International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Brochure

membership manualISOAugust 2013Table of contentsISO : The International Organization for Standardization ...... IISO Membership .......................................................................... I/7Being an effective ISO member ...................................... I/11ISO membership fees ................................................................ I/13ISO membership team ............................................................ I/15ISO member rights, obligations and good practice ................................ IIDeveloping ISO Standards ................................................... II/5Selling ISO Standards and publications, using copyright and the ISO name and logo ....... II/13Developing ISO Policy ............................................................. II/19Governing ISO ............................................................................... II/25ISO Member Data Privacy Policy ................................. II/29ISO member benefits ........................................................ IIIEconomic and social benefits of standards ......................................................................................... III/5IT tools and services .................................................................. III/9Development and training ................................................... III/15Standardization in education and research ........... III/17Membership manualAnnex – Good Standardization Practice Self-Assessment Checklist .......................................... IVStakeholder engagement ........................................................ IV/3Due process ........................................................................................ IV/5National implementation / Adoption ....................... IV/7Transparency ..................................................................................... IV/10Openness .............................................................................................. IV/13Consensus and impartiality of decision making ...................................................................... IV/16Relevance and Effectiveness ................................................ IV/18Development of Capacity ..................................................... IV/20Coherence ........................................................................................... IV/22Documents used by national standards bodies in self-assessment ........................................................ IV/25Membership manualChapter IISO : The International Organization for Standardization I / 1 Membership manualMembership manual I / 2Through its members and stakeholders, ISO’s vision for 2015 is to be the world’s leading provider of high quality, globally relevant, voluntary International Standards. ISO standards bring technological, economic and societal benefits. They are strategic tools and guidelines to help companies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. Drawing on international expertise and experience, they are a vital resource for governments when developing regulations. ISO standards facilitate international exchange of goods and services, sup-port sustainable and equitable economic growth, promote innovation and protect health, safety and the environment. They help to harmonize technical specifications of products and services, making industry more efficient and breaking down barriers to international trade. ISO standards ensure that business operations are as efficient as possible, increase productivity and help companies access new markets. Conformity to ISO Standards helps reassure consumers that products are safe, efficient and good for the environment. I / 3 Membership manualISO’s mission is to develop standards through an effective process which meets customer needs and : • Ensures consensus amongst stakeholders and across countries, through the national delegation principle• Complies with the principles in the ISO Code of Ethics• Facilitates and supports participation by developing countries • Produces coherent, effective, widely recog-nized and relevant standards.To achieve these goals, ISO networks with many organizations such as : the World Trade Organization ; the United Nations and its agencies ; international, regional and sub-regional standards bodies ; and other organizations, agencies and groups. ISO and its members work with universi-ties and other higher education institutions to develop and implement programmes on teaching standardization as a strategic management tool to access world markets, transfer technology and promote good business practice and sustainable development. Membership manual I / 4ISO is defined in the ISO Statutes and is guided by a five-year Strategic Plan approved by ISO members. ISO also has an Action Plan for developing countries which represent three quarters of the ISO membership. The official languages of ISO are English, French and Russian. The ISO website is www.iso.org The ISO Central Secretariat (ISO CS) is in Geneva, Switzerland and, from 2014, we will have a regional office in Singapore. We provide strategic, technical and administrative sup-port to ISO members. We also coordinate the decentralized standards development process on behalf of members, and publish the output as ISO International Standards. We provide the secretariats for ISO governing bodies and policy development committees. I / 5 Membership manualMembership manual I / 6ISO MembershipStandards impact an estimated 80 % of world commodity trade. If you are not a full and active member of ISO, you are letting others decide how standards are set and under what conditions your country participates in international trade. ISO membership comes with rights, benefits, obligations and good practice : you need to actively take up your rights and benefits, adhere to your obligations, and follow good practice to deliver excellence in the ISO system and to ISO customers globally. As an ISO member, you have access to the largest, global, multi-stakeholder standards community. Our member countries generate some 98 % of world gross national income (GNI) and represent around 97 % of the world’s popula-tion. ISO Standards are developed in over 3000 technical bodies by around 100,000 experts from industry and commerce, government, consumers, labour organizations, academic and research bodies, standards bodies and non-governmental organizations in over 160 countries. Through ISO meetings and events, you share ideas and interact with people who work on standards, drawing on I / 7 Membership manualtheir insight, knowledge and expertise to tackle national, regional and global economic, social and environmental issues. ISO has one member per country. As the national representative of ISO, you are the organization most representative of standardization in your country. You can delegate membership rights and obligations to other organizations but you remain responsible to the other ISO members. Many ISO members are part of the government structure in their country or mandated by government. Others are private sector organisations. ISO is an inclusive organization with three member categories : subscriber, correspondent and full member (or member body). As the table below shows, the categories give increasing access to and influence in the ISO system : Subscriber membersCorrespondent members Full membersParticipating in developing International Standards Yes Yes YesParticipating in Developing Policy No Yes YesSelling ISO Standards and publi-cations, using copyright and the ISO name and logoNo Yes YesParticipating in governing ISO No No YesMembership manual I / 8To join ISO or to upgrade your member-ship, contact the ISO membership team at members@iso.org. You need to decide when the membership or upgrade should begin and confirm that you will : • Meet all of your obligations as an ISO member • Follow ISO rules and decisions • Pay your annual membership fees on time When joining ISO, you also need to present documents confirming your status as the organization most representative of standardiza-tion in your country. The Secretary General decides on new subscriber and correspondent memberships, and upgrades to correspondent member. ISO