scope:

This Guide provides guidance and recommendations to writers of standards on the needs of micro, small and medium‐ sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to avoid the exclusion of SMEs from the market and the distortion of fair competition. This Guide is relevant to all stakeholders involved in standardization, i.e. standards writers in working groups (WGs), technical committees (TCs), project committees (PCs), or subcommittees (SCs) as well as members of national mirror committees. Not all principles presented in this Guide necessarily have to apply to all standards. Furthermore, sector-specific questions may not be covered. TCs, PCs, SCs and WGs are best placed to evaluate how to address the specific needs of SMEs in their standards.