The German Standardization Strategy

© DIN

The German Standardization Strategy was compiled in Germany in 2016 as part of an open process with all stakeholders involved in standardization (business, politics, science). It forms the basis of the work on standards and lays down the goals of standardization, especially the cooperation between the standards organizations and legislation on a national level. You can view the strategy in its entirety here.

Goal 2 of the strategy focusses on the public-private partnership of the German government and DIN:

Goal 2: Standardization is an instrument of deregulation

• Standards are an instrument of deregulation and facilitate public procurement. However, it is generally recognized that they are not an appropriate instrument to regulate content which is subject solely to political will, the representation of public interests or development by social partners.
• The New Legislative Framework has been expanded to further appropriate areas, while maintaining the division of responsibilities between EU and member states.
• Standards setters and policy makers work together on a basis of mutual trust.
• The public interest is taken into account in standardization, in particular the safeguarding of protection targets such as environmental and consumer protection, occupational health and safety, health protection and building safety. Standards contribute to the global transfer of German sustainability Benchmarks.