Council decides on admissions of and upgrades to full membership.You also need to let the ISO membership team know if your national standards body changes its name or its responsibilities. This ensures that your organization is properly registered as the ISO member in your country. I / 9 Membership manualMembership manual I / 10Being an effective ISO memberBeing an effective member of ISO means having the right people with the rights skills and experience in your national standards body. The best leaders and top managers in ISO members are dynamic, engaged and visionary – the kinds of people who leverage standards to bring economic, social and environmental benefits to their country. They understand the business : developing standards, selling standards, using the ISO brand and logo, getting the most from new technologies. They make best use of conformity assessment and they know how to engage stakeholders. They make sure they have a trained and motived team of inspired project managers who can manage stakeholder groups and engage with technical experts developing standards. They also know the importance of their user administrators for ISO ; they perform a key link between a national standards body and the ISO Central Secretariat, keeping the national standards body team and stakeholder details up to date in the ISO Global Directory.I / 11 Membership manualFor more information about human resource issues, contact Emilie Bastie, HR Business Partner, at bastie@iso.orgMembership manual I / 12ISO membership fees One of your member obligations is to pay your fair share of the costs to maintain the ISO system and Central Secretariat. This is done through membership fees decided by the ISO General Assembly. Paying your fees gives you access to your member rights and benefits.Fees are calculated using a unit value and by allocating a number of units to each member. Full member units vary according to economic importance (gross national income, exports and imports) ; correspondent and subscriber members pay a fixed number of units :• Full Members Unit value x n (n = number of units allocated)• Correspondent members Unit value x 2• Subscriber members Unit value x 0.5Each September, you receive your membership fee invoice for the following year. Full members and correspondent members pay at least 50 % by I / 13 Membership manualend March and any balance by end September. Subscriber members pay in full by end September. If you do not pay on time, your membership will be suspended or withdrawn.Full membersCorrespondent membersSubscriber membersAt least 50 % by end March Yes Yes NoBalance by end September Yes Yes NoSingle 100 % payment by end SeptemberNo No YesYou can pay your fees into either ISO bank account :UBS SA – Genève – Swift : UBSWCHZH80ACrédit Suisse - Genève – Swift : CRESCHZZ12Ac/c N° 240 - 335.120.30 C or c/c N° 4835 - 904847 - 21IBAN : CH09 0024 0240 3351 2030C IBAN : CH17 0483 5090 4847 2100 0For more information, contact Veronique Hauguel, Head of Finance at finance@iso.org.Membership manual I / 14ISO membership teamThe ISO membership team serves your member-ship needs and helps you achieve your national and international standardization goals. Drawing on ISO services and support, we can help you : • Address problems and gaps in your national and international standards strategy and develop plans for improvement • Coordinate visits to your country by senior ISO representatives to explain how ISO standards play a key role in your economy• Draw on a rich intellectual pool of member knowledge, experience and best practice• Access policy makers, governments and other stakeholders engaging with interna-tional organizations and institutions based in Geneva. We also help you :• Understand member rights, benefits, obliga-tions, and best practice• Upgrade your member category I / 15 Membership manual• Find services or support in ISO and help you solve problems • Get answers to questions about ISO policy• Access member resources • Be in touch with other ISO members • Provide visa letters of invitation to ISO meetings You can send feedback to members@iso.org on being an ISO member and any ideas for improving how ISO serves you. Or for more information, contact Pamela Tarif, Head of Membership at tarif@iso.org Membership manual I / 16Chapter IIISO member rights, obligations and good practiceII / 1 Membership manualMembership manual II / 2Depending on your member category, you have up to four statutory member rights. These are rights to : • Participate in developing ISO Standards• Sell ISO Standards and Publications, and use copyright and the ISO name and logo• Participate in developing ISO policy • Participate in governing ISOThese member rights come with statutory obligations and are implemented according to good practice. ISO and its members are also bound by legal obligations, for example on competition or anti-trust, protection of personal data and copyright. During 2014 and 2015, correspondent and subscriber members will benefit from new member rights that offer increased participation in ISO standards development work. The new rights are for those members whose national standards body wants to par-ticipate and gain experience in ISO standards development work but is unable to get support and funding to upgrade immediately to full membership. II / 3 Membership manualThe new rights mean you can participate in up to five (5) standards development committees ; comment and vote on draft and final draft ISO international standards ; and build your capacity and develop strategic partnerships through P-member ‘twinnings’. More details about these new rights are in this chapter under Developing ISO Standards. Or contact the ISO membership team to find out how to get involved. For background on twinning, see our brochure : Guidance on Twinning in ISO Standards Development Activities.Membership manual II / 4Developing ISO Standards Members participate in ISO technical com-mittees according to their national economic, social and environmental priorities. You can see the areas covered by ISO Standards on our website. There are over 220 technical com-mittees plus subcommittees, working groups and study groups. You can send delegates to participate in ISO technical committee work, according to your membership category. Find out more about working in ISO technical committees in ‘My ISO Job’.As the ISO member, you organise consulta-tions among stakeholders in your country to develop a national position on ISO Standards. There are many stakeholders who can play a role : industry and commerce, government, consumers, labour organizations, academic and research bodies, standards bodies and non-governmental organizations. For more information see our brochures, Guidance for national standards bodies – Engaging stakeholders and building consensus and Guidance for ISO liaison organizations II / 5 Membership manual– Engaging stakeholders and building consensusISO committees meet in different locations around the world, in a range of ISO member countries, including developing countries. Physical meetings raise awareness locally about the benefits of international standardization and virtual meetings reduce the cost of participation. You can offer to host a meeting by contacting the technical committee or subcommittee secretariat concerned, making sure there are no restrictions by your country on the members who would attend. IT tools for standards developmentWe have a number of ISO Electronic Applications that help you in the standards development process. These include : Event Notification ; Electronic Balloting ; Global Directory ; ISOTC Server (eCommittees) ; Meeting management ; Project Portal ; Submis-sion Interface ; National Mirror Committees. You can get access and find out more about what each tool does at : https ://login.iso.org.Membership manual II / 6The ISO Technical Policy (TECH/POL) team helps you by :• Resolving problems within or between committees and promoting coherence in the technical community• Working with the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and Technical Management Board (TMB) to publish the ISO/IEC Directives and Consolidated ISO Supplement. These set out the rules for developing International Standards and other publications and are on the ISO website : policies and directives.