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History of AENOR

AENOR has a history of nearly 40 years accompanying companies in their search for excellence and quality. Over more than two decades, the entity has evolved and adapted to the needs of the market, expanding its services to promote continuous improvement in organizations. This evolution not only benefits the business fabric, but also contributes to the development and well-being of society as a whole.

AENOR as a commercial entity

In 1986, the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification emerged as a result of the need to adapt the country's standardization and certification system to international and European standards. Its creation was driven by the economic transformation and the integration of Spain into the European Economic Community (EEC), which required a body that would guarantee the quality and competitiveness of Spanish products and services.

AENOR was established as a private, non-profit entity, with the aim of developing technical standards, certifying products, services and management systems, and promoting quality improvement in different industrial and commercial sectors.

At the origin of AENOR's conformity assessment activity is product certification, which evolves in accordance with new market requirements. There is a clear orientation to follow this commitment with the most prominent industrial sectors of the country.

In 2024, AENOR's new corporate structure comes into force; a movement that, without entailing changes in the way services are provided, boosts their ability to provide solutions to organizations. The new corporate structure is aimed at boosting AENOR's ability to support its customers, enhancing both the variety of solutions offered and through the creation of new ones. Notably, in the field of advanced inspection, consulting and IT solutions.

AENOR in numbers

1200

Professionals

94000

Certified Workplaces in 87 Countries

Offices around the world with a focus on Ibero-America

230

Accreditations and recognitions around the world

Milestones in AENOR's history

1980s and 1990s

1986: Creation of the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification.
1987: First N Product Mark certificate.
1989: First UNE standard published.
1992: Creation of the Training Centre.
1993: Opening of the first delegation, in the Basque Country, and of the AENOR Agency in Andalusia.
1996: AENOR, the first Spanish entity accredited by the National Accreditation Entity (ENAC).
1997: Opening of AENOR Mexico, first office outside Spain.
1999: Creation of the CEIS (Centre for Testing, Innovation and Services).

2000s

2001: Opening of AENOR Chile.
2002: Opening of the headquarters of AENOR in Italy.
2004: First certificate of Management Systems in Occupational Health and Safety.
2005: Accreditation by the United Nations as a Designated Operational Entity – Kyoto Protocol. First Spanish entity to achieve this.
2009: Opening of the last delegation, in Castilla La Mancha. AENOR is present in the 17 Autonomous Communities.
2011: First agreement on the recognition of certificates of conformity with third countries (Saudi Organisation for Standards, Metrology and Quality (SASO).
2014: Accession to the Global Compact.
2016: AENOR celebrates 30 years of work.

The new AENOR

2017: Activities are divided into two organizations; the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE; and AENOR, a commercial entity.
2018: Implementation of AENOR's Strategic Transformation Plan.
2019: Launch of the new Brand Strategy.
2020: Launch of the Gender Equality and Equal Pay Model solutions.
2021: Launch of the III Equality Plan.
2022: Sustainable N Mark and 25 years of AENOR in Latam.
2023: Launch of the Diversity and Inclusion Management System certificate (ISO 30415).
2024: New corporate structure of AENOR and opening of AENOR in Colombia.