What are standards?

 

 

International Standards make things work. They give world-class specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency. They are instrumental in facilitating international trade.

ISO has published more than 19000 International Standards and related documents, covering almost every industry, from technology, to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare. ISO International Standards impact everyone, everywhere.

 

 

Benefits of International Standards

 

 

International Standards bring technological, economic and societal benefits. They help to harmonize technical specifications of products and services making industry more efficient and breaking down barriers to international trade. Conformity to International Standards helps reassure consumers that products are safe, efficient and good for the environment.

 

 

Benefits of standards: the ISO Materials

 

 

ISO has developed materials describing the economic and social benefits of standards, the ISO Materials. They are intended to be shared with decision makers and stakeholders as concrete examples of the value of standards.

 

 

Facts and figures about the benefits of standards

 

 

The repository of studies on economic and social benefits of standards provides an insight of the approaches and results of the studies undertaken by different authors, such as national and international standards bodies, research institutes, universities and other international agencies.

 

 

For business

 

 

International Standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help companies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. They ensure that business operations are as efficient as possible, increase productivity and help companies access new markets.

 

 

Benefits include:

 

 

Cost savings - International Standards help optimize operations and therefore improve the bottom line

 

 

Enhanced customer satisfaction - International Standards help improve quality, enhance customer satisfaction and increase sales

 

 

Access to new markets - International Standards help prevent trade barriers and open up global markets

 

 

Increased market share - International Standards help increase productivity and competitive advantage

 

 

Environmental benefits - International Standards help reduce negative impacts on the environment

 

 

Businesses also benefit from taking part in the standard development process.

 

 

 

 

For Society

 

 

ISO has over 19000 standards touching almost all aspects of daily life. 

When products and services conform to International Standards consumers can have confidence that they are safe, reliable and of good quality. For example, ISO's standards on road safety, toy safety and secure medical packaging are just a selection of those that help make the world a safer place.

To make sure that the benefits of ISO International Standards are as broad as possible, ISO supports the involvement of consumers in standard development work with its Committee on consumer policy.

 

International Standards on air, water and soil quality, on emissions of gases and radiation and environmental aspects of products contribute to efforts to preserve the environment and the health of citizens.

 

 

TUV GROUP (The Universal Verification Group) plans to promote the standardization culture at the global level