The Legitimacy of Standardisation as a Regulatory Technique

A Cross-disciplinary and Multi-level Analysis

Edited by Mariolina Eliantonio, Professor of European and Comparative Administrative Law and Procedure and Caroline Cauffman, Associate Professor of Contract, Consumer and Competition Law, Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, the Netherlands

This timely book examines the field of European and global standardisation, showing how standards give rise to a multitude of different legal questions. It explores diverse topics in regulation such as food safety, accounting, telecommunications and medical devices. Each chapter offers in-depth analysis of a number of key policy areas. These multi-disciplinary contributions go beyond the field of law, and provide cross-disciplinary comparisons.

‘This edited volume presents a long-awaited enquiry into the legitimacy of global and European standardisation from a legal viewpoint. This new book makes an innovative and much welcomed contribution to the fields of global and European law, while also advancing the current debates on the legitimacy of private regulation in the globalised economy.’
– Olia Kanevskaia, European Law Review

‘Standardisation law has recently emerged as a dynamic and multifaceted field of research, calling for in-depth case-studies but also more fundamental, theoretical work by academics. This book, masterfully edited by Eliantonio and Cauffman, aspires to do both by enrolling an impressive line-up of scholars interested in standardisation. While the jury is not out yet as to how legitimate standardisation in various areas is as a regulatory technique, this volume will become an important entry point for all those who want to learn more about the theoretical and practical challenges of standardisation at the European level.’
– Panagiotis Delimatsis, Tilburg University, the Netherlands

''The current book puts emphasis on the politically and legally most sensitive side of standardisation in the EU: the legitimacy of private standard production through private associations. The many contributions investigate whether and to what extent the legal framework established by the EU suffices to grant input, throughput and output legitimacy. It is an illuminating read that demonstrates that there is no unique and simple answer. The book constitutes a major contribution to the on-going debate on the increasing role of private regulation in a globalised economy and society.''
– Hans-W. Micklitz, European University Institute