International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Scope

Standards are documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.

International Standards thus contribute to making life simpler, and to increasing the reliability and effectiveness of the goods and services we use.

Many people will have noticed a seeming lack of correspondence between the official title when used in full, International Organization for Standardization, and the short form, ISO. Shouldn’t the acronym be “IOS”? Yes, if it were an acronym — which it is not. In fact, “ISO” is a word, derived from the Greek isos, meaning “equal”, which is the root of the prefix “iso-” that occurs in a host of terms, such as “isometric” (of equal measure or dimensions) and “isonomy” (equality of laws, or of people before the law).

From “equal” to “standard,” the line of thinking that led to the choice of “ISO” as the name of the organization is easy to follow. In addition, the name ISO is used around the world to denote the organization, thus avoiding the plethora of acronyms resulting from the translation of “International Organization for Standardization” into the different national languages of members, e.g. IOS in English, OIN in French (from Organisation Internationale de Normalisation). Whatever the country, the abbreviated form of the Organization’s name is always ISO.

Regulatory citations

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Key definitions

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Summary of requirements

The existence of non-harmonized standards for similar technologies in different countries or regions can contribute to so-called “technical barriers to trade.” Export-minded industries have long sensed the need to agree on world standards to help rationalize the international trading process. This was the origin of the establishment of ISO.

International standardization is well-established for many technologies in such diverse fields as information processing and communications, textiles, packaging, distribution of goods, energy production and utilization, shipbuilding, banking and financial services. It will continue to grow in importance for all sectors of industrial activity for the foreseeable future.

Main reasons for standardization:

• Worldwide progress in trade liberalization. Today’s free-market economies increasingly encourage diverse sources of supply and provide opportunities for expanding markets. On the technology side, fair competition needs to be based on identifiable, clearly defined common references that are recognized from one country to the next, and from one region to the other. An industry-wide standard, internationally recognized, developed by consensus among trading partners, serves as the language of trade.
• Interpenetration of sectors. No industry in today’s world can truly claim to be completely independent of components, products, rules of application, etc., that have been developed in other sectors. Bolts are used in aviation and for agricultural machinery; welding plays a role in mechanical and nuclear engineering, and electronic data processing has penetrated all industries. Environmentally friendly products and processes, and recyclable or biodegradable packaging are pervasive concerns.
• Worldwide communications systems. The computer industry offers a good example of technology that needs quickly and progressively to be standardized at a global level. Full compatibility among open systems fosters healthy competition among producers, and offers real options to users since it is a powerful catalyst for innovation, improved productivity and cost cutting.
• Global standards for emerging technologies. Standardization programs in completely new fields are now being developed. Such fields include advanced materials, the environment, life sciences, urbanization and construction. In the very early stages of new technology development, applications can be imagined but functional prototypes do not exist. Here, the need for standardization is in defining terminology and accumulating databases of quantitative information.
• Developing countries. Development agencies are increasingly recognizing that a standardization infrastructure is a basic condition for the success of economic policies aimed at achieving sustainable development. Creating such an infrastructure in developing countries is essential for improving productivity, market competitiveness, and export capability.

Their goal is to facilitate trade, exchange and technology transfer through:

• Enhanced product quality and reliability at a reasonable price;
• Improved health, safety and environmental protection, and reduction of waste;
• Greater compatibility and interoperability of goods and services;
• Simplification for improved usability;
• Reduction in the number of models, and thus reduction in costs;
• Increased distribution efficiency, and ease of maintenance.

How are ISO standards developed? ISO standards are developed according to the following principles:

• Consensus. The views of all interests are taken into account: manufacturers, vendors and users, consumer groups, testing laboratories, governments, engineering professions and research organizations.
• Industry-wide. Global solutions to satisfy industries and customers worldwide.
• Voluntary. International standardization is market-driven and therefore based on voluntary involvement of all interests in the market-place.