ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of more than 160 national standard/accreditation bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.
Member organizations collaborate in the development and promotion of international standards for technology, scientific testing processes, working conditions, societal issues and more. ISO and its members then sell documents detailing these standards.
A General Assembly, which consists of representatives from ISO members and elected leaders called principal officers, acts as the decision-making body for ISO. The organization has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where a central secretariat oversees operations.
Key facts:
Because ‘International Organization for Standardization’ would have different acronyms in different languages (IOS in English, OIN in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), the founders decided to give it the short form ISO. ISO is derived from the Greek ‘isos’, meaning equal. Whatever the country, whatever the language, it is always ISO.
There are more than 1600 ISO standards
There are more than 3600 technical bodies
There are more than 5200 meetings in more the 40 countries
There are more then 30 technical meetings per working day
All UPI Laboratories Europe BV calibration materials meet the requirements of the relevant ISO standards.
Contact ISO:
International Organization for Standardization
ISO Central Secretariat
Chemin de Blandonnet 8
CP 401 – 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland