Methods standardization in the environmental field

Co-operation agreement between Syke and SFS on the drawing up standards

Syke has a co-operation agreement with the SFS Finnish Standards (SFS) on the drawing up of methods standards for its field. According to the agreement, Syke is responsible for the preparation of standards for the environmental field. Syke also represents Finland in the following technical committees (TC) of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO):

•    CEN/TC 230 Water analysis
•    CEN/TC 308 Characterization of sludges
•    CEN/TC 318 Hydrometry
•    CEN/TC 444 Environmental characterization of solid matrix
•    ISO/TC 113 Hydrometry
•    ISO/TC 147 Water quality
•    ISO/TC 190 Soil quality
•    ISO/TC 275 Sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal
These technical committees draw up European (EN) and International (ISO) standards for the environmental field. 

More than 50 of the method standards in the environmental sector meet the criteria of the UN's sustainable development goals.

• The standards of the sustainable development goals (iso.org)
  3. Good health and well-being, 6. Clean water, 11. Sustainable cities and communities, 13 Climate action, 14. Life below water, 15. Life on land

SFS sells standards, reports and SFS handbooks among others

Standards and technical reports and specifications as well as standard proposals (SFS, EN and ISO) are sold by SFS Finnish Standards ry. ISO, CEN and SFS have so far standardized almost 600 environmental methods, reports or guidelines.

Many ways to acquire standards (sfs.fi)

tel. 09 1499 3353 tai email: sales@sfs.fi

Syke cooperates with the national standardization groups it has set up

Water quality -technical committees

• Water quality (sfs.fi)
• CEN/TC 230 Water analysis (standards.cen.eu)
• ISO/TC 147 Water quality (sfs.fi)

Soil quality -technical committee

• Soil quality (sfs.fi)
• ISO/TC 190 Soil quality (sfs.fi)

Solid environmental samples -technical committee

• CEN/TC 444 Environmental characterization of solid matrix (standards.cencenelec.eu)
• Waste (sfs.fi)
• Soil (sfs.fi)

Sludge reuse, recycling, treatment and classification -technical committees

• ISO/TC 275 Sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal (iso.org)
• CEN/TC 308 Characterization and management of sludges (standards.cencenelec.eu)

Hydrometry - technical committees

• Hydrometry (sfs.fi)
• CEN/TC 318 Hydrometry (standards.cencenelec.eu)
• ISO/TC 113 Hydrometry (iso.org)

National standardization mirror committees

In order to be able to take care of its tasks related to standardization, Syke has appointed the following national working groups consisting of experts in different fields for the period 1.1.2024 - 31.12.2029.

Working group secretariats

Syke is responsible for the secretariats of the following CEN and ISO working groups:

• CEN/TC 230 Water analysis/WG 28 DNA and eDNA methods
• ISO/TC 147 Water quality/SC 5 Biological methods/WG 13 eDNA, DNA and RNA method

Health and Welfare (THL) is responsible for the following ISO working group secretariat: 

• ISO/TC 147 Water quality/SC 4 Microbiological methods/WG 27 Culturable microorganisms

Participation in standardization groups

Participation in the preparation of environmental method standards in national standardization groups is open and free of charge to all interested experts in the field

Sign up for standardization groups via a new online form:

• verkkolomake (webropol.com)

Rules of procedure of national standardization groups (in finnish) (sfs.fi).

In accordance with the practices of international standardization activities, SFS is the data controller for the personal data of ISO and CEN, as well as those participating in or following Finnish standardization. 

• Tietosuojaseloste (sfs.fi)

When Syke collects personal data for its own independent purposes, it acts as the data controller. 

• Syken tietosuojailmoitukset

You can also participate in the drafting of standards without being a member of the standardization group by sending comments via SFS' opinion request service.

• Lausuntopalalvelu (sfs.fi)

Elsewhere online