Written and unwritten rules exist in standardization activity the observance of which is frequently crucial to participants' effective involvement. These principles have been summarized in KAN Report 34, "Possible influence of the OHS sector on ISO standardization". Selected examples will be described below.

The formal policy of both the European standards organizations and the European Commission is for European standards to be based where possible upon international standards, and for the latter preferably to be adopted verbatim. The development process for ISO standards is similar to that for EN standards, with certain exceptions.

In order to increase the efficiency of standardization at European and international level, CEN and CENELEC have reached agreements with their respective international partners ISO and IEC, setting out the rules governing co-operation. Closer examination reveals that despite having much in common, the two agreements (the "Vienna" and "Dresden" Agreements) also exhibit certain differences.

Identical standards throughout the world facilitate the opening of international markets. Where international standards are to be adopted as European standards, application of the concept of global relevance must not however compromise legal security in the context of the European New Approach directives.

Completion of the European Single Market and protection of the population against unsafe products are principles of European policy. The ICSMS, the network of the European market surveillance authorities, is the perfect complement to these principles, and permits for the first time simultaneous and virtually immediate market intervention with full coverage.