What is ISO

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 168 national standards bodies. 

Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.

You’ll find our Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. Learn more about our structure and how we are governed.

Why Standard is Important

Standards make an enormous and positive contribution to most aspects of our lives. Standards ensure the desired characteristics of products and services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency, interchangeability, and at an economical cost.

When products and services meet our expectations, we tend to take this for granted and are not aware of the role of standards. When a product turns out to be of poor quality, unsuitable, not compatible with the equipment we already have, is unreliable or dangerous, then something called standardization needs to be established.

When products, systems, machines and devices work properly and safely, it is because they meet standards. And the organization responsible for thousands of useful standards in the world is ISO.

Why Conformity Assessment is Important

‘Conformity assessment’ means checking that products, materials, services, systems, processes or people measure up to relevant or specific standard specifications.

Today, many products require testing for compliance with specifications or compliance with safety, or other regulations before they can be sold freely on the market. ISO guidelines and standards for conformity assessment constitute an international consensus on best practice.

Their use contributes to the consistency of conformity assessments worldwide and facilitates trade.

What Does “International Standardization” Mean

When the majority of products or services in a particular business sector or industry comply with International Standards, then the state of industry standardization becomes widespread.

The economic stakeholders concerned agree on specifications and criteria to be applied consistently in the classification of materials, in the manufacture and supply of products, in testing and analysis, in terminology and in the provision of services.

In this way, International Standards provide a framework of reference, or a common technological language, between suppliers and customers facilitating trade and technology transfer.