• Being secretariat to the Technical Manage-ment Board and informing ISO members about TMB decisions • Supporting members develop new areas for standardization• Promoting the ISO Code of Ethics on how members operate in the ISO System ; and the ISO Code of Conduct for those partici-pating in standards development • Giving advice on setting up twinning arrangements between developed and developing country members to participate II / 7 Membership manualas a P-member, running a Secretariat or acting as Committee ChairFor more information contact Sophie Clivio, Technical Policy Manager at clivio@iso.org The ISO Standards Development team :• Provides professional advice and guidance to ISO technical committees• Coordinates ISO’s decentralized standards development process, and • Edits and publishes ISO Standards For more information contact Trevor Vyze, Director of Standards at vyze@iso.org Membership manual II / 8You have rights to participate in developing ISO Standards according to your member category : Full membersCorrespondent membersSubscriber membersParticipate as a P-member in an ISO technical committee, subcommittee, working groupYesYes, in up to 5 committees (during 2014-2015)Yes, in up to 5 committees (during 2014-2015)Twin as a TC P-member Yes Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Submit comments on draft ISO StandardsYes, in the committees where you are a P- or O- member Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Vote on draft standardsYes, all draft standardsYes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Nominate delegates to a technical committee or subcommitteeYesYes, in the committees where you are an observer ; and those where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)II / 9 Membership manual Full membersCorrespondent membersSubscriber membersNominate experts to working groupsYesYes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Yes, in the committees where you are a P-member (during 2014-2015)Participate as an O-member in an ISO technical committee, subcommittee or working group ; comment on CD draft, and vote on DIS/FDIS Yes As an Observer but no rights to comment or voteNoHold a secretariat, chair or convenorship of an ISO technical committee or subcommittee YesNo (committee leadership roles are open only to full members)No (committee leadership roles are open only to full members)Twin as a TC Secretary YesNo (committee leadership roles are open only to full members)No (committee leadership roles are open only to full members)Twin as a TC Chair Yes No (committee leadership roles are open only to full members)No (committee leadership roles are open only to full members)Propose a new work item for standards developmentYes No NoMembership manual II / 10When developing ISO Standards, you must : • Vote on all draft standards in the commit-tees you participate in as a P-member• Organize consultations among your stake-holders to develop national positions on draft ISO Standards and present them to the relevant ISO technical committees• Respect the results of ISO consensus-building• Follow the ISO Code of Ethics and the ISO Code of Conduct• Follow TMB rules and respect TMB decisions • When holding Secretariats, act without bias and ensure you have the resources to perform your dutiesII / 11 Membership manualGood standardization practice : To ensure ISO global relevance and acceptance worldwide, ISO Standards are developed according to good standardization practice. As an ISO member, you are a part of this good practice. This means that, to develop standards, you need to have standards systems and processes in your national standards body that are open, transparent, inclusive, impartial, effective, relevant and coher-ent. You also need to follow ISO rules, involve stakeholders, and be able to implement and adopt ISO Standards. You can see a self-assessment checklist of good standardization practice at the end of this Manual.Membership manual II / 12Selling ISO Standards and publications, using copyright and the ISO name and logoISO Standards and publications Our Marketing, Communication and Information team have tools and experience to help you promote the sales of ISO Standards and publications. We provide details about customers and best-selling standards in your country so you can organize your commercial activities, establish relationships with your customers, and develop services and products to meet national customer needs.As a full member or correspondent member, you are authorized to promote and sell ISO standards and publications in your country. The conditions are that you respect the obligations in ISO POCOSA 2012, ISO’s copyright and commercial policy, which is the equivalent of a distribution agreement. As an ISO member you have a key responsibility to disseminate ISO standards in your country, selling them to customers directly ; through a local distribution agent ; or through the ISO Central Secretariat sales team : sales@iso.org. You can download ISO standards II / 13 Membership manualfrom the ISOSTD server - in different formats and languages - to sell them to your customers. In addition, you can benefit from ISOlutions web stores to let customers in your country buy ISO standards online from your website. We offer training on marketing, sales and com-munication - including for the new ISOlutions webstores - to help you develop your marketing and communication activities, and meet your obligations to protect ISO’s copyright. Courses are available for full and correspondent members and can be organized at the Central Secretariat in Geneva or at other locations on a regional basis. Customized training can also be arranged. Find out more about training services, including a list of courses and how to participate here : www.iso.org/iso/home/about/training-technical-assistance/training-services.htmNicolas Fleury, Director of Marketing, Com-munication and Information helps you sell ISO standards and publications, and use ISO copyright and trademarks. Contact Nicolas at fleury@iso.org Membership manual II / 14ISO copyright and Trademarks ISO and its members earn income from the copyright in ISO Standards. Our trademarks – the ISO name and logo – distinguish our goods and services from those of other organisations. You must protect ISO copyright and trademarks and tackle infringement in your country. Unauthorized use undermines our business revenue model, causes confusion and damages the positive image of ISO.Holger Gehring, Legal Adviser helps you protect ISO copyright and trademarks. Contact Holger at gehring@iso.org or logo@iso.orgII / 15 Membership manualYou have rights to sell ISO Standards and publications, and use copyright and trademarks according to your member category Full membersCorrespondent membersSubscriber membersDownload ISO Standards from ISOSTD for national adoption, translation or sale in Word, PDF, XML and e-pub formatsYes YesReproduce, translate or adapt commercial publications (other than ISO Standards) to sell to your customers Yes Yes NoReproduce, adapt and translate ISO promotional publications and videos for local use Yes Yes NoRe-use content like news and pages published on the ISO websiteYes Yes YesUse ISO name and logo Yes YesNo, except to promote your membership in ISOMembership manual II / 16When selling ISO Standards and Publications, using Copyright and the ISO name and logo, you must :• Respect the ISO Policy for the distribution of ISO publications and the protection of ISO’s copyright, as set out in ISO POCOSA 2012 and the Policy for the protection and use of ISO trademarks, ISO/GEN 31:2010 NB : ISO POCOSA 2012 entered into force on 1 January 2013, replacing ISO POCOSA 2005 and ISO/GEN 9:2007. There is a transition period until 30 June 2014 after which you must comply with ISO POCOSA 2012. II / 17 Membership manualMembership manual II / 18Developing ISO Policy ISO has three policy development committees : CASCO, COPOLCO and DEVCO. CASCO : the Committee on conformity assessmentConformity assessment activities test the conform-ity of products, services and systems. Conformity assessment processes test the compliance of products and services with relevant standards, regulations and other specifications. This helps ensure products and services deliver on their promises and builds consumer trust. Governments and