AFNOR : Annual report 2014 !

Annual Report

2014

www.afnor.org

04 AFNOR, building confidence since 1926

06 KEY FIGURES IN 2014

42 GROUP LOCATIONS

08 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2014

Bodies and governance International representation Institutional affairs and international cooperation Initiatives promoting standardization New voluntary standards New prospects Distribution of standards - AFNOR Publishing

Contents

36 RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE Teams Take action to protect the environment Contribute to quality of working life Strengthen regional presence

22 THE ASSOCIATION'S GOVERNING BODIES

Board of Directors Standardization Coordination and Steering

Committee (CCPN) Audit and Evaluation Committee (CAE) Strategic committees Members

28 THE ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES Legal organization Executive Committee

32 SUBSIDIARIES’ ACTIVITIES Certification Training & Consulting International Network

34 STANDARDIZATION COSTS AND RESOURCES AND INCOME STATEMENTS20 STANDARDIZATION

STAKEHOLDERS AFNOR Sector-based standardization bureaus Experts Public authorities

3Annual Report 2014 { AFNOR Association

AFNOR ASSOCIATION IN 2014

Claude Satinet, ChairmanOlivier Peyrat, Managing Director

2014 was an important year for the French standardization system. The integration of the electrotechnical standardization activities and teams from the Union Technique de

l’Électricité into our association finalized the implementation of the 2009 Regulation. The economic players in this industry, essential for France's competitiveness, contributed to and benefited from the continuity of the standardization work carried out.

First of all, we wish to express our gratitude to all the employees who dedicated themselves to keeping alive these collective game rules – the voluntary standards – which are developed with consensus-building patience. AFNOR remains a solid body that fully plays the role entrusted to it to serve France's economic interests by promoting voluntary standardization and, more generally, quality.

Convinced that collective efforts yield shared benefits, we forged numerous partnerships to raise awareness of changes to the two most commonly used management standards around the world: ISO 9001 for quality and ISO 14001 for the environment. More than 4,500 professionals took part in the 110 events organized in France to prepare for the arrival of the new versions in the fall of 2015.

In another major area – energy – new voluntary standards were published to share proven energy audit methods. They directly support the regulations and further attest to the possibility of complementarity between soft law and hard law.

Our certification subsidiary grew considerably in France in the field of services with opticians certification and in the field of products with NF certified smoke detectors recommended by consumer associations.

An extensive communication campaign focusing on our NF mark was also launched in early 2015. In a world where excessive purchasing information creates confusion among consumers, it was essential to send a clear message to make the widest possible audience aware of the values of quality and reliability provided by NF certification. These efforts will continue in 2015.

Finally, we wish to thank all those professionals who enhance the value of the French standardization system. In 2014 once again, they demonstrated their unwavering commitment to producing voluntary standards, which constitute reference texts that are appreciated by consumers and facilitate socioeconomic exchange.

Thanks to their involvement, France's role in international organizations remained at a very high level: France is the second-largest contributor in Europe and one of the top five contributors internationally. They can rest assured of our determination, availability and professionalism to further support them in an increasingly intense international competitive environment.

We invite you to read this annual report and discover the wealth of French initiatives in the area of standardization.

AFNOR, building confidence

REGISTERED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONVoluntary standardization

Standards-based professional and technical documentation and information services

SINCE 1926


AFNOR, BUILDING CONFIDENCE SINCE 1926

A FNOR is vested with a general-interest mission, as defined by the French Standardization Regulation of 16 June 2009, to:

• determine voluntary standardization needs,• mobilize interested parties,• promote France's positions at the European and

international levels,• organize public inquiries for each draft French, European

or international standard and approve the final version.

This mission includes the publication and sale of standards (professional solutions offering watch services and access to documents), institutional affairs, international cooperation and member oversight.

The association includes certification and training subsidiaries that deliver their services worldwide. They help to further its corporate purpose, directly through their activities and indirectly by contributing to the association’s results.

AFNOR fulfills its mission based

on four values:

teamwork, responsibility,

trust and quality.

WHAT IS A VOLUNTARY STANDARD? A voluntary standard is a reference document published by AFNOR and produced at the request of and with the active support of a representative panel of interested parties (manufacturers, consumers, associations, trade unions, local authorities, and so on). A voluntary standard is defined in a collaborative and iterative manner, and contains a set of principles and requirements for a given activity or its results. Voluntary standards are living entities that are systematically reviewed at least once every five years. Users decide whether they are retained, updated or canceled. Voluntary standards are sometimes confused with the legal standards derived from legislation, but are not compulsory except for those required by law (1% of cases).


INCOME STATEMENTS

Key figures

2014


KEY FIGURES IN 2014

STANDARDS AND NORMATIVE DOCUMENTS IN 2014

2,063 public inquiries

1,249standards

revised

1,790 standards

withdrawn in 2014

756 new

standards published

90%: rate of satisfaction with standards

Published standards of international origin:

87%

* fewer than 400 (1%) of which are legally mandatory

ECOSYSTEM

20,000 standardization

experts

339 experts trained

in 2014

1,900 members

5,395 accounts registered on

the Teachers portal

33,614 documents*

STANDARDS-BASED PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION SOLUTIONS

Over 129,000 individual standards sold

78 new books / standards collections

Over 110,000 users of subscription solutions worldwide

Over 34,000 calls and emails handled

98.7%: response rate

Norm’ info

INTERNATIONAL

new responsibilities obtained in 2014 for France within CEN

and ISO

18

second-largest contributor within CEN (European Committee for Standardization,

with 33 member countries)

among the top 5 contributors within ISO (International Organization for

Standardization, with over 166 member countries)

21,626 European

8,539 French

3,449 international

STANDARDIZATION COMMISSIONS IN 2014

* sector-based standardization bureaus

992

51% headed by AFNOR, including 25% in the field of electrotechnology

49% headed by the SSBs*

151 international meetings in France

AFNOR ASSOCIATION IN 2013


Significant events

2014

Report on the national standardization policy Lydie Évrard, inter-ministerial delegate for standards, presented her report entitled National standardization policy and strategy for the competitiveness of our economy. This report includes a detailed analysis of how standardization works and describes the very strong positions held internationally by AFNOR and the sector-based standardization bureaus, as well as the active involvement of industry in the work. It proposes changes centered mainly around efforts to make an additional contribution to the strategic over-sight of standardization and to the relation-ship with government plans for developing companies' competitiveness and boosting economic growth. AFNOR contributes to this process to ensure that voluntary standards fully serve the interests of all the country's social and economic players, both in France and around the world.

VIP meetings for membersIn 2014, AFNOR members had an oppor-tunity to exchange ideas with prestigious speakers at special meetings with an interna-tional focus. ISO Vice President (policy) John Walter and ISO Secretary-General Rob Steel, CEN and CENELEC Managing Director Elena Santiago Cid, Betty Xu (seconded European standardization expert for China) and Joe Bathia (President of the American National Standards Institute - ANSI) shared their vision of standardization with AFNOR members. 2014 also saw the release of an "AFNOR member" logo which allows member orga-nizations to display their adherence to the association's values.


January 1, 2014:

start of the AFNOR UTE merger

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2014

Bodies and governance

Free trade: standardization at the heart of the draft transatlantic treaty The transatlantic treaty being negotiated between the United States and the European Union indirectly involves both continents' standardization bodies: the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), on the one hand, and the European standardization bodies – CEN (multiple sectors), CENELEC (electronic-electrotechnical sectors) and ETSI (telecommunications), on the other hand. Discussions are underway to select pilot sectors in which in-depth technical cooperation could take place. One of the sticking points of the negotiations watched closely by Europeans is the desire to maintain a framework, in future bilateral relations, in which only products and services that meet harmonized European standards are presumed to comply with European regulations. In any case, the negotiations must result in reciprocity in terms of mutual market access.

AFNOR-UTE MERGERIntegration of activities On January 1, 2014, UTE’s operational activities and the relevant teams (about 40 people) were transferred to AFNOR, with every effort made to ensure that this change was transparent for professionals involved in standardization. AFNOR therefore became the only member representing France in standardization organizations covering both the general and electrotechnical sectors at the European level – CEN and CENELEC – as well as the international level – ISO and IEC. AFNOR hosted the meeting of the CENELEC


nearly

3,000 comments on draft standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

International representation

Technical Board, welcoming its partners from the electrotechnical sector. On this occasion, the CENELEC flag was installed at AFNOR's offices in Saint-Denis, in the presence of Elena Santiago Cid, Managing Director of CEN and CENELEC. Standardization activities continued as normal: the number of experts participating in the standardization commissions rose slightly in 2014 (2,417 compared to 2,375 in 2013) as did the number of standards published (538 vs. 453 in 2013). The UTE online store was integrated into AFNOR's website in September 2014.

