The European Union (EU) in general calls out it its directives and regulations (EU laws) general essential safety and performance requirements. Different solutions by manufacturers for the compliance may be applied. Compliance with those requirements then will allow for the CE marking and the placing of the devices on the so called single European Market.
In order to further facilitate this approach technical solutions as well are needed to be harmonized and this is achieved in Europe with standards which, once published in the official Journal of the EU, may be used to show compliance with the general essential safety and performance requirements. Those standards are called harmonized standards and they play a pivotal role in the Europe. A so-called presumption of conformity is being achieved when complying with these important standards.
Making those harmonized standards freely available may allow new manufacturers normally not making medical devices or personal protective equipment to quickly adjust.
Here is the link to the press release of CEN and CENELEC.
And here you can find the corresponding press release of the European Commission.
What else:
- Certainly, you need to know where you can get those standards. They can be obtained with the national standard originations here.