International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

About ISO

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization headquartered in Vernier near Geneva (Switzerland). It was initiated in 1946 by a meeting of 65 delegates from 25 countries in London and officially founded in 1947 with 67 technical committees. ISO brings together experts from 177 member organizations to develop international standards by consensus; to date, more than 26,500 international standards and other publications have been published. The standards cover almost all areas of technology, management and manufacturing, including quality management, information security, environmental management, occupational safety and energy. ISO itself does not perform certifications and does not issue certificates; for conformity assessment, the CASCO committee provides the appropriate standards. The Central Secretariat coordinates and supports the work of the 844 technical committees and subcommittees.

Site

Vernier, Geneva

Processes

Development and sale of International Standards, Certification (not performed by ISO itself, only standards/CASCO guidelines), Information/knowledge services on standards

Materials

International Standards

Founded

1946

1. 01

   Submit the need for a standard from industry

2. 02

   Decision on new creation or assignment to a technical committee

3. 03

   Consensus-based standards development by international experts

4. 04

   Adoption and publication of the standard

5. 05

   Sale and national adoption by member organizations

6. 06

   Conformity assessment by external certification bodies according to CASCO

Standards and Areas of Activity

Locations

History

1. 1946

   Meeting of 65 delegates from 25 countries in London on international standardization

2. 1947

   Official founding of ISO with 67 technical committees

3. 1949

   Relocation to first offices in Geneva; Central Secretariat with 5 staff members

4. 1951

   Publication of the first ISO standard ISO/R 1:1951 (standard reference temperature for industrial length measurement)

5. 1952

   Monthly publication of information in the ISO Journal

6. 1955

   3rd General Assembly in Stockholm: 35 members, 68 standards

7. 1960

   Publication of ISO 31 on quantities and units based on the SI

8. 1961

   Founding of the DEVCO committee for developing countries

9. 1968

   First ISO standard on freight containers; introduction of Correspondent membership

10. 1969

    Olle Sturen becomes Secretary-General

11. 1971

    First technical committees for the environment (air and water quality)