Changes within the bodies Jacques Munier (EDF) was elected to AFNOR's Board of Directors as electrotechnical standardization representative. Patrick Bernard (Schneider Electric) was named Chairman of the French Electrotechnical Committee (CEF). He succeeds Olivier Gourlay (EDF) who served as Chairman from 2008. CEF, now housed at AFNOR, encompasses all organizations involved in electrotechnology standardization, such as manufacturers, integrators, operators, installers, service providers, carriers, consumers and public authorities. Following the departure of former CEF Secretary Isabelle Heller, Thierry Lainé (AFNOR, electrotechnology department) is acting Secretary in the European and international organizations.

Olivier Peyrat reappointed as ISO Vice-President (Finance)First elected in January 2013 as ISO Vice- President (Finance), Olivier Peyrat's involvement and influence in the international organization's governance have been confirmed, with renewed confidence expressed unanimously by ISO's 163 members. At a time when emerging countries are gaining momentum and international standardization is undergoing significant changes, France remains one of the six most influential ISO countries.

Revision of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001: France's strong influence in international work The drafts of the 2015 versions of ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) were approved at the end of 2014. During the public inquiries conducted in France, which were open to everyone between August and October 2014, AFNOR received more than 2,000 comments on "Draft International Standard" ISO 9001 and more than 800 on ISO 14001. An exceptional participation rate. Comments by French participants therefore contributed to the international debates on the future standards, which propose new topics while adhering to fundamental principles. The AFNOR standardization commissions are actively involved in revising standards and will remain influential in the discussions and assert the position of French stakeholders (micro-enterprises, SMEs, industries, services, etc.) until the revised standards are published in the fall of 2015.




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LSustainable marine fishing: a draft international standard to harmonize labelsFrance is overseeing the development of an international standard to define a framework common to all sustainable fishing labels. The future standard ISO 19565 will be published at the end of 2016. Based on the Economic, Social and Environmental Council guidance, France wishes to increase the number of criteria taken into account: environmental (proper resource management, minimization of impact on the marine ecosystem), economic (optimization of profitability of companies operating in the sector) and social (improvement of working conditions and safety).

Cast-iron pipes for wastewater transport France was chosen as secretariat of a working group tasked with revising the harmonized standards applicable to cast-iron pipes, fittings and accessories and their assemblies. AFNOR serves as the technical committee chair and secretariat, thereby promoting the common practices approved in France at a European level.

Microbiological growth tests: work of French professionals reaches an international audienceThanks to the involvement of the French Directorate General for Food and French professionals in general, the voluntary microbiological growth tests standard (NF V01-009) published in May 2014 took on an international scope. France was given the task of developing an international standard on the growth and survival of microbacteria.

Online reputation: AFNOR oversees international workThe "online reputation" technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was created in April 2014 at France's initiative. It builds on the publication in 2013 of the French standard on the processing of online consumer reviews. The future international standard on the processing of online consumer reviews - ISO 20488 - is expected in 2016. Other projects relating to the online reputation of organizations and individuals from a more general standpoint are also underway.

France-China: signing of standardization cooperation agreement Under the guidance of the Chinese and French Presidents, Xi Jinping and François Hollande, on Wednesday March 26, 2014 at the Elysée Palace, AFNOR and AQSIQ/SAC (Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine/Standardization Administration of China) signed a cooperation agreement on standardization in the key areas of food & drink, rail systems, e-health and smart cities. The aim of this agreement is to strengthen exchange and cooperation on the development of standards. It will enable AQSIQ/SAC and AFNOR to jointly propose new international standards or facilitate the possible adoption by either party of a standard already published by the other party.



Standardization and defense: AFNOR and BNAE take a stance at the European levelThe European Defence Agency is expanding the scope of its work with the opening of four new areas. AFNOR will serve as secretariat of the soon-to-be-created working group on testing and evaluation. The Standardization Bureau for Aeronautics and Space serves as secretariat of the working group on obsolescence. The other two projects relate to water purification and treatment (headed by Poland) and certification (Germany). The role of each working group will be to identify existing standards, deviations and standardization needs. They must also propose recommendations for harmonizing practices in Europe.

Involvement in energy efficiency and renewable energies In September 2014, the ISO strategic advisory group on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources (SAGE) issued its conclusions, thereby completing the mission entrusted to it in 2008. Since then, a working group that includes AFNOR has been tasked with studying the recommendations made. This group will focus on developing international cooperation among the major players affected by these issues, such as ISO and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

Participation in a European water projectStandardization is one of the components of the EU project awarded to the International Office for Water to facilitate and promote the public procurement of innovative solutions in the water sector. AFNOR's role is to explain the benefit of addressing the issue of standardization as early as possible in public tenders requiring innovative technological solutions.

New Caledonia: AFNOR helps the government define standards in the construction sectorTo facilitate economic exchange in the construction sector, the government of New Caledonia turned to AFNOR, in partnership with Standard Australia, the standards agency of the Australian federal government, to obtain a comparative analysis of French, Australian, New Zealand and international standards. These standards, expected by 2016, must take into account the specific characteristics of local products to ensure that they are not excluded from the market and to facilitate their development. They will also improve the safety of the materials and products used and of the finished structure for Caledonian consumers.

Involvement in the single market for servicesThe European Commission issued a mandate to consider the development of new horizontal European standards for services in order to facilitate compatibility and compare the services provided by service providers in various member states. Six standardization bodies, including AFNOR, are contributing to this European construction process, which meets the objective of the Bolkenstein Directive (2006/123/EC) to exploit the untapped growth potential of the services market in Europe, remove obstacles to trade in services and encourage the development of a service quality policy.

Close of the BRIDGIT! project Bridging the gap between standardization, research and innovation was the primary goal of the BRIDGIT! project launched in 2013 with the support of the European Commission. Around ten national standardization bodies, including AFNOR, presented the results of this project at the end of October 2014, including a kit to raise awareness in the research community and tools aimed at standardization bodies to include the development of normative documents in research projects. E

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Since July 2014, AFNOR's international affairs department has encompassed all activities related to institutional and technical relations. Eight people are committed to developing France's influence and serve stakeholders' interests at the level of the ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC, their members and their partners.

To develop and implement services in the area of technical support and development, AFNOR has continued its fruitful collaboration with ADETEF, whose resources are now consolidated within Expertise France, the Agency for International Technical Cooperation of the Ministries for the Economy, Finance and Sustainable Development. Together, they are helping to expand the scope of international projects to include the metrology, standardization, accreditation and conformity assessment sectors.

A twinning project was awarded to France in Egypt. BSI (United Kingdom) and AENOR (Spain) are junior partners in this project whose objective is to strengthen the capacities of the National Standards Institute in terms of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment.

In 2014, the twinning operation continued in Azerbaijan, in partnership with BSI, to develop a system of standardization and technical regulations.

AFNOR and IANOR (Algerian Standards Institute) signed a technical cooperation agreement in late 2014 with two key objectives: the exchange and sharing of experience on practices related to oversight of the Algerian and French standardization systems. The guidance defined concerns notably the operation of the national standardization council, the participation of economic operators in national technical committees, and the development of normative intelligence solutions. This agreement was a follow-up to an agreement signed by the two bodies in 2013.

Institutional affairs and international cooperation

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Educating consumer representatives about voluntary standardization On behalf of its members, AFNOR's Consumers Committee launched a project to provide training on the standardization process. The aim of this project is to help consumer representatives better understand how to participate in the development of voluntary standards at the French, European and international levels.

Teaching: further initiatives to educate and provide access to voluntary standardsAFNOR employees remained active in 2014, conducting teaching visits throughout France on 120 occasions to explain how voluntary standards are used in the business world. Some 30 higher education teachers (science and engineering technology and eco-management) also received training on the impact of voluntary standards and certification in industry and in service companies. Through this program and the educational materials made available on the Teachers portal, tomorrow's labor force can acquire an understanding of standardization.For the past six years, agreements have also been in place which give technical and vocational schools, university institutes of technology and elite institutes of higher education access to voluntary standards for students, at a steeply discounted cost for the institution, via the educational platform: Saga Web Éducation.

A regional project on public swimming pool water AFNOR successfully conducted an 18-month collaborative initiative, which began in Languedoc-Roussillon with the Swelia network, the Pôle Eau business cluster and the Regional Innovation Agency. This project culminated in a document containing operational solutions for limiting the risks observed at all stages of public swimming pool design and operation. It may contribute to discussions regarding standards for public swimming pools at the national, European and even international levels.

A study on the Silver Economy and seniors' expected consumption patternsAFNOR conducted a study to understand the expected consumption patterns of seniors and their caregivers, with the support of several partners, including the National Consumers' Institute. The 1,145 responses regarding medical assistance, financial and transport services, information quality, food and leisure will be used to support the forward planning carried out by the AFNOR strategic group made up of experts from the silver economy. What are the expected results? Produce voluntary standards to develop this industry and build consumer confidence. Through the collective process of standardization, all social and economic players will develop their respective products and services so that they complement each other and work together.