buyers often only invite bids for procurement contracts from manufacturers and service providers that meet conformity assessment requirements. CASCO members develop policy on issues such as mutual recognition and acceptance of national and regional conformity assessment systems. CASCO also develops conformity assessment standards and guides for certification bodies (that certify products, processes, services and management II / 19 Membership manualsystems), testing laboratories inspection bodies and accreditation bodies. The CASCO ‘Chairman’s Policy and Coordi-nation Group’ includes ten ISO members and representatives from liaison organizations. It coordinates the work of CASCO subcommittees and working groups.You can read more about conformity assessment in our brochure Building Trust. For more information or to join CASCO, contact Sean MacCurtain, CASCO Secretary at maccurtain@iso.org or casco@iso.orgCOPOLCO : the Committee on consumer policy COPOLCO coordinates consumer participation in the standards development process at the international level ; provides a forum for sharing best practices for consumer participation at national level ; and advises ISO on policy and standards-related matters from the consumer perspective. COPOLCO members :• Exchange information on helping con-sumers benefit from standardization and Membership manual II / 20issues related to consumer participation in standardization• Develop consumer-oriented policy and standards proposals for ISO, and • Channel consumer views into the ISO system. You can read more in our publications ISO and the consumer, Involving consumers : Why and how – practical guidance for standards development bodies, and Your voice matters : Why consumers need to participate in standards-making – and how to get involved. The COPOLCO ‘Chair’s Group’ is open to committed members of COPOLCO to help the Chair fulfill COPOLCO's mandate.For more information or to join COPOLCO, contact Dana Kissinger-Matray, Secretary of COPOLCO at kissinger@iso.org or copolco@iso.orgII / 21 Membership manualDEVCO : the Committee on developing country matters DEVCO is the Committee on developing country matters and is a forum for developed and developing countries to exchange views. DEVCO members meet annually to :• Identify the standardization needs of devel-oping countries • Recommend action to help developing countries meet these needs• Monitor implementation of the ISO Action Plan for developing countries.Through training, DEVCO helps developing country members build their capacity and understanding of the process of standardization.The DEVCO Chair's Advisory Group (CAG) consists of eleven ISO members who monitor implementation of the Action Plan for developing countries. For more information or to join DEVCO, contact Beer Budoo, Secretary of DEVCO at budoo@iso.org or dev@iso.orgMembership manual II / 22You have rights to develop ISO policy according to your member category Full membersCorrespondent membersSubscriber membersBe a participating member Yes, in all three committeesNo NoBe an observing member Yes, in all three committees Yes, in all three committeesNoNominate experts to a CASCO, COPOLCO or DEVCO working groupYes No NoBe on a CASCO, COPOLCO or DEVCO Chair’s groupYes No NoII / 23 Membership manualMembership manual II / 24Governing ISOISO governing bodies are made up of ISO members. ISO General Assembly The annual ISO General Assembly is the highest governing body of ISO and it takes decisions usually based on Council recommendations. Its terms of reference are defined in Article 6 of the ISO Statutes and it follows Rules of Procedure. All members attend the General Assembly. It meets in different countries and brings together decision makers in the world of standardization. It is a dynamic and interactive event where members exchange ideas and shape the future of ISO. ISO Council The ISO Council meets twice a year and takes most governance decisions. Council follows Rules of Procedure and its terms of reference are defined in Article 7 of the ISO Statutes. Twenty ISO members sit on Council along with the ISO Principal Officers and Chairs of the II / 25 Membership manualPolicy Development Committees - CASCO, COPOLCO and DEVCO. Two Standing Com-mittees, made up of Council members, advise on financial, strategic and policy matters. ISO President’s CommitteeThe President’s Committee is made up of the ISO Principal Officers. It reports to ISO Council and monitors the effectiveness of ISO governance processes ; oversees implementation of ISO Council and ISO General Assembly decisions ; coordinates the work of ISO governance committees ; and acts as a nomination committee for ISO governance positions. For more information about the ISO General Assembly, ISO Council or ISO President’s Com-mittee, contact José Baltar, Head of Governance at gov@iso.org Technical Management BoardThe technical work of ISO is managed by the Technical Management Board (TMB) which reports to ISO Council. The TMB is chaired by the ISO Vice-President (Technical Management) Membership manual II / 26and has 14 members (15 from 2014). The TMB manages the ISO technical committee structure, strategic planning, coordination, performance, and monitoring of committee activities. It also oversees the rules – called the ‘Directives’ - for the development of International Standards. For more information contact Sophie Clivio, Secretary of the TMB at tmb@iso.org II / 27 Membership manualYou have rights to participate in governing ISO according to your member category Full membersCorrespondent membersSubscriber membersGeneral Assembly Attend General Assembly Yes Yes YesPropose items for General Assembly agendaYes Yes YesSpeak in the General Assembly plenaryYes Yes YesVote in the General Assembly Yes No NoCouncil Nominate candidates for Council membershipYes No NoBe a Council and Council standing committee member Yes No NoTMB Nominate candidates for TMB membershipYes No NoBe a TMB member Yes, if you hold a leadership roleNo NoWhen participating in governing ISO, you must :• Act on behalf of all ISO members (Council or the TMB).Membership manual II / 28ISO Member Data Privacy PolicyISO is a global, collaborative system that is becoming more transparent and sharing more information. At the same time, there is growing concern about protecting information on indi-viduals : their “Personal Data” - including names, email addresses, physical addresses, telephone numbers etc. This is leading many governments to introduce tighter regulation to protect us from harmful use of our data. ISO, like all legal entities, must ensure it complies with data privacy legislation. Council will take a decision soon on a new ISO Member Data Privacy Policy to protect the data of everyone in the ISO system. This will enable us - ISO Central Secretariat and ISO members - to comply with relevant legislation. More information will follow later in 2013. If you have questions, please contact the ISO membership team at members@iso.org II / 29 Membership manualMembership manual II / 30Chapter IIIISO member benefitsIII / 1 Membership manualMembership manual III / 2In addition to your statutory member rights, you also have member benefits, according to your member category. These include services and resources such as :• The benefits of standards• IT tools and services• Training events and workshops • Standardization in educationIII / 3 Membership manualMembership manual III / 4Economic and social benefits of standards ISO members play a key role in highlighting the benefits of standards to stakeholders in their country and helping them to exploit the value of standards. The ISO Central Secretariat offers expert advice to members on the economic and social benefits of standards, so you can help decision makers in your country understand the national importance of standards, and the critical role they play to promote economic and social development, innovation and support public policy :• Standards help companies improve opera-tional efficiency and reduce costs. They help rationalize processes ; increase efficiency and effectiveness of supply chains ; reduce trans-action costs and enable economies of scale. Standards also create business opportunities, facilitating access to broader target markets, increasing consumer confidence, making it easier and faster for companies to introduce new products or develop new markets. These benefits are tangible and quantifiable. A series of ground-breaking case studies by III / 5 Membership manualISO and partner organizations, based on the experiences of tens of companies operating in a variety of business sectors in over 20 countries, shows that implementing stand-ards contribute to company gross profits in a measure ranging from 0.5 to 4 % of annual sales revenue to gross company profits.