Here at Document Center Inc., customers often call and email us with a wide variety of questions about standards. Educating the standards-using community is part of our mission and one we’re happy to provide.
Yesterday’s Question? “When I see an expiration date on the list of harmonized standards for a European Directive, does it mean the document isn’t valid to use anymore?”
The list from the EU that lists the harmonized standards for a particular Directive can be confusing in this regards. If you do not read the column headings correctly, you may think that the expiration date applies to the document (including revision level) specified on the chart.
However, this is not the case. The column is actually the expiration date of the previous revision. Put another way, it is the date that the standard’s user must transition from the older copy to the edition specified on the chart.
This is helpful because it does take time to review a new edition of a standard, develop the gap analysis to identify areas of your product and process that will be impacted, and put the changes into practice. The expiration date on the chart will let you know your “drop dead date” when it comes to implementation of the new revision.
Need more information on harmonized standards for a given Directive? Check out our webpage listing Find Standards by Regulation which will provide you with links for the lists of harmonized standards for each specific European Directive you use.
Do you have questions about the standards you use? Are you frustrated when the services you use to purchase standards can’t provide you with assistance for the simplest concerns? You need to use Document Center for your standards requirements. We not only sell standards and other compliance documentation — We provide premium support services including experienced and expert staff to help you effectively use and maintain those documents.
More information on Document Center Inc. can be found on our website, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). We’re here for you.
