the European Union.

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. “Notify U.S.” (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country or countries and industry sector(s) of interest and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Testing, Inspection and Certification

Austria is a full participant in the European Union standards testing, inspection, and certification regime. It is home to testing bodies that certify compliance with European regulations where applicable and accepts the certification of notified bodies that test products in other EU countries. In cases where no mandatory EU standard exists, Austrian standards may be imposed. The Austrian Standards Office provides information about both Austrian and EU standards.

Publication of Standards

The Austrian Standards Office publishes European Union and Austrian standards and coordinates for the Austrian government in standards development. Proposed standards not subject to a European standard, including international standards, are considered for inclusion in the regulatory agenda. The process is inclusive and there are pre-determined periods during which interested parties can submit comment in German or English. The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any standards currently under consideration in Austria that would negatively impact U.S. products.

Notify US

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country or countries and industry sector(s) of interest and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

 

Contact Information 

Austria

Austrian Standards Office

Heinestraße 38, A-1020 Wien 

Tel: 43.1.213.00-0

Email: office@austrian-standards.at

 

European Union 

CEN- European Committee for Standardization 

Avenue Marnix 17  

B – 1000 Brussels, Belgium  

Tel: 32.2.550.08.11  

Fax: 32.2.550.08.19  

 

CENELES- European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization 

Avenue Marnix 17  

B – 1000 Brussels, Belgium  

Tel: 32.2.519.68.71  

Fax: 32.2.519.69.15  

 

ETSI- European Telecommunications Standards Institute 

Route des Lucioles 650  

Sophia Antipolis  

F –  06560 Valbonne France  

Tel: 33.4.92.94.42.00  

Fax: 33.4.93.65.47.16  

 

SBS- Small Business Standards 

4, Rue Jacques de Lalaing  
B – 1040 Brussels  
Tel: 32.2.285.07.27  Fax : +32-2/230.78.61 

 

ANEC- European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardization  

Avenue de Tervuren 32, Box 27  

B – 1040 Brussels, Belgium  

Tel: 32.2.743.24.70  

Fax: 32.2.706.54.30 

 

ECOS- European Environmental Citizens Organization for Standardization 

Rue d’Edimbourg 26  

B – 1050 Brussels, Belgium  

Tel: 32.2.894.46.68 

Fax: 32.2.894.46.10  

 

EOTA- European Organization for Technical Assessment 

Avenue des Arts 40  

B – 1040 Brussels, Belgium  

Tel: 32.2.502.69.00  

Fax: 32.2.502.38.14