• Standards help consumers by : improving choice and access to goods and services ; lowering costs ; protecting health, safety and the environment ; and making it easier to assess the quality and reliability of products and services. ISO is developing new case studies to quantify these benefits. • Standards are an important instrument for public authorities. They help develop and promote efficiently measures of public utility– for example on safety, security, and protection of the environment - and can help achieve targets in these areas. Standards also support public policies favouring eco-nomic development and consumer interests because they open markets and stimulate competition. Membership manual III / 6• The use of standards in technical regula-tion protects local industries that produce good quality products, from unfair com-petition by imported and sub-standard goods. Technical regulations based on standards are likely to receive public and stakeholder acceptance, and meet World Trade Organisation (WTO) requirements. As international trade increasingly under-pins economic growth and development, including in developing countries, national standards bodies have a key role to play in advising government on using standards as a basis, a complement or a substitute for technical regulation. For more information, see our collection of studies on the economic and social benefits of standards, or contact Daniele Gerundino, Strategic Adviser to the Secretary General, at gerundino@iso.orgIII / 7 Membership manualMembership manual III / 8IT tools and servicesISO Connect : For the latest ISO news, events, and projects go to ISO Connect. It is for everyone in the ISO system (members, chairs, secretaries, experts, etc.). Log in using your ISO Global Directory account username and password. If you don’t have one, you can register using your email address : https ://connect.iso.orgThe ISO Central Secretariat provides many information technology (IT) tools for you to carry out your national and international standards work effectively. You can use some or all of the IT services as needed, depending on your membership category. For details, go to : https ://connect.iso.org/x/eIAwISO IT tools include :• Tools and services for your international standards development work. Free of charge and backed up with support from a HelpDesk that understands your business. (Contact helpdesk@iso.org). For more details about the tools and services themselves go to : https ://connect.iso.org/x/eIAwIII / 9 Membership manual• ISOlutions : ISO hosted services to help you perform your national work. ISOlutions supports members performing national and regional standardization work, through closely integrated IT solutions. Our hosted services now include solutions for standards development, publishing & products and mar-keting & sales (including national webstores). For more details go to : https ://connect.iso.org/x/fIAw• Interface services to enable ISO members and partners to exchange information and data with ISO's IT services. For more details go to : https ://connect.iso.org/x/d4Aw• Leadership and support for common IT-related initiatives such as management of central procurement agreements with suppliers. For more details go to : https ://connect.iso.org/x/J4AwMembership manual III / 10Accessing IT toolsTo enter your staff and experts into the ISO system and get access to ISO IT tools, you first need to appoint a user administrator who will manage user accounts and committee roles through the ISO Global Directory. If you need help, contact helpdesk@iso.org• For ISO’s IT tools and services for interna-tional standardization work go to : https ://login.iso.org• For ISOlutions hosted services for national and regional standardization work go to : https ://isolutions.iso.org Other useful tools• www.ISO.org is the public website of ISO and covers all aspects of ISO work• WebEx : This web conferencing service is free of charge to ISO members, technical committees and subcommittees, working groups, and experts for any ISO-related work. Find out how to get an account, schedule a meeting and more, here : https ://connect.iso.org/x/ZoAwIII / 11 Membership manual• Webex for Developing Countries : ISO offers full and correspondent members from developing countries free, unlimited use of our WebEx web conferencing system for your national standards development work. Find our more here : https ://connect.iso.org/x/koAw• The Online Browsing Platform (OBP) provides easy access to the most up to date content in ISO standards, graphical sym-bols, codes and terms & definitions. Preview content, search within documents and easily navigate between standards here : www.iso.org/obpIT tools trainingWe offer training to help you use ISO IT tools and applications. Courses are available to all ISO members and can be organized at the Central Secretariat in Geneva or at other locations on request. Find out more about training services, including a list of courses and how to participate here : http ://www.iso.org/iso/home/about/training-technical-assistance/training-services.htmMembership manual III / 12Support & feedbackFor help with or advice about any of the ISO IT tools and services, please contact our International Helpdesk at helpdesk@iso.org. Alternatively you can tell us about your IT needs by contacting the IT Advisory Group (ITAG) or the ISOurce group (for contact details go to : https ://connect.iso.org/x/b4Aw). Or contact David Ratcliffe, Director of Information Technology and Electronic Services at ratcliffe@iso.orgIII / 13 Membership manualMembership manual III / 14Development and trainingThe ISO Development and Training Services (DEVT) team offer training courses and technical assistance on a wide range of topics to help you, your experts and other stakeholders who perform key standardization roles :• Build capacity to meet your standardization responsibilities• Address gaps in your national standards development processes and governance • Learn to use standards to tackle global challenges• Bring international trade benefits to your countryFull details are set out in our catalogue Developing talent. The online version is always up to date and shows the target audience for each course and a summary of any financial support. Developing country participants are eligible for donor fund-ing under the ISO Action Plan for developing countries. Developed country participants fund their own participation. Some courses are held in Geneva, others are regional events. We also run III / 15 Membership manualcustomized regional and in-country training for members on a cost recovery basis.For more details, contact Beer Budoo, Direc-tor Development and Training Services at budoo@iso.org or dev@iso.orgMembership manual III / 16Standardization in education and researchISO is strengthening its efforts to promote standardization in education and research through :• Regional workshops which bring national standards bodies and academia together to share experience and develop best practice on standardization in educational curricula. • A new repository of teaching materials available for members, including original ISO content for the University of Geneva Master’s Degree Course on “Standardiza-tion, Social Regulation and Sustainable Development” • New initiatives to promote standardization in education and research by capturing member input from regional workshops and defining best practice. For more information on standardization in educa-tion, contact Daniele Gerundino, Strategic Adviser to the Secretary General, at gerundino@iso.orgIII / 17 Membership manualMembership manual III / 18AnnexGood Standardization Practice Self-Assessment ChecklistIV / 1 Membership manualMembership manual IV / 2Stakeholder engagementWhat it means : Processes are in place to ensure that the organization engages meaningfully with stakeholders at the organizational level as well as at the project level to ensure greater relevance to the local stakeholdersThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para H) … They shall also make every effort to achieve a national consensus on the standards they develop…Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How are stakeholders in-formed about new projects ?