Initiatives promoting standardization

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New voluntary standards

Additive manufacturing - Cooperation agreement with QuebecThe Bureau de normalisation du Québec (Quebec standardization bureau, BNQ) was appointed by the Standards Council of Canada to represent Canada in ISO/TC 261 "Additive manufacturing". On September 30, Marie-Claude Drouin, representing the BNQ, Olivier Peyrat (AFNOR) and Philippe Contet (UNM) signed a cooperation agreement. The main purpose of the agreement is to prepare the French versions of the ISO standards, exchange information and coordinate positions related to ISO/TC 261. Tomato industry: standardization to help researchers AFNOR lent its expertise to the FLONUDEP project, spearheaded by the National Research Agency, to develop a decision-support tool for professionals in the tomato industries based on a simultaneous assessment focusing on three areas: the environment, nutritional quality and social and economic aspects. After four years of collaborative efforts and based on the consensus reached, professionals from the tomato industry (fresh or processed) can use this document to more easily identify critical points and evaluate their weaknesses and/or areas of improvement with respect to the three areas in question.

AFNOR's involvement in the national CSR platformThe national platform for global action on corporate social responsibility, which comes under the authority of the Prime Minister via France Stratégie (formerly Commission on Strategy and Forecasts), included AFNOR among the members of the cluster of public institutions, as acting member to replace CCI France. The person assigned to represent AFNOR is the chairman of the sustainable development and social responsibility standardization commission, Pierre Mazeau (EDF).

Energy audits: reference methods to support regulationsNew voluntary standards, which were heavily influenced by France, were published to share proven energy audit methods, with specific adaptations for buildings, industry and transport. They directly support the regulations in force and are cited in the most recent legislation that defines the procedures for conducting an energy audit (mandatory by December 5, 2015 for large companies).

Drowning detection in swimming pools: a French standard with an international reachA result of the innovation of the Poseidon company and the support of industry professionals, the French standard related to computer vision systems for drowning detection in public swimming pools defines safety requirements and test methods. Published in August 2014, it will provide the basis for a future international standard.

Disability-friendly organizations: new version of the standard Enhancements were made to standard NF X50-783, a reference tool for organizations wishing to implement a disability policy and improve the integration of disabled individuals. With help from users, it was revised to offer simplified and appropriate solutions and make the recommendations more concrete and easier to apply.

Accessibility of public buildings: best practices for signs and evacuation Developed following the recommendation of the Syndicat national de l’enseigne et de la signalétique (Synafel) and with the active support of 28 organizations, the document BP P96-104 offers technical solutions and practical tips for creating signs appropriate for all disabilities in public buildings. Also published in 2014, the new version of the BP P96-10 guide will help users install appropriate alarm and marking systems to direct disabled individuals during the evacuation of a public building.



Software asset management and cloud computing: publication of an innovative guide Software Asset Management (SAM) is essential for organizations wishing to effectively manage the life cycle of their licenses. Developed by French industry players, a French guide defines best practices that enable organizations to implement an effective process appropriate for a cloud computing environment already in place.

Electrical and electrotechnical equipment: facilitating environmental declarationsProfessionals in the electrical, electronics and environmental engineering sectors joined forces to define harmonized methods for providing reliable, transparent, comparable and verified environmental data. Standard XP C08-100-1 provides all environmental indicators and the reporting format needed to display them in the form of an environmental profile. It responds to the needs of buyers and advisors in the building sector, where the availability and quality of environmental information about building elements have become essential.

Asset management: new international standardsThree international standards on asset management were published in January 2014. ISO 55000, ISO 55001 and ISO 55002 define best practices for implementing a tangible and intangible asset management process within any organization. The French Institute of Asset Management and Infrastructure (IFRAMI) undertook to inform companies of the benefits derived from using these voluntary standards.

Personal services: a standard in line with industry practicesPersonal service professionals revised French standard NF X50-056 to reflect changes in the sector and in legislation since it was first published in 2008. The broad guidelines of this sweeping revision include a strict ethical framework, a user-focused approach and a higher level of performance by the organization. The new provisions call for continuous improvement of the quality of professional teams and practices.

Beauty care, spas and thalassotherapy: three highly-anticipated standardsWellness professionals welcomed the publication in 2014 of three voluntary standards developed as a result of their active involvement. All were created to structure their respective markets and promote best practices. Standard XP X50-831 defines the procedures that can be carried out by an aesthetician and the business premises at which care is provided. It also provides requirements for reception, service quality, skills, safety and hygiene. For spas, which are becoming increasingly popular, standard NF X50-843 offers consumers selection criteria for care, products and employee skills. Finally, voluntary standard XP X50-844 defines a thalassotherapy center for the first time and proposes requirements for service provision aimed at improving and harmonizing practices in terms of hygiene, care and equipment.

Innovation management: first French document For an organization, creating a product or service or developing an innovative process is not always obvious. Published document FD X50-271 is designed as a guide that helps organizations successfully complete innovation projects through a process involving several key stages. It supports creativity and innovation management.

Risk management: several new normative solutionsThe AFNOR published document FD X50-259 provides a method for implementing a business continuity plan to anticipate various risk events and return to normal operation. For organizations wishing to implement risk management according to ISO 31000, an international guide (ISO/TR 31004) is now available to help them decipher and apply the concepts of the ISO standard.



New prospects

Quality, safety and information criteria help build consumer confidence

Electronic invoices Improving the interoperability of electronic invoices is a must since they will be mandatory for public procurement in 2017, and then in 2020 for SMEs and micro-enterprises. AFNOR is actively involved in the work underway at the European level. Common criteria must be defined regarding the content of the invoice (semantics), the format or language used (syntax) and the transmission method.

Energy: new initiativesThe "rational energy use" Strategic Committee began work to define an energy metering plan and the related implications in terms of energy savings. Numerous public inquiries provided input to the documents created to facilitate organizations' energy performance initiatives. Topics included the use of energy performance indicators, energy savings calculation, audit and certification methods for energy management systems, processes for measuring and checking an organization's energy performance, and more.

Reinstatement of the "brand evaluation" commissionFollowing the creation of the international committee on brand evaluation proposed by China, the French commission was reinstated and a French delegation participated in the first meeting in Beijing at the end of September. The work program is currently being defined. China announced that it has developed around 20 national standards and intends to promote them within the framework of ISO.

E-cigarettes: AFNOR at the center of the vape In 2014, AFNOR formed a standardization commission focusing on e-cigarettes and e-liquids at the request of the National Consumers' Institute. Nearly 60 organizations (manufacturers, consumers, test laboratories, distributors, authorities) joined forces to define quality and safety criteria and information provided to consumers. These voluntary standards, published in April 2015, will also form the basis of projects at the European level in preparation for a transposition in France of a directive on tobacco products and by-products. France also requested the creation of the new technical committee (CEN/TC 437), which it will oversee.

Personal information and privacy protectionAFNOR serves as chair and secretariat of a European project aimed at defining voluntary standards for personal information and privacy management. The future standards will target the security industries, manufacturers of connected tools and suppliers of security products who wish to apply shared best practices starting from the product design phase. The first work meetings will be held in 2015.



Best cleaning and disinfection practices at breeding farmsIn response to a request from the French Directorate General for Food, AFNOR began work to collectively define best practices for cleaning and disinfecting productive livestock farms following an outbreak of infection. Why? The across-the-board approach of standardization will go beyond the existing sector approaches to define best practices common to all species. Methods for checking the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection will also be defined. The idea is to provide guidance where none currently exists.

Road traffic safety managementA French standardization commission was created to actively participate in the international work carried out by ISO on road traffic safety management (ISO/TC 241). The future standards will facilitate exchange by going beyond the private standards that currently exist. They will provide shared benchmarks for all those involved in this public safety issue.

Accessibility: on the road to universal designAs part of the European mandate to integrate the design for all approach into relevant standardization initiatives, a "Design for all" working group was set up, in which AFNOR is a stakeholder. The goal is to agree, at the European level, on how to incorporate accessibility for the disabled and elderly, based on the design for all principles, into the design, development and production of products and services.

Offshore wind farms: defining a common language AFNOR joined the movement underway at the international level, promoting French expertise in port and marine activities related to the life cycle of offshore wind farms, including installation, maintenance and dismantling techniques, the use of port and maritime equipment, logistics specific to the marine environment, etc. The aim is to facilitate exchange among numerous project participants by defining a common language that can be used in offshore wind farm installation, operation and maintenance contracts.

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over

2million standards viewed


Record number of standards viewed This year, the number of standards viewed by our users passed the 2 million mark. Saga Web was the clear winner with 1.3 million standards viewed. The HTML format, which allows easy browsing through a document, contributed to this increase and, more than ever, is a useful and preferred way to access a standard.

