Who Develops ISO Standards? A Survey of Participation in ISO’s International Standards Development Processes

Mari Morikawa, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, and Jason Morrison, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security

10/21/2008
(Original Publish Date: 10/1/2004)

This report quantifies and analyses participation in standards development within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO is perhaps the world's largest and best known developer of international standards, with 148 member countries and more than 14,000 standards developed over its almost 60-year history. Though this international institution initially focused on developing technical standards for specific products such as films and screws, ISO has expanded its scope significantly, and now develops management system standards and other protocols that have significant environmental and social policy implications.