• Notification mechanism• Procedures – allow for participation• Bulletins• Web sites• Work programme How is the contribution by all stakeholders assessed when voting ?• Voting rules• Voting records• Disposition of comments – were all comments logged and considered ? IV / 3 Membership manualKey Questions Typical EvidenceHow are committee leaders made accountable to seek input from absent or non-contributing stakeholders ?• Code of conduct• Training events / training material• Attendance records• Objections and complaintsCommittees How do you ensure that com-mittees represent a balance of interests ?• Procedures• Review• Business plansHow is representivity or bal-ance of a committee, working group or mirror committee assessed ?a) Groupsb) Decisions• Forms – voting records• Membership data - reports• Minutes of meetingsHow does the NSB avoid situa-tions where individual interests dominate ?• Review • AppealsHow do committees identify important stakeholder groups at a) the committee level, and b) for each approved project ?• TC business plans• Project proposal forms• Project Value Assessment processHow do committees attract the participation of new stake-holders and encourage the use and uptake of published standards ?• Communique’s• Bulletin• Advertisements• Launch functions• Training courses and seminarsOrganisation How are stakeholders con-sulted when setting standards priorities ?• Consultation processes• Advisory groupsMembership manual IV / 4Due processWhat it means : A rigorous system is in place to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected and that the principles of good standards practice are adhered to by the organization. The process is defined by rules and the rules are regularly and consistently followed. The standards and their provisions do not result in unfair, unreasonable or arbitrary treatment of any of the parties.The relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para D)… shall accord treatment to products originating in the territory of any other Member of the WTO no less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin and to like products originating in any other country(para E)… shall ensure that standards are not prepared, adopted or applied with a view to, or with the effect of, creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade(para N)… shall take into account, comments received during the period for commenting. IV / 5 Membership manualComments received through [other] standardizing bodies… shall … be replied to as promptly as possible. The reply shall include an explanation why a deviation from relevant international standards is necessary(para O) … Once the standard has been adopted, it shall be promptly published.Key Questions Typical EvidencePolicies How do you check that your policies don’t unfairly discrimi-nate against any interests ?• Policies and procedures• ReviewHow are all legitimate interests accommodated ?• Principles contained in proceduresHow do you check that polices are applied consistently over time and across committees and projects ?• Regular auditsProjects How do you verify that stand-ards projects are approved based on a real need in the country ?• Value and needs assessment • Project approval process• Standards Strategy• TC business plansHow are you assured that all of the provisions of the standard are necessary and contribute to the agreed scope of the project ?• Formal Technical review process• Technical editing process• Public commentsMembership manual IV / 6Key Questions Typical EvidenceCommittees What systems are in place to receive and consider com-ments from other standards bodies related to standards under development in your committees ?• Notification Enquiry handling proceduresWhat is the average time taken after formal approval of a draft document for it to be published and available for purchase by interested stakeholders ?• Formal stage codes defined• Project management process• Publication data• Notification dataOrganisation How are policies reviewed for effectiveness ?• Management review of poli-cies and proceduresWhat formal quality manage-ment system is in place in your organisation ?• Quality ManualNational implementation / AdoptionWhat it means : The National Standards body demonstrates a commitment to adopting international standards as their own, withdrawing conflicting national standards and facilitating the implementation of standards in their marketsIV / 7 Membership manualThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para F) …Where international standards exist or their completion is imminent, the standardizing body shall use them, or the relevant parts of them, as a basis for the standards it develops, except where such international standards or relevant parts would be ineffective or inappropriate…(para G)… shall, in an appropriate way, play a full part, within the limits of its resources, in the preparation by relevant international standardizing bodies of international standards regarding subject matter for which it either has adopted, or expects to adopt, standards…Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How do national technical Committees decide on stand-ards projects ?• TC business plans• Standards Strategy and Policy• Information sessionsHow do you identify, track and report any permitted changes to international standards when adopted in your country (e.g. environmental or infra-structure constraints) ?• Notification procedureMembership manual IV / 8Key Questions Typical EvidenceHow is the participation in international organisations and the adoption of international standards addressed in rules for drafting standards ?• Standards strategy and policy• Voting rules • Approval procedure – is there a difference in the way standards are adopted “off catalogue” to when you have actively participated in the development ?Committees How does participation in international committees get coordinated ?• Rules for mirror committees• Records of national votes and positions• National consensus positionsHow is a balanced / repre-sentative opinion formed on issues in cases where no manufacturing capacity exists in your country ?• Rules for representivity and openness of committees or groups• Formulation of mandates by delegations• Delegation reportsWhat agreements are in place with organisations form which you wish to adopt standards and in whose processes you would like to participate ?• Membership agreements• Membership obligations• Participation statisticsDescribe any programmes or efforts to promote the im-plementation of international standards in your country• Training course• Launch functions• Pamphlets and bulletinsOrganisation What support is available to facilitate attending interna-tional standards meetings ?• Travel budget / FinanceIV / 9 Membership manualKey Questions Typical EvidenceTo what extent does the or-ganisation commit to aligning regionally and internationally ?• PolicyHow does the organisation measure the degree to which aligns its standards with international norms ?• Alignment metrics and reportsTransparencyThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para J)… publish, make public, and notify the availability of a work programme at least once every six months.(para K) … make every effort to become a member of ISONET…(para L) … publish a notice announcing the period for commenting in the publication referred to in paragraph J. Such notification shall include, as far as practicable, whether the draft standard deviates from relevant international standards.Membership manual IV / 10(para N) … take into account,… the comments received during the period for commenting. Comments received through [other] standardizing bodies … shall, if so requested, be replied to as promptly as possible. The reply shall include an explanation why a deviation from relevant international standards is necessary.