A single point-of-purchase for all electrotechnical standards In April 2014, the AFNOR Publishing shop became the single online sales outlet for standards related to electrotechnology. The merger with UTE in January 2014 allowed centralized access to the standards and therefore easier distribution. This new section has become increasingly popular and is now the most frequently visited.

Modernization of document access and watch services solutions As part of the modernization of its digital document access and watch services solutions, AFNOR Publishing decided to replace the Intranormes service, accessible only through the subscriber's intranet, with the Internet-accessible Webport solution. More than a year of support was needed for customers to become proficient in this new environment, which is more feature-rich and user-friendly and continuously updated. 99% of Intranormes subscribers have made the switch. After 10 years of good, reliable service, Intranormes is therefore taking its leave. We wish Webport a long life.

Distribution of standards AFNOR Publishing

New models that support the distribution of standards Alongside the traditional methods of promoting the standards, AFNOR Publishing is forging unique partnerships that allow the largest number of companies to use standards that are most relevant to their own business sectors. To achieve this, relationships have been formed with key representatives of the economic players, which have made it possible to optimize access to standards based on very specific conditions. Working closely with AFNOR Standardization, partnerships have already been forged with the Standardization Office for the mechanical engineering and rubber industries (UNM), the French lighting association (AFE) and the association of hydrocarbon and related energy businesses and professionals (GEP-AFTP), and others are underway.

A year of publications marked by The Business Process Management Guide Translated from English, the Business Process Management Guide was first published in the USA and is the international bible for business process management. This 662-page guide includes 150 illustrations and required six months of translation, corrections and formatting. The efforts made by the "Club des Pilotes de Processus", working alongside AFNOR Publishing's editorial and production teams, led to the creation of a reference work. It fully reflects the quality approach and the new upcoming version of ISO 9001 only reaffirms this importance.


Standardization stakeholders


STANDARDIZATION STAKEHOLDERS

AFNORAs the central oversight body for standardization in France, AFNOR determines all standardization needs and mobilizes interested parties.It promotes France's positions at the European and international levels. It organizes public inquiries in French for each draft French, European or international standard, approves the final version and incorporates it into the national catalogue.

AFNOR organizes and coordinates the activities of the French standardization system, including the sector-based standardization bureaus (SSBs), which are approved by the Minister of Industry.

Standards are authored by the sector-based standardization bureaus (SSBs) acting on AFNOR’s authority and directly by AFNOR where the subject area covers a large number of sectors or relates to a sector for which there is no approved sector-based standardization bureau:• Food & drink, health and social welfare• Construction and water cycle• Industrial engineering and environment• Services, management and

consumer goods• Transport, energy and communication• Electrotechnologies

(since 1 January 2014)

Sector-based standardization bureausTwenty-two SSBs oversee standardization commissions and prepare the draft French standards that AFNOR submits for public inquiry, as well as France’s contributions and positions in European and international organizations. Some SSBs are also empowered by AFNOR to head technical committees in these same organizations.

Stakeholder representatives: standardization expertsWith backgrounds covering every area of the economy and society, stakeholder representatives (businesses, trade organizations, local government, local authorities, consumer associations, environmental protection associations, and so on) form the very backbone of the French standardization system. They provide the skills and expertise that ensure a high-quality standard for each subject area. They deliver the technical content required for drafting and updating documents. They play a key role in promoting new subjects and documents by voicing the needs of their respective sectors. They constitute the French delegations and take part in work at the European and international levels.

Public authoritiesDepending on the circumstances, public authorities participate in the standardization commissions either as a regulatory authority or as a technical body acting to promote public policies. Public authorities can use voluntary standardization as a means of lobbying market players to offer the best operational solutions in response to public demand. An inter-ministerial delegate for standards, acting under the authority of the Minister for the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, chairs an inter-ministerial group on standards composed of ministerial standards officers. This group proposes guidance on France's standards policy to the Minister for Industry. In particular, the group ensures that all projects under development are consistent with regulatory objectives.

BNA Bureau of Automotive StandardizationBNAAH Standardization Bureau for hyperbaric and underwater activities BN Acier Standardization Bureau for the French Steel IndustryBNAE Standardization Bureau for Aeronautics and SpaceBN Ferti Standardization Bureau for the fertilizer industryBNBA Standardization Bureau for wood and furnitureBNCM Standardization Bureau for structural steelworkBNC Standardization Bureau for ceramicsBNEN Standardization Bureau for nuclear facilitiesBNF Standardization Bureau for railway engineeringBNG Standardization Bureau for the gas industryBNHBJO Standardization Bureau for timepieces, jewelry, the jewelry trade and gold and silversmithsBNIB Standardization Bureau for the concrete industryBNIF Standardization Bureau for the smelting industriesBNITH Standardization Bureau for the textiles and clothing industryBNLH Standardization Bureau for hydraulic bindersBN Pétrole Standardization Bureau for the oil industryBNPP Standardization Bureau for plastics and plastics technologyBNTEC Standardization Bureau for building and construction techniques and equipmentBNTRA Standardization Bureau for transport, highways and planningCFONB French committee for banking organization and standardization(Xavier Mendiboure was named Secretary-General in May 2014)

UNM Standardization Bureau for the mechanical engineering and rubber industry


STAKEHOLDERS

Governing bodies of the association


ASSOCIATION GOVERNING BODIES

FNOR, a registered not-for-profit association, is administered by a Board of Directors with no more than 30 members, who are

appointed in such a way that the various interested parties are widely and fairly represented: • Direct or indirect company representatives (including SMEs and craft

industries) and representatives from various sectors of the economy, • Representatives of consumer associations, trade unions, local authorities

and, since 2011, approved non-governmental organizations, • Ministry representatives, • Representatives elected from among AFNOR employees.

The inter-ministerial delegate for standards takes part in Board meetings and acts as government commissioner.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met

four times in 2014, with an attendance rate of 75% for members physically present and 85% for those present or represented Major areas of focus for the

Board in 2014 were integration of the electrotechnical standardization activities and continued implementation of the agreements signed in late 2013

A



Members of the AFNOR Board of Directorsas of December 31, 2014

Chairman Claude Satinet

Honorary Chairman François Ailleret

Honorary Chairman Philippe Boulin

Honorary Chairman Henri Martre

Vice-Chairman Henry Halna du Fretay

Vice-Chairman Dominique Hoestlandt

Treasurer Sophie Huberson

Chairman of the CCPN Claude Breining

Companies

A2 Consulting Jacques Schramm

AIMCC (Association of Construction Materials, Products, Components and Equipment Industries)

Marc Lebrun

Air Liquide Hervé Barthélemy

ANIA (National Association of Food Industries)

Gérard Boivin

APCMA (Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Trades and Craft Industries)

Gérard Bobier

CAPEB (Confederation of Building Trades and Small Companies)

Henry Halna du Fretay

CCFA (Committee of French Car Manufacturers)

Igor Demay

CSTB (Scientific and Technical Centre for Building)

Carole Le Gall

EDF Jacques Munier

FIEEC (Federation of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Industries)

Claude Breining

GDF SUEZ (ENGIE) Jacques Dubost

GIFAS (Association of French Aerospace Industries)

Catherine Giudicelli

INERIS (National Institute of the Industrial Environment and Risks)

Raymond Cointe

ORANGE Philippe Lucas

SNELAC (National Association for Leisure, Theme and Cultural Areas)

Sophie Huberson

TOTAL Denis Deutsch

Consumers appointed by France’s National Consumer Council

ADEIC (Consumer Defense, Education and Information Association)

Patrick Mercier

ALLDC (Léo Lagrange Consumer Protection Association)

Ludivine Coly-Dufourt

CNAFC (National Confederation of Catholic Family Associations)

Thierry Dastarac

Trade unions

CFE-CGC* Dominique Le Page

Local authoritiesvacant

Approved non-governmental organizations

Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind

André-Jean Guérin

Ministries

Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy

Viviane Apied

Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs Stanislas Martin

Work, Employment and Continuing Professional Development

Valérie Delahaye-Guillocheau

Defense Guy Bommelaer

AFNOR employees

François Boucher

Fabrice Césari

Ex-officio Board members

Inter-ministerial delegate for standards

Lydie Évrard

Comptroller General Albert-Patrice Peirano

Chairman of the Audit and Evaluation Committee

François Falconnet

AFNOR Managing Director Olivier Peyrat

* CFE-CGC: French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives


STANDARDIZATION COORDINATION AND STEERING COMMITTEE (CCPN) AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

The CCPN was set up in September 2010 and is responsible for developing France's standardization strategy, defining the objectives and general priorities for the strategic committees and ensuring compliance with national, European and international policies. It defines France’s positions in European and international standardization bodies. Several categories of stakeholders are represented, such as companies, consumers, trade unions and local authorities. Members are appointed for three-year terms that may be renewed once.

