Practical solutions for real-world problems

ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, brings global experts together to agree on the best way of doing things – for anything from making a product to managing a process. As one of the oldest non-governmental international organizations, ISO has enabled trade and cooperation between people and companies all over the world since 1946. The International Standards published by ISO serve to make lives easier, safer and better.

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International Standards and other deliverables covering almost all aspects of technology, management and manufacturing.

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Members representing ISO in  their country. There is only one member per country.

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Technical committees and subcommittees to take care of standards development.

The ISO way

Inclusive

ISO’s consensus-based standards development process ensures that comments from all stakeholders are taken into account

Value-driven

ISO standards serve one purpose: Making lives easier, safer and better. Learn about our vision. 

Independent

Selling our standards allows us to finance their development and maintenance in a neutral environment. 

Can-do

ISO standards are all about identifying the best solutions to global challenges.

Global

ISO members from all regions of the world nominate experts and vote on draft standards. The Central Secretariat coordinates and facilitates broad participation. 

Many languages, one name: ISO 

Because “International Organization for Standardization” would have different acronyms in different languages (IOS in English, OIN in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), its founders opted for the short form “ISO”. The story goes that ISO is derived from the Greek word “isos”, meaning equal.

Whatever the country, whatever the language, we are always ISO. 

Solutions for your challenges 

Find out what standards the ISO community has developed to address the needs of your sector! 

What is a standard?

Health

IT and related technologies

Management and services

Safety, security and risks

Transport

Energy

Diversity and inclusion

Environmental sustainability

Materials

Building and construction

Engineering

Get involved

ISO partners with other organizations to leverage the full potential of standards for sustainable development.

Explore partnership

 

ISO standards are created by the people that need them. Find out why and how to participate in standards development:

Join a committee

Contact

International Organization for Standardization
ISO Central Secretariat
Chemin de Blandonnet 8 
CP 401 
1214 Vernier (Geneva) 
Switzerland
E-mail: central@iso.org 
Tel.: +41 22 749 01 11 
Fax: +41 22 733 34 30

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