The organization today
known as ISO began in 1926 as the International Federation of the National
Standardizing Associations (ISA). It was suspended in 1942 during World
War II, but after the war ISA was approached by the recently formed United
Nations Standards Coordinating Committee (UNSCC) with a proposal to form a new
global standards body.
known as ISO began in 1926 as the International Federation of the National
Standardizing Associations (ISA). It was suspended in 1942 during World
War II, but after the war ISA was approached by the recently formed United
Nations Standards Coordinating Committee (UNSCC) with a proposal to form a new
global standards body.
In October 1946, ISA and
UNSCC delegates from 25 countries met in London and agreed to join forces to
create the new International Organization for Standardization; the new
organization officially began operations in February 1947. Even the name
of the organization is standardized. The name, “ISO” is not an
acronym but was derived from the Greek word “isos” meaning
“equal”. (The relation to standards is that if two objects meet the
same standard, they should be equal.) This name eliminates any confusion that
could result from the translation of “International Organization For
Standardization” into different languages which would lead to different
acronyms.
UNSCC delegates from 25 countries met in London and agreed to join forces to
create the new International Organization for Standardization; the new
organization officially began operations in February 1947. Even the name
of the organization is standardized. The name, “ISO” is not an
acronym but was derived from the Greek word “isos” meaning
“equal”. (The relation to standards is that if two objects meet the
same standard, they should be equal.) This name eliminates any confusion that
could result from the translation of “International Organization For
Standardization” into different languages which would lead to different
acronyms.
Use
of the standards aids in the creation of products and services that are safe,
reliable and of good quality. The standards help businesses increase
productivity while minimizing errors and waste. By enabling products from
different markets to be directly compared, they facilitate companies in
entering new markets and assist in the development of global trade on a fair
basis. The standards also serve to safeguard consumers and the end-users of
products and services, ensuring that certified products conform to the minimum
standards set internationally.
of the standards aids in the creation of products and services that are safe,
reliable and of good quality. The standards help businesses increase
productivity while minimizing errors and waste. By enabling products from
different markets to be directly compared, they facilitate companies in
entering new markets and assist in the development of global trade on a fair
basis. The standards also serve to safeguard consumers and the end-users of
products and services, ensuring that certified products conform to the minimum
standards set internationally.
The
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent,
non-governmental organization, the members of which are the standards
organizations of the 162 member countries. It is the world’s largest developer
of voluntary international standards and facilitates world trade by providing common
standards between nations. Nearly twenty thousand standards have been set
covering everything from manufactured products and technology to food safety,
agriculture and healthcare.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent,
non-governmental organization, the members of which are the standards
organizations of the 162 member countries. It is the world’s largest developer
of voluntary international standards and facilitates world trade by providing common
standards between nations. Nearly twenty thousand standards have been set
covering everything from manufactured products and technology to food safety,
agriculture and healthcare.