Companies

Claude Breining, Schneider Electric, proposed by Medef, Chairman of the CCPN

Olivier Dubuisson, Orange

Jean Félix, SYNTEC

Franck Gambelli, UIMM (Union of Metallurgy Industries and Trades), proposed by CGPME

Henry Halna du Fretay, CAPEB (Confederation of Building Trades and Small Companies), proposed by the Professional Union of Tradespersons (UPA), deputy of the Chairman of the CCPN

Consumers

Étienne Defrance, AFOC (Consumer Workers’ Force Association)

Ludivine Coly-Dufourt, Léo Lagrange Consumer Protection Association

Trade unions

Jean-Marc Longueville, CFE-CGC

Approved NGOs

André-Jean Guérin, Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind

Local authorities

Bernard Bézard, SNDGT (National association of general directors of local authorities)

Ministries

Viviane Apied, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy

Jacques Teyssier d’Orfeuil, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

Standardization operators

Gilles Bernardeau, Standardization bureau for the concrete industry (BNIB)

Gilles Chopard-Guillaumot, Standardization bureau for the railway industry (BNF)

Philippe Contet, Standardization office for the mechanical engineering and rubber industries (UNM)

Thierry Crignou, AFNOR Standardization

All strategic committees chairmen

see page 27

AUDIT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE (CAE) The Audit and Evaluation Committee is responsible for organizing the evaluation of the sector-based standardization bureaus in anticipation of obtaining accreditation from the Minister of Industry, which is valid for a maximum term of three years. Evaluations are conducted in accordance with standard NF X50-088 published in 2009, which provides requirements for the activities of standardization bureaus. The CAE also checks the conformity and effectiveness of the activity aimed at guiding and coordinating AFNOR’s standardization work, as well as AFNOR’s standardization bureau activities. This mission of the CAE is performed according to the provisions of Regulation 2009-697 of June 16, 2009.

MEMBERS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Chairman appointed for five years in 2010: François Falconnet

Chairman of ISO/TC 34 (Food products) – former Chairman of the COFRAC Audit Committee (French Accreditation Committee)

Patrick Schwartzmann

Pierre Loisier

Danielle Koplewicz

Philippe Berthon

The members of the CAE resigned effective December 31, 2014.


Board committees acting under delegated authority



Board committees with an advisory role as of December 31, 2014

CCPN Committees

STRATEGIC COMMITTEES These committees provide collective management of AFNOR’s standardization activities. Their function is to help define France's standardization strategy by identifying and assessing standardization needs. Their members include key decision-makers from a given economic sector. Each committee comprises a chairman elected for a renewable three-year term, members offering a balanced representation of the major stakeholders in the area under consideration, and operators from the French standardization system (AFNOR and sector-based standardization bureaus). The CCPN clarified the standardization system’s organization according to three types of bodies: standardization commissions, strategic committees and the CCPN. Coordination groups may be set up at all levels to ensure consistency.

The terms of all the chairmen were renewed on January 1, 2015.

Finance Committee

No more than 16 members, chaired by AFNOR’s Chairman, Claude Satinet.

Ethics Committee

Chaired by a director, Dominique Hoestlandt, this committee consists of five to seven members appointed by the Board of Directors. The committee is open to non-Board members.

Consumers Committee

Chaired by Ludivine Coly-Dufourt, Léo Lagrange Consumer Protection Association, director representing consumers and appointed by the Board, the Consumers Committee consists of up to 16 members.

Consultation Committees

9 to 16 members appointed by the Board.Two committees currently exist:

• Craft industries, chaired by Gérard Bobier President of the Indre-et-Loire CMA (Chamber of Trades and Craft Industries), member of the APCMA Bureau (Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Trades and Craft Industries), and Vice-Chairman of SBS (Small Business Standards).

• Local authorities, chaired by Jean Auroux former minister, Honorary Chairman of the FDV (Federation of Mid-Sized Cities).



1,900 members

AFNOR Association members

More than ever, the member network adds strength and diversity to AFNOR, both in terms of their number

(1,900) and economic importance in France and the wide range of sectors they represent. Through valuable exchange at topic-specific meetings, best practices proposed by the club for standardization coordinators of large companies, IT and topic-specific intelligence through the Les Exclusives monthly newsletter, and so on, members have access to exclusive, up-to-the-minute information on standards and regulations year-round and enjoy attractive pricing arrangements. Sharing and exchanging information, best practices and feedback are the cornerstones of this influential network in the standardization sector. The Member Relations team listens carefully to members, understands their business activity and environment, enables them to connect, find information and obtain personalized answers within AFNOR, all while developing new services that meet their needs.

Strategic committees and their

chairmen and vice-chairmen as

of January 1, 2015

Food & drink Gérard Boivin, Chairman, ANIA (National Association of Food Industries) / Jean-Louis Porry, Ministry of Agriculture, until December 31, 2014

Gérard Mathieu, Vice-Chairman, CGAAER/CEMAFROID (Departmental Council for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas/Cold chain center of expertise)

Sport, leisure and consumer goods

Sophie Huberson, Chairwoman, SNELAC (National Association for Leisure, Theme and Cultural Areas) / Catherine Trachtenberg, FIFAS, until December 31, 2014

Stéphane Jock, Vice-Chairmen, Décathlon

Construction and town planning Philippe Estingoy, Chairman, AQC (Agence Qualité Construction) / François Pélegrin, UNSFA, until December 31, 2014

Electrotechnologies Patrick Bernard, Chairman, Schneider Electric, Jean-Yves Goblot,Vice-Chairman, Acome (pending appointment of Hervé Rochereau, EDF)

Environment and social responsibility

Vincent Laflèche, Chairman, BRGM (Office for Geological and Mining Research), Bruno Costes, Vice-Chairman, AIRBUS SAS

Gas Dominique Kaczmarek, Chairman, GDF SUEZ (ENGIE)

Major water cycle Christophe Bonnin, Chairman, Veolia Eau

Information and digital communication

Yves Le Querrec, Chairman, La Banque Postale / Philippe Courqueux, CORA, until December 31, 2014

Industrial engineering, capital goods and materials

Philippe Canteau, Chairman, SNECMA

Management and services Xavier Quérat-Hément, Chairman, La Poste Group

Oil Francis d’Auriac, Chairman, TOTAL Oil Refining (pending appointment of Pascal Manuelli, TOTAL)

Health and social welfare Michel Ballereau, Chairman, Le Noble Age / Björn Fahlgren, APHP, until December 31, 2014

Occupational health and safety Valérie Delahaye-Guillocheau, Chairwoman, Finance director at the General Secretariat of the ministries of social affairs (pending appointment of Olivier Toche, Directorate-General of Labor)

Transport and logistics Florence Castel, Chairwoman, Advancity - Sustainable city and mobility business cluster/ Jean-Bernard Kovarik, MEDDTL, until December 31, 2014

Rational energy use Jean-Jacques Marchais, Chairman, Schneider Electric, Romain Cailleton, Vice-Chairman, MEDDTL (Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing)


T he association’s

activities


Executive Committee as of December 31, 2014

AFNOR Development (simplified limited company)

Coordination• Communication• Skills & Expertise Management• Marketing• Research & Development• Regional Offices (13 branches)• International Network

AFNOR Certification (simplified limited company) Certification & Assessment

AFNOR Competencies (simplified limited company) Training & Consulting

AFNOR International (simplified limited company) Certification, Assessment & Training

AFNORRegistered not-for- profit organization

Standardization

Professional and technical documentation and

information services

Membership

CoordinationPurchasing•

Finance •IT •

Legal •Quality •

Human Resources •General Services •

100% 100%

100%

100%

THE ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES

Olivier Peyrat Managing Director

Sophie Marain Secretary-General

Vincent Gillet Deputy Secretary-General

Alain Costes Director of standardization activities

Isabelle Rimbert Deputy Director of standardization activities

Isabelle Sitbon Director of publishing activities

Franck Lebeugle Director of certification activities

Pascal Prévost Director of training & consulting activities

Myriam Augereau-Landais Director of international activities

Laurence Breton-Kueny Director of Human Resources

Jean-Philippe Suzanna Chief Financial Officer

Legal organization as of December 31, 2014

Franck Lebeugle takes over from Florence Méaux In November 2014, Franck Lebeugle took over as head of certification activities for the AFNOR Group in France. He succeeds Florence Méaux, who was appointed at the Council of Ministers as representative for renewal of France's top-level government officials.Born in 1974, a former student of École Polytechnique and a graduate of École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications, Franck Lebeugle devoted the first part of his career, from 1999 to 2007, to standardizing and deploying 3G mobile networks within the Orange Group.In 2007, he joined the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (higher council for the audiovisual sector) where he was involved in developing and implementing the digital development strategy as Technology Director until 2014.



