International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS

The ISO is a world-wide federation of national standards bodies. The aim of the ISO is to promote the development of standardisation and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services and to develop cooperation in the the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity.

The scope of the ISO covers standardisation in all fields except electrical and electronic engineering standards, which are the responsibility of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The ISO brings together the interests of producers, users, governments and the scientific community in preparation for International Standards.

South Africa joined the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1946 as one of 25 founding members.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS

Department of Trade and Industry
South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)

GENERAL COMMENTS

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) as the national standardizing body in South Africa, has a duty, according to section 3(a) of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No 29 of 1993), to -

maintain a South African presence in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO); and
contribute to the formulation of international standards, especially those which are applicable to South Africa.
It is the policy of the SABS to promote the convergence of international and national standardization activities by maintaining contact with all IEC and ISO member bodies by means of correspondence, voting and attending meetings (when appropriate). This enables the SABS to help industry keep abreast of trends in international standardization. It also enables the SABS to bring its influence to bear in the formulation of standards, to ensure that any international standard which is decided upon, can be accepted as a national standard.