(para P) … promptly provide, or arrange to provide, a copy of its most recent work programme or of a standard which it produced. Any fees charged for this service shall, apart from the real cost of delivery, be the same for foreign and domestic partiesIV / 11 Membership manualKey Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How are stakeholders informed of new work items under consideration?Drafts for public comment: How is the general public in-formed of draft standards be-ing considered for publication?Are stakeholders outside the country notified and is the information as readily available to them as local stakeholders?Can stakeholders view the scope of the proposed stand-ards for free?Do you charge stakeholders to receive the full text of the final draft standard?• Work programme published and made available at regu-lar intervals (no less than six monthly): ? Internet ? Gazette ? Newsletter (on-line or paper) ? Others• Medium used for notice (non-discriminatory)• Adequate time is provided for comment (comment periods)• Procedures on how to comment• Procedures - clearly communicated• Comments are taken into account (statistics)• Is the approval process inde-pendent of those responsible to deliver the standard?• Final approval of document considers any comments received during public enquiry - form.• Records of commentsHow do you provide assurance that all comments are logged and considered before final approval of the document for publication?• Independent process • Open to public scrutiny• Regularly auditedMembership manual IV / 12Key Questions Typical EvidenceHow soon (on average) after formal approval of documents for publication is the document available for purchase?• Publication statistics from project management data.• Clear definition of stage codesCommittees How is the TC work pro-gramme made available?• TC work programme – • Bulletins• Web site – publically accessibleHow do you make available or distribute drafts for considera-tion by committee members?How do you allow for them to further disseminate the drafts to their constituents? • Document distribution system• Passive – pick up based on notification• Active – sent via email ? RecordsIs a standard system of clas-sification of standards by sub-ject matter employed to allow easy access to the standards by interested parties?• ISO onlineHow are trading partners and other standards bodies informed of the programme of work of the NSB?• ISO online• Notification procedureOpennessThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :IV / 13 Membership manual(para J…) (part) The notification shall contain the name and address of the standardizing body, the name and issue of the publication in which the work programme is published, the period to which the work programme applies, its price (if any), and how and where it can be obtained...(para L) … shall allow a period of at least 60 days for the submission of comments on the draft standard by interested parties within the territory of a Member of the WTO. This period may, however, be shortened ….(para M) … On the request … shall promptly provide … a copy of a draft standard which it has submitted for comments. Any fees charged for this service shall, apart from the real cost of delivery, be the same for foreign and domestic parties. Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How do you ensure that those wishing to participate or have their voice heard can do so ?How do you ensure that you do not discriminate against any of the legitimate interests ? • Notification procedures• Member acceptance process • Fees requirement• Mode of participation (do you meet physically or is work done via IT tools)Membership manual IV / 14 Key Questions Typical Evidence What do you define as “legiti-mate and appropriate” repre-sentation on committees ?• Rules of membershipCommittees What is the current composi-tion of stakeholders on you committees? • TC records• Membership classification system• DatabaseWhat processes do you have in place to ensure that experts serving on mirror committees represent a good balance of the national interests ?• TC review of mirror com-mittee representation and performance• Procedures for mirror committees• Mirror committee mem-bership and participation records How do you ensure that delegations to international standards setting meetings act in accordance with the mandate of the representative mirror committee ?• Formal mandate formulation• Formal comments submission• Trip reports and recommendations Are minimum comment periods (60 days) for public comments before the approval of national standards adhered to ? • Formal system to register up-loaded drafts and closing periods• Deviations and conces-sions (shortened circulation period) are duly authorised and recorded.• Procedures describe circum-stances under which circula-tion can be shortened. IV / 15 Membership manual Key Questions Typical Evidence Are processes in place to develop awareness among a wider range of stakeholders and to overcome barriers that may have prevented groups form participating previously ?• Availability of information• Awareness an advocacy programmes• Advertising• Capacity developmentOrganisation How does your organisation obtain strategic level input from important stakeholder groups in setting its direction ?• Membership of governance structures (Boards)• Advisory committeesConsensus and impartiality of decision makingThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para H) (second part) … make every effort to achieve a national consensus on the standards they develop.Membership manual IV / 16 Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How do demonstrate that consensus was reached before any national standard is published ?• Records or voting• Includes all responses and all interests polled.Where does the organisa-tion commit to developing its standards by consensus and how is consensus defined ?• Policies• Enabling legislation• Terms of referenceCommittees How do you ensure all relevant interests were party to the development of standards ?• Committee records• Project records• Balance or representivity requirements What practices are used to take into account the views of all parties and to reconcile any conflicting arguments ? • Chair training• Voting rules• Appeals mechanismsHow are decisions made when certain arguments cannot be reconciled ?• Training of committee chairs• Calling for votes and Voting rulesHow are decisions made by the committee appealed ?• Appeals mechanisms (pro-cess and records)Organisation How is the organisation funded and does this affect the inde-pendence of decision making ?• Accounts • Annual Report What is the legal status of the standards body• Enabling legislation / man-date or agreements defining reporting structures respon-sibilities and dependencies.IV / 17 Membership manualRelevance and EffectivenessThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para E)… ensure that standards are not prepared, adopted or applied with a view to, or with the effect of, creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade.(para I) … Wherever appropriate, the stand-ardizing body shall specify standards based on product requirements in terms of performance rather than design or descriptive characteristics. Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How do you identify new standard’s needs ?Is the mechanism mostly proactive or reactive ?• Strategic planning processTake into account economic imperativesCover agreed measures or indicators of relevance and set targets for improvement• TC business plansClear project definitions (what’s in scope, what’s out)How do you assess that potential standards are needed and set out to solve a real problem ?• Assessment toolWhat parameters are tracked ?Membership manual IV / 18 Key Questions Typical EvidenceHow do you ensure that published standards remain relevant and effectively solve the problems they set out to address ?• Regular systematic reviews of standards• Does the process (proce-dure and forms) require an assessment of usefulness of the document when con-sidering options (withdraw, revise, reaffirm) How do you ensure that inter-national standards adopted as national standards are kept up to date ?