67 people have received the "Or Normes" award since 2009

over 100

organizations and companies

participate in the best practices clubs

EFQMThe concerted efforts of the AFNOR Group, EFQM's representative in France, its partners, assessors and customers are yielding results as more and more French companies adopt this model to guide them in their quest for management excellence. The development of the regional best practices clubs, with over 100 organizations and companies, attests to this. In the south (Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées), the club celebrated its fifth anniversary, with momentum provided by the National Center for Space Studies (CNES). In Rhône-Alpes under the leadership of Aéroports de Lyon, in the west at the initiative of the La Poste Group, and in the East under the guidance of EDF and the Water and Wastewater Regulatory Authority, these clubs allow companies to share best practices and build a national network of committed players.In 2014, tribute was also paid at the European level to the initiatives of La Poste's Services-Parcels-Mail Division and Grundfoss (pump manufacturer), which received the R4E "Global Assessment" award. Finally, two modules (Journey To Excellence and Leader For Excellence) were added in 2014 to the EFQM training catalogue, which is now more European than ever.

Transformation of the Réseau Normalisation et Francophonie (RNF) The Réseau Normalisation et Francophonie (RNF) became a formal legal entity headquartered in Quebec: the RNF Association. With 80 members in 27 countries across Europe, Africa and North America, the association is a successor to the RNF created in 2007 by AFNOR, the Quebec Standards Service (BNQ), the Standards Council of Canada (CCN) and the Institute for French-Speaking Countries and Sustainable Development (IFDD). The association's mission is to enhance the capability of national standardization organizations and other players in the quality infrastructure who rely on voluntary standards as development tools.

AFNOR throughout France in 2014The AFNOR Group's 13 regional delegations worked at full throttle to fulfill their mission of providing information about voluntary standards, including in particular ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. From Nancy to Toulouse, from Rennes to Marseille, each delegation helped spread the word about anticipated changes in order to answer questions from public and private organizations, very often with the support of numerous regional social and economic players. The 110 meetings held attracted 4,500 professionals.In an effort to shed new light on important issues, the number of joint projects increased, as was the case in Aquitaine, the site of France's first experiment with Quebec's health and quality of life in the workplace initiative. In response to pressing issues such as energy efficiency, which is backed by regulations, the teams participated in joint support projects, the core of which was ISO 50001. This was the case in Alsace, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Upper Normandy, Rhône-Alpes, Franche-Comté, Nord Pas-de-Calais and Limousin, among others. In another example, this time in the area of sustainable development, support was provided to very diversified companies (in the Centre and Rhône-Alpes region) or those in a specific sector (food & drink and winegrowing in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) to help them master the most effective normative tools. Actions were also taken in terms of strategy-related topics, such as promoting the winning combination of intellectual property and standardization, for example in Midi-Pyrénées.

"Or Normes" ceremonyEleven people received the "Or Normes" award at the Pavillon de l’Eau on June 24, 2014, which marked the fifth year of this ceremony. Each year, following AFNOR's General Assembly, the "Or Normes" ceremony honors all those who dedicate their efforts to raising the AFNOR Group's standing. At this fifth ceremony, an award was presented to one of the Group's Chinese partners, Sheng Fei, Secretary-General of the CCAA, China's certification and accreditation body. The "Or Normes" community now boasts 67 people from all sectors.



15,000 tweets

9,500 press articles

696 marketing campaigns

Quality policyIn 2014, the AFNOR Group commissioned an outside firm to assess the quality of reception, on the telephone and in person, at its head office and regional delegations. The results were very satisfactory in both cases. For telephone reception, 98% of those surveyed described AFNOR's representatives as courteous and available. 93% had their questions answered. For reception in person, they were generally satisfied, with some areas of improvement identified, particularly in terms of wait times. A re-design of the reception area in the Saint-Denis buildings is scheduled for 2015.

IT infrastructuresWi-Fi coverage increased significantly in the AFNOR conference center and the connection procedure was made easier in response to frequent requests by the 40,000 visitors. The AFNOR Group also installed a video conference system in both Saint-Denis and Lyon. In terms of projects, the creation of the "directory federation" aimed at accessing the ISO, DIN and AFNOR committees with a single user name was completed in early 2015.In 2014, the entire company was involved in information system security, with efforts made to raise awareness about password management, mobile device security, and so on.

Legal activitiesThe year 2014 marked the end of several lawsuits, all in favor of AFNOR. These outcomes are all the more satisfying in that they often result from long years of legal action (particularly in terms of real estate). Moreover, the constant need to defend AFNOR's marks led to 66 new cases involving misuse of the NF certification mark.Finally, ongoing legal assistance was provided for major development projects, such as the creation of AFNOR Énergies, buyer support for key invitations to tender, etc.

Awards for service and user relations quality The AFNOR Group repeated its survey to allow cities and municipal associations with over 5,000 residents to assess how users actually perceive the quality of local government services. 170 of them were assessed according to a stringent set of criteria mainly inspired by the Qualiville certification standard. The cities honored at the AFNOR "Quality - Service & User Relations" Awards were Ambarès-et-Lagrave (Gironde), Besançon (Doubs), Breuillet (Essonne), Changé (Mayenne), Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme), Craponne (Rhône), Dole (Jura), La-Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée), La Madeleine (Nord), Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine), Mérignac (Gironde), Montivilliers (Seine-Maritime), Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), Nieul-sur-Mer (Charente-Maritime), Pamiers (Ariège), Périgueux (Dordogne), Ploërmel (Morbihan), Vélizy-Villacoublay (Yvelines), Vertou (Loire-Atlantique), Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone (Hérault), the Pas-de-Calais Departmental Council and the Caux Vallée de Seine public establishment for inter-municipality cooperation.

External communication The desire to teach, find new contributors and provide easier access to the right information on all the AFNOR Group's areas of expression, in any form, guided the communication activities in 2014. Five years ago, the Group began using social networks as a new way to connect with its audiences. Linkedin and Viadeo account for nearly 12,000 direct contacts for the latest AFNOR news, and over 15,000 people are involved in the communities, including the one dedicated to quality created a short time ago. In an effort to create a dialogue around these topics and answer everyone's questions, AFNOR also posted nearly 15,000 messages on Twitter. The videos on its YouTube channel are viewed more than 2,000 times a month. The press remains an important medium for information, with nearly 9,500 articles published during the year. Online press accounts for two-thirds of all published articles. 696 operational marketing campaigns were conducted, 430 events were organized and around 20 studies were carried out.


Certification The certification activities are carried out in an increasingly competitive environment at the French, European and international levels. To further support the development of social and economic players of all sizes, some 40 new services were introduced. A new Web-based customer portal was set up for assessed or certified organizations. This portal provides fast access to all information and documents related to their certification, including agendas, audit reports and communication kits.

In 2014, system certification (organization management), which bears the AFAQ mark, remained vitally important in terms of business mix. QSE (quality, safety, environment) combined certifications, for example, increased by 15%. Sector-specific certifications (food & drink, rail and aeronautics) remain strategic for companies, as they are crucial to development.

In a favorable regulatory environment, ISO 50001 certification (energy management) was also widely deployed in 2014. Three years after its creation, it is providing real economic, organizational and image benefits. The findings of one study show that ISO 50001 helps organizations implement their energy strategy, from an operational standpoint, and provides effective methodological support for achieving the targets set.

Also worth noting is the launch of a new activity for qualifying companies to conduct energy audits. Assessment of social responsibility strategies continues to expand. Industry leaders are increasingly urging their members to get involved, as in the case of companies in the landscaping, construction and civil engineering, agriculture and winegrowing sectors, as well as communications agencies.

Once again, more and more distributors and manufacturers embraced NF certification. Smoke alarm devices are an example of this: as of late 2014, more than 250 NF certified products were available to consumers for use in their homes.

All these activities were reviewed by the Monitoring and Improvement Committee, which was restructured in 2014. This committee meets three times a year and is responsible for monitoring the impartiality of audits and certification decisions and works to improve the processes. Since 2014, 147 initiatives have been undertaken, 78% of which were completed by early 2015.

An NF certification advertising campaignTo set it apart from the crowd of distinctive signs appearing on products and to promote the values of rigorous certification, a large-scale advertising campaign was launched to spread the word about NF certification. Under the slogan "NF, la sérénité certifiée" (NF, certified peace of mind), TV commercials and advertisements in the business and trade press and on the Internet generated more than 350 million contacts in three weeks. Traffic on the updated NF certification website tripled. Awareness of NF certification topped 80%.

External skills and expertise After 20 years at AFNOR, Gilles Gueugnot, head of the DGECE (External Expertise & Skills Management Department), decided to retire at the end of October 2014. He is succeeded by Arnaud Lacroix who was previously in charge of the Customer/Key Account Services unit within AFNOR Certification in the fields of energy, construction, industry, health and community medicine and an ICA auditor.

Subsidiaries’ activities



9 new

international locations

Training & ConsultingThe AFNOR Group's training and consulting activities are continuously being updated to respond very quickly to the market's needs. Their aim is to instill confidence in professionals wishing to understand and have a better grasp of regulations, standards and techniques in order to improve their performance and better serve their organization.

