> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://tieback.io/docs/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://tieback.io/docs/_mcp/server.

# Harmonised Standard

> A European standard adopted following a Commission request in support of Union legislation, whose reference is published in the Official Journal.

## Definition

A harmonised standard is a European standard adopted by a European standardisation organisation on
the basis of a request from the European Commission in support of Union harmonisation legislation,
and whose reference has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

## Expanded Explanation

Three conditions matter. The standard must be produced by CEN, CENELEC or ETSI; it must respond to a
formal standardisation request from the Commission; and its reference must be cited in the Official
Journal. A European standard that fails any of these is a useful technical document but not a
harmonised standard, and it carries no special legal effect.

Applying a harmonised standard is voluntary. Its value is that conformity with it confers a
presumption of conformity with the requirements it covers, which shifts the burden of argument when
an authority asks how a requirement was met.

For Digital Product Passports, standardisation work is being carried out under a Commission request
to CEN-CENELEC, including through Joint Technical Committee 24. Until references are cited in the
Official Journal, that work informs practice but does not yet confer presumption of conformity.

## Why It Matters

Standards decide how much a compliance argument has to be constructed from first principles. Knowing
which standards are cited, and which are merely published, is the difference between a short
justification and a long one.

## Legal and Regulatory Context

Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 on European standardisation defines harmonised standards. Regulation
(EU) 2024/1781 attaches the presumption of conformity to them for ecodesign requirements.

## Relationship to Adjacent Concepts

Harmonised standards are the usual route to presumption of conformity; common specifications are the
fallback the Commission may adopt where suitable standards are unavailable.

## Common Misconceptions

#### An EN standard is automatically harmonised

Only standards whose references are published in the Official Journal under the relevant
legislation are harmonised. Most EN standards are not.

## Related Terms

* [Presumption of Conformity](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/presumption-of-conformity)
* [Conformity Assessment](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/conformity-assessment)
* [Technical Documentation](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/technical-documentation)
* [Notified Body](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/notified-body)
* [ESPR](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/espr)

## Related Knowledge Base Articles

* [How Conformity Assessment Works for Digital Product Passports](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/how-conformity-assessment-works-for-digital-product-passports)
* [How Will Digital Product Passports Change Product Compliance?](/docs/knowledge-base/standards-and-technology/how-will-digital-product-passports-change-product-compliance)

## Related Articles

* [Presumption of Conformity](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/presumption-of-conformity)
* [Conformity Assessment](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/conformity-assessment)
* [EU Declaration of Conformity](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/eu-declaration-of-conformity)
* [Notified Body](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/notified-body)
* [Technical Documentation](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/technical-documentation)
* [Authorised Representative](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/authorised-representative)
* [Corrective Action](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/corrective-action)
* [Market Surveillance](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/market-surveillance)

## See Also

* [Regulations](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/overview)
* [Governance & Assurance](/docs/knowledge-base/compliance-frameworks/overview)

## References

* Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 on European standardisation:
  [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/1025/oj](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/1025/oj)
* Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 establishing a framework for ecodesign requirements:
  [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj)
* CEN-CENELEC, Joint Technical Committee 24 Digital Product Passport:
  [https://www.cencenelec.eu/areas-of-work/cen-cenelec-topics/digital-product-passport/](https://www.cencenelec.eu/areas-of-work/cen-cenelec-topics/digital-product-passport/)

## About This Article

About This Article

<dl>
  <dt>
    Last Reviewed
  </dt>

  <dd>
    2026-08-09
  </dd>

  <dt>
    Next Scheduled Review
  </dt>

  <dd>
    2027-08-09
  </dd>

  <dt>
    Article Version
  </dt>

  <dd>
    1.0
  </dd>
</dl>

tieback Knowledge is a continuously maintained reference library covering Digital Product
Passports, product traceability, product compliance and related regulations. Articles are
reviewed regularly as legislation, standards and implementation guidance evolve.

## Related Docs

* [Regulations](/docs/knowledge-base/regulations/overview)
* [Digital Product Passports](/docs/knowledge-base/digital-product-passports/overview)
* [Glossary](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/overview)