• Information resources• Alignment of project information and information resources• Formal assessment of respective programmes of work.What mechanisms do you have to ensure that standards do not restrict new technolo-gies or small operators ?How do you respond to com-plaints regarding the fairness of existing standards ? • Editorial policy – Standards should be output base• Patent Policy – considera-tions when using patented or specified solutions• Complaint handling and recording of issuesWhat quality checks do you have in place to ensure that documents do not :Limit applicability of the stand-ard to all suppliers ;Restrict the technology used ; orDiscriminate against certain players ?• Editorial process• Technical review processIV / 19 Membership manual Key Questions Typical EvidenceHow do you ensure that the correct standard is purchased by the customers ?• Returns policy• Customer satisfaction sur-veys/ complaints • Customer assistance• Information and advice resources• On-line customers can view scope before purchasingDevelopment of CapacityThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para F)… use existing international standards or those where completion is imminent, as a basis for the standards it develops.(para G)… play a full part, within the limits of its resources, in the preparation by relevant international standardizing bodies of international standards regarding subject matter for which it either has adopted, or expects to adopt, standards.(para Q)… body shall afford sympathetic consideration to, and adequate opportunity for, consultation regarding representations with Membership manual IV / 20respect to the operation of this Code presented by standardizing bodies that have accepted this Code of Good Practice…Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects When participating interna-tionally, how do you set up representative local structures (mirror committees) ?• Procedures covering the es-tablishment and composition of mirror committeesCommittees How do you promote standards and standardisation to groups who may not be familiar with the subject (SMEs say) ?• Outreach and promotion activities• Road shows• Information sessionsHow do you cater for new entrants or those not familiar with standards ?• Member assistance and orientation• Training courses / materialOrganisation Do you have cooperation agreements with other stand-ards bodies ?• Bi-lateral• multi-lateral• RegionalHow do you assist other organisations ?• Articles • reportsIn the past 12 months, what development programmes have members of you staff participated in ?• ProgrammesIV / 21 Membership manualCoherenceThe relevant substantive provisions under Annex 3 of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade agreement are :(para H)… make every effort to avoid duplication of, or overlap with, the work of other standardizing bodies in the national territory or with the work of relevant international or regional standardizing bodies.(para K) … make every effort to become a member of ISONET…Key Questions Typical EvidenceProjects How do you ensure that standards do not conflict with one another ?• Consideration of conflict dur-ing project proposal phase• Classification based on subjects• Assignment of key words and search criteriaHow do you handle supersed-ed and withdrawn standards ?• Withdrawal procedure• Data base, library managementHow do you ensure that two committees do not develop different standards for the same subject?• Consideration of conflict dur-ing project proposal phase• Classification based on subjectsMembership manual IV / 22Key Questions Typical EvidenceHow do you check that projects do not conflict with published international or regional standards, or with projects which are likely to be completed?• Approval process• Forms• Formal information searchHow do you track changes from one edition of a standard to the next ?• Change control procedures• Changes part of data about standardsHow do you ensure that stand-ards work with legislation ?Do not conflict with legal frameworkTechnical provisions of the standard satisfy the regulatory objectives • Legal review• Involvement of public of-ficials in projectsIf development is contracted to SDO’s how do you :Approve projects proposals ?Approve standards as national standards ?Ensure that two groups are not working on standards for the same subject ?• SDO agreements• Project approval process and mechanism• Approval process• Common Classification sys-tem – common to all playersOrganisation Is there a commitment to align standards internationally or re-gionally based on factors such as economic imperatives or regional and bilateral coopera-tion and trade agreements ?• Procedures• Alignment commitment IV / 23 Membership manualKey Questions Typical EvidenceAre there agreements with other bodies generating stand-ards with which you want to align ?What are the membership con-ditions of the organisations ?How do you manage your obligations ?• Agreements• Procedure or records of obligations• Sales and distribution agreements• Liaison functionProjects When participating interna-tionally, how do you set up representative local structures (mirror committees) ?• Procedures covering the es-tablishment and composition of mirror committeesCommittees How do you promote standards and standardisation to groups who may not be familiar with the subject (SMEs say) ?• Outreach and promotion activities• Road shows• Information sessionsHow do you cater for new entrants or those not familiar with standards ?• Member assistance and orientation• Training courses / materialOrganisation Do you have cooperation agreements with other stand-ards bodies ?• Bi-lateral• multi-lateral• RegionalHow do you assist other organisations ?• Articles • reportsIn the past 12 months, what development programmes have members of you staff participated in ?• ProgrammesMembership manual IV / 24Documents used by national standards bodies in self-assessment :• Notifications (actual notices of new or intended standards) • Notification procedure (how it should be done)• Rules for mirror committees• External arrangements with other standards bodies – partnerships with other NSBS or ISBS• IT infrastructure, programmes and data-bases related to standards development• Tasks and duties of the IT Department• List of adopted standards (adopted without change)• List of national amendments (deviations) to adopted standards• Link to published standards as well as those adopted by cover page method • List of national Technical committeesIV / 25 Membership manual• List of mirror committees to international work• List of WG experts• Records of comments and votes• Statistics showing the levels of different stakeholder groups such as SME, consum-ers, academics, regulators, industry etc) [Pie charts]• TC minutes - Templates and actual minutes of TC meetings - Ratification and approval process - Action plans related to decisions taken at the meetings• TC Agendas• Templates and actual agendas• Quality Manual • Forms used in the processing of standards• Adoption procedure • Production numbers and statistics - Total numbers – Membership manual IV / 26 - Standards : Percentage adopted - Rolling 12 month data - New standards : percentage adopted• Reaffirmations of published standards - # reaffirmations due - # reaffirmed in the last 12 months - # overdue reaffirmations• Training courses held for committee members• Public meetings and information sessions• Bulletins and publications• Web site • Drafts issued for public comment• Public comments receivedIV / 27 Membership manualInternational Organization for Standardization1, chemin de la Voie-Creuse Case postale 56 CH -1211 Genève 20 SwitzerlandTel. +41 22 749 01 11 Fax +41 22 733 34 30 E-mail central@iso.org Web www.iso.orgISBN 978-92-67-10611-3 Version 2013 © ISO, 2013-07 ISO?: The International Organization for Standardization ISO Membership Being an effective ISO member ISO membership fees ISO membership team ISO member rights, obligations and good practice Developing ISO Standards Developing ISO Policy Governing ISO ISO Member Data Privacy Policy ISO member benefits Economic and social benefits of standards IT tools and services Development and training Standardization in education and research Good Standardization Practice Stakeholder engagement Due process National implementation / Adoption Transparency Openness Consensus and impartiality of decision making Relevance and Effectiveness Development of Capacity Coherence