For example, in 2014 a variety of training courses on version 2015 of ISO DIS 9001 and 14001 were offered very quickly, giving expert audiences the means to acquire updated knowledge from the best sources. The auditors were among the first to receive training.

More than 800 additional trainees attended courses in 2014, mainly to obtain quality information about the changes to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

2014 also saw major changes in continuing professional development, for which courses leading to certificates and diplomas were specifically created.

Training courses designed for technical experts also took off in 2014. With 180 training products, these new courses introduced in 2013 saw the addition of mandatory regulatory training and attracted a growing number of business professionals. Courses related to energy also continued to increase, on both an inter-company and intra-company basis, with training on ISO 50001, energy performance and energy audits. This product range now includes 70 courses.

The number of trainees doubled at the Lyon training center, with more than 500 people trained in 2014.

A new customer support center was set up in the second half of the year, allowing us to address our customers' needs more quickly and immediately and respond more effectively.

The Clubs called "Parcours Croisés" published their first collective work "Confidence-Building and Sustainable Performance… Who Gets the Keys?" and are currently working on "QSE Function Value Creation".

Customer satisfaction, a focal point of our customer loyalty strategy, is very high, with over 57% of inter-company trainees very satisfied, a growth rate of 12 points in five years of continuous efforts.


International network2014 marked an important step in the deployment of the AFNOR Group's international certification, assessment and training activity. Nine new locations were added to the network: Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Madagascar, Australia, New Caledonia/Polynesia and Bolivia.

One-fourth of the Group's employees and over 50% of auditors now work internationally. Nearly 12,000 certificates (up 13% compared to 2013) were issued outside France. Within the network, new accreditations were obtained, including for palm oil (RSPO - Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and IECQ (certification covering the supply of electronic components and related materials).

The growth rate in 2014 was 23%, mainly as a result of our activities in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Tunisia.

Training activities expanded considerably. In addition to on-site training, new e-learning programs were introduced in the United Kingdom on such topics as energy from waste and biomass.

In 2014, a survey was conducted within the Group on the organization of its international activity. A new organization was set up in early 2015 which combines all employees working from France for the international network under one department. Under the responsibility of Myriam Augereau-Landais, 10 people are working to expand the network.



Standardization costs and resources

Standardization activities, which are joint projects that benefit all social and economic players, are funded based on specific sources.

Funding for the activities carried out by AFNOR to guide and coordinate the French standardization system is provided by the French government (in the form of a subsidy) and is covered by an annual agreement and a performance contract signed for 2011 to 2015.

The standardization operator activities (production of standards, secretariat of technical committees, etc.) are subject to financing arrangements specific to each operator (sector-based standardization bureaus or AFNOR), which make the financial terms of participation in the work they oversee publicly available. The time that professionals from all sectors who contribute to standardization spend on topics chosen or proposed by the standardization commissions (analysis of working documents, comments, proposals, participation in meetings, etc.) along with travel expenses for meetings in France and abroad represent the largest cost item in the standardization process. The financial terms of participation in the work overseen by AFNOR are public and accessible on its website.

The activities related to guiding, coordinating and overseeing standardization work are included in the AFNOR Association's budget. This budget is kept in balance through the association membership fees and the contribution of AFNOR's subsidiaries (certification, training, international).

ALLOCATION OF STANDARDIZATION RESOURCES IN FRANCE

1. Specific terms for the electrotechnology field.2. Remuneration calculated according to income from the sale of standards and the

share in AFNOR’s overall normative activity. Specific terms for the electrotechnology field.

3. The standardization operator activities of the sector-based standardization bureaus (development of standards, secretariat of technical committees, etc.) are subject to financing arrangements specific to each bureau.

Guidance and coordination of the system• Oversight and strategy• European and international affairs• Evaluation and coordination of requirements• Organization of public inquiries• Approval and publication of standards

Production of standards and reference documents by AFNOR

Production of standards and reference documents by the sector-based standardization bureaus

Government subsidies

Standardization contracts1

Remuneration for producing standards2

Own resources3

Membership

Own resources (contracts, membership, etc.)3

Remuneration for producing standards2

AFNOR

SSB



AFNOR Association income statements as of December 31, 2014

AFNOR Group consolidated accounts as of December 31, 2014

Income In millions of € Expenses In millions of €

Subsidies 8.6 Purchases and external services 28.7

Revenue 66.2 Payroll 35.8

Other revenue 13.0 Other expenses 22.3

TOTAL INCOME 87.8 TOTAL EXPENSES 86.8

78.1 in 2013 (+12.5%)

NET INCOME 1.0

Income In millions of € Expenses In millions of €

Subsidies 8.6 Purchases and external services 68.9

Revenue 149.4 Payroll 72.2

Other revenue 14.9 Other expenses 28.6

TOTAL INCOME 172.9 TOTAL EXPENSES 169.7

155.6 in 2013 (+11.1%)

NET INCOME 3.2

The 2014 results include the activities of the UTE, which is now the AFNOR Electrotechnologies department. The French government subsidy continued to decrease. The cumulative decrease represents more than 40% over five years.


Responsible and

sustainable

The AFNOR Group strives to apply the rules of socially-responsible conduct that it promotes in its various relations, whether social, economic or environmental.

The Group has decided to pursue improvement strategies in response to three key challenges:

• Take action to protect the environment

• Contribute to quality of working life.

• Strengthen regional presence.

Teams


RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE

Age 30 to 45 45.95%

International 350

France 1,023

1,373 employees

64%36%

Average age: 42 yearsAverage seniority: 12 years

18 nationalities16 internal promotions

63.26% of employees underwent training

Executives52.8%

Management level 8.1%

Employees 39.1%

by age

Under age 30 16.03%

Age 46 to 60 35.87%

Over age 60 2.15%

by seniority

Breakdown

5 to 15 years 37.25%

Less than 5 years 33.33%

More than 15 years29.42%

TEAMS IN FRANCE

by category



Conclusion of the Energy Charter In September 2014, the AFNOR Group signed the charter for energy efficiency in public and private commercial buildings. This charter is in line with the method and objective recommendations resulting from the extensive consultations held in 2010 and 2011 by Maurice Gauchot (CBRE France), a voluntary joint initiative hailed by the Ministers for Regional Equality and Housing and for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. The aim is to reduce energy consumption in the Group's buildings. To achieve this, the Group made a commitment to educate employees, improve the technical management of facilities, set performance targets and assess the results obtained.An action plan to raise employee awareness about best practices will be implemented in 2015.

Give priority to virtual meetings and telephone conferencesAs part of its sustainable development policy, the Group emphasizes the use of virtual meeting tools (Web conferences, telephone conferences, etc.) to reduce the amount of physical travel by individuals. In 2014, over 900 Web conferences and 600 telephone conferences were held.

Take action to protect the environment

Sustainable procurement The AFNOR Group is committed to implementing sustainable procurement and building relationships with its suppliers that meet sustainable development criteria. The goal is to purchase goods or services while minimizing costs and risks under the best possible price, delivery time, quality and service conditions as required for the Group and its customers. To this end, a new specific policy was developed at the end of 2014 aimed at optimizing purchasing while respecting social, societal and environmental values. The guidelines of this policy include the general application of social and environmental criteria and the use of suppliers from the disabled workers sector.

From plastic lids to guide dog training At their own initiative, employees based in Saint-Denis collected 89 kg of plastic lids in 2014. A local association, Sourire d’ange, recovers and stores the lids, which it then sells to recycling professionals. To further its commitment to the disabled, Sourire d’ange forged a partnership with the Handi’Chien Association. The proceeds of the campaign were used to train future guide dogs for people with reduced mobility.

Paper (EcoFolio)

2014 DATA



Contribute to quality of working life

72.68% of employees used the HR information system to enter their appraisal

Workplace planning scheme The HR information system implemented in 2011 has greatly simplified the process of tracking career development. This year, 72.68% of employee appraisals were entered using an online system, which allows information to be shared more easily with managers and the HR department. Action was taken under generation contracts with the agreement on the employment of young people and senior citizens designed to promote knowledge transfer. Until 2014, the appraisal had to be conducted each year in the certified or accredited departments and at least once every two years elsewhere in the Group. Starting in 2015, the appraisal will be conducted each year in all the Group's departments.

Anticipate regulatory developmentsThe law of March 5, 2014 focuses on the importance of employee skills. This law provides for the professional interview (the first of which must take place before February 2016) and the personal training account (formerly DIF). In anticipation of these changes, the Group informed all its employees and trained its managers on the importance of the professional interview in their teams' career management.

Paper for office use and photocopying: 37 tons

Rainwater recovery for restrooms and watering: 305 m3

Gas use at head office: 66,615 kWh

Electricity use at head office:4,496,374 kWh

Water use at head office: 8,885 m3

(down 0.5% compared to 2013)

(up 1.1% compared to 2013)

Marketing and sales documents:58.6 tons

down 5.1% compared to

2013

down 47.1 % compared to

2013


2013


2013



744 people took the Voltaire test

Getting acquainted As part of its internal communication, the Group decided to give employees an opportunity to discover or learn more about its areas of expertise. The mail department and AFNOR Publishing's documentation expertise unit opened their doors and presented often unknown aspects of their activities. Through information meetings, several employees, standardization project managers unveiled the inner workings of this multifaceted function.

