How does a committee work?

Developing and revising standards to suit the market is an ongoing process – Danish Standards facilitates this process. The work of the committees takes place in connection with the committee meetings, which typically take place 2-3 times a year. Here, democratic decisions are made based on expert knowledge, dialogue and documentation.

Once your committee work has begun, you will be contributing to defining the contents of the standards. The work is carried out in connection with committee meetings, where decisions are made based on the broadest consensus possible. Therefore, the process at the meetings where discussions and presentation of professionally founded arguments take place is the alpha and omega of achieving the best outcome in the final standard.

Your role on the committee is to:

  • participate in discussions and provide argumentation
  • develop the strategy, focus, and key issues of the committee
  • consider comments in connection with public consultation
  • prepare proposals for consultation responses
  • report to the other committee members after participating in international meetings
  • contribute to communicating the work of the committee and the standards.

Danish Standards facilitates the work of the committee, and a consultant from Danish Standards participates in all meetings of the committee. The consultant ensures that members are always well informed, receive notifications of meetings, minutes, etc. It is also the consultant from Danish Standards who prepares relevant committee members for joint representation at international meetings.

Contact us

Mads Nørregård
Mads Nørregård Teamleder | Teamleader
Markedsudvikling
E: mn@ds.dk
T: 39 96 61 33
Tobias Klithammer Larsen
Tobias Klithammer Larsen Konsulent | Consultant
Markedsudvikling
E: tkl@ds.dk
T: 39 96 61 34

The process in a committee: From the first kick-off meeting to publication of the standard

Kick-off
Danish Standards invites potential committee members to a kick-off meeting. Here, you can learn more about the standard to be developed.

First meeting in a Danish committee
At the first committee meeting, a chairman is appointed from among the members. The strategy is established, e.g. it is decided who will be actively involved in the international work and how often the committee will meet.

First meeting in an international committee: Strategy and establishment of working groups
The Danish members represent the Danish committee. Working groups are established to prepare concrete proposals for the standard. Members of the Danish committee may participate in these.

Working groups prepare draft standard
The international working groups prepare a draft for the standard. The Danish members may also participate here where an active effort will have the greatest influence.

International meeting: Consultation decision
Once the working group has reached a consensus on the standard, the standard is submitted to the technical committee for approval. It is subsequently submitted for consultation in all member states.

Consultation
All member states conduct a national consultation where everyone can comment on the proposed standard. In Denmark, the proposals can be viewed and commented on for free on ds.dk/forslag.

Danish vote and comments
The consultation responses are dealt with in the national committee which then recommends whether to vote yes, no, or abstain. The committee also decides which comments, if any, will be forwarded.

Updating of proposals in the working group
Based on the comments from the national committee, the international working group will revise the proposal before submitting it for a final vote in the member states. The Danish members may also participate here.

Final vote
The final draft standard is circulated to all member states for the final vote, for which only a yes or a no vote can be cast.

Danish vote yes/no
The Danish committee will vote for or against the proposal and may no longer make technical comments.

Publication
The standard is completed in the working group. The final version is then forwarded to the central secretariat, i.e. CEN, CENELEC, ISO or IEC, which will publish the final standard.

Launch
Danish Standards publishes and launches the final standard. Implementing (publishing) ISO and IEC standards as Danish standards is voluntary. CEN, CENELEC and ETSI standards must be implemented, and conflicting national standards must be withdrawn.