3. Setting and disseminating international standards

The establishment and dissemination of International Standards is at the heart of ISO's activities. The aim of international standards is to propose technical practices and solutions not only to industry, but also to other components of society worldwide, thereby promoting trade and the global economy. They are the result of the search, throughout the development process, for a broad consensus, which national standards bodies are responsible for gathering and expressing. The whole process is based on the commitment of these bodies to ISO, and on rigorous rules designed to ensure transparency and fairness.

For this reason, the process of establishing international standards is carefully described in the ISO/IEC Part 1 directives, which distinguish between several stages.

• Stage 1 – Proposal

  ...