Occasional teleworkingOccasional teleworking allows employees to work remotely from time to time if their job allows them to do so. It may also be used when a business continuity plan has been activated. Today, 70% of the AFNOR Group's employees are eligible for this scheme. Since the new agreement took effect on January 1, 2013, 38% of employees have signed up for occasional teleworking, and the number of teleworking days used per year has increased from 303 in 2013 to 593.

Evaluate employees' spelling skillsIn the digital age, well-written business documents have greater legitimacy and stand out. In 2014, AFNOR's senior management conducted an evaluation of the spelling level of all the Group's employees, the results of which may lead to training, if necessary. Since 2014, the Group's candidates have been required to take this spelling test during the final phase of recruitment.

Health and quality of life in the workplaceA "healthy company" initiative modeled on the Quebec "health promotion and protection" standard has been underway since 2010, with a health and wellness committee set up within the Group. Given the growing interest on the part of French organizations sparked by this initiative, a partnership was forged with Groupe Entreprises en Santé (Quebec), the body behind the BNQ standard, to promote this approach in France with training and assessment activities. As part of the Lifestyles pillar, the Group organizes campaigns to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles, including an information meeting on the benefits of sleep.

Improving catering servicesFollowing an invitation to tender, the Group chose to renew its partnership with its current service provider. The new contract provides for a wider range of choices, greater emphasis on product quality and traceability, promotion of the local economy (suppliers located within a maximum of 200 km), as well as shorter wait times and more comfortable dining areas. Following the renovation of the company restaurant in 2014, coffee bars, the cafeteria and the visitor restaurant will be remodeled in 2015.

Supporting employee volunteer initiatives Under the voluntary leave program funded by the AFNOR Group in partnership with Planète Urgence, three employees took voluntary leave in 2014 for Cambodia.As a further show of support for Planète Urgence, a sale of children's books was held at the Group's head office.

The AFNOR Group raises employee awareness about disabilitythrough the Disability project. The Premiers de Cordée Association gave 45 of the Group's employees an opportunity to discover and practice "handibasket" (wheelchair basketball) and "cécifoot" (football played blindfolded).

In addition, to mark the third Ballons du Coeur charity football tournament, a team of 16 AFNOR employees entered the tournament to raise money for the Restos du Cœur food bank in Saint-Denis alongside other local companies. At the same time, an initiative to donate food and personal care products was organized internally.

Finally, the Group created a team of runners during the year who participated in three races: Paris-Versailles, La Voie Royale and La Parisienne.



The Group's involvement in the Saint-Denis regionSince 2012, the Seine-Saint-Denis Chamber of Commerce and Industry has partnered with local players to oversee the Intercompany Transport Plan (PDIE) implemented by seven large companies in the La Plaine Saint-Denis business district, including the AFNOR Group. The aim is to improve the mobility, safety and working conditions of 16,000 employees. The action plan was approved in 2014 and will be implemented in 2015. Also in the area of transport, the Group participates twice a year in the meetings organized by the Plaine Commune Promotion Association to share ideas with the directors of the B and D train lines. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss any problems encountered by company employees and visitors and keep abreast of planned improvements.

Issues such as economic development of the La Plaine district, road improvements, safety and town planning are monitored closely. This work is carried out as part of the Plaine Actions Entreprises Association founded in 2001 and chaired by Sophie Marain, Secretary-General of AFNOR, to facilitate the integration of the 22 member companies and their employees in a constantly-changing environment.

1,200 young people are mentored

Strengthening regional presence

Access to employment and support for students In an effort to support young people in its region, the AFNOR Group has become involved in a mentoring initiative of the NQT Association (formerly “Nos quartiers ont des talents") since 2008. In 2014, 33 Group employees mentored recent graduates. Since the scheme began, 409 young people have been trained by more than 70 mentors and 206 have found employment. The AFNOR Group has a seat on the NQT Board of Directors, which is held by Laurence Breton-Kueny, the Group's Director of Human Resources.

This year, the AFNOR Group became a partner of the Proxité Association, which was founded in Saint-Denis in 2002 and now has offices in five cities in the Greater Paris area, including downtown Saint-Denis and La Plaine Saint-Denis district, Nanterre, Noisy-le-Grand, Ivry and Asnières/Gennevilliers. Proxité helps 11 to 20-year olds from working-class neighborhoods enter the workforce. Since Proxité's creation, 1,200 young people have been mentored. Three Group employees decided to dedicate their time to mentoring young high school students.

As another way of introducing the young generation to the work world, AFNOR invited a class of 15 students from Courtilles middle school (in Saint-Denis) to learn about the Group's activities. Their visit included a tour of the computer department and the Norm’info call center.


GROUP LOCATIONS

AFNOR Group in FranceREGIONAL

DELEGATIONS

13Alsace - Lorraine - Burgundy

14, rue du Saulnois 54520 Laxou Tel.: +33 (0)3 83 86 52 92 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 54 [email protected] Regional representative: Pascal Thomas

Aquitaine Parc d’Activités Kennedy - Bât. B

3 avenue Rudolf Diesel 33700 Mérignac Tel.: +33 (0) 5 57 29 14 33 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 47 [email protected] Regional representative:

Stéphane Mathieu

Brittany 1, rue des Cormiers - Parc d’activités d’Apigné

CS 95101 - 35651 Le Rheu Cedex Tel.: +33 (0)2 99 14 67 71 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 52 [email protected] Regional representative: Claude Girard

Centre La Maison des entreprises

14, boulevard Rocheplatte 45000 Orléans Tel.: +33 (0)2 38 78 19 61 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 45 [email protected] Regional representative: Anne Youf

Île-de-FranceChampagne-Ardenne

11, rue Francis de Pressensé 93571 La Plaine Saint-Denis Cedex Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 62 80 05 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 90 00 [email protected] Regional representative:

Christian Le Diouron

Languedoc-Roussillon Immeuble Les Latitudes Nord

770, Av. Alfred Sauvy 34470 Perols Tel.: +33 (0)4 99 52 24 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 53 [email protected] Regional representative:

Christine Sorli

Limousin - Poitou-Charentes ESTER Technopole 1, avenue d’Ester

87069 Limoges Cedex Tel.: 66 (0) 5 55 04 12 33 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 87 [email protected] Regional representative:

Catherine Pauliat

Midi-Pyrénées Immeuble Diapason, Bât. A

Rue Jean Bart - BP 87484 31674 Labège Cedex Tel.: 76 (0) 5 61 39 76 33 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 48 [email protected] Regional representative: Patrice Garcia

Normandy 4, rue Fontenelle 76000 Rouen

Tel.: +33 (0)2 32 76 07 48 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 76 [email protected] Regional representative: Stéphane Jagu

Nord - Pas de Calais - Picardie Château Rouge 282, avenue de la Marne

59708 Marcq-en-Baroeul Cedex Tel.: +33 (0)3 20 82 59 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 91 06 [email protected] Regional representative:

Valérie Ravez

Pays-de-la-Loire 1, rue Célestin Freinet Bât. A - Nord

44200 Nantes Tel.: +33 (0)2 40 44 44 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 44 [email protected] Regional representative: Thierry Cureau

Provence - Alpes - Côte d’Azur - Corsica

141, avenue du Prado, Bât. B 13417 Marseilles Cedex 08 Tel.: +33 (0)4 96 19 13 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 12 [email protected] Regional representative:

Catherine Scherrer

Rhône-Alpes - Auvergne - Franche-Comté

Immeuble M + M177, rue Garibaldi 69428 Lyon Cedex 03 Tel.: +33 (0)4 72 61 69 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 49 17 93 69 [email protected] Regional representative:

Olivier Constant

Business relations with

100 countries

39 locations

GROUP LOCATIONS

AFNOR Group around the world

France

United Kingdom

India

Korea

Japan

Taiwan

Germany

Vietnam

Malaysia

Thailand

Mauritius Ivory Coast

Morocco

Algeria

Tunisia

Russia

United States

Canada

Mexico

Italy

Iran

Indonesia

Lebanon

Pakistan

China

Poland

Bulgaria

Spain

Portugal

Brazil Gabon

Madagascar

Australia

Senegal

Romania

Turkey

New Caledonia/Polynesia

Bolivia

Annual Report 2014 { AFNOR Association

11 rue Francis de Pressensé - 93571 La Plaine Saint-Denis cedex - FranceTel.: +33 (0)1 41 62 80 00 - Fax. : +33 (0)1 49 17 90 00

This report is available at www.afnor.org or on request from: [email protected] AFN

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