International Standards, by their very nature, promote economic growth by setting a common language and internationally agreed specifications that can be applied in the development of national and international regulations. A product of best practices and consensus, they are essential tools for reducing barriers to international trade, a contribution that is recognized under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
In addition, ISO also has many specific standards that promote decent work, not least ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, designed to help companies and organizations worldwide protect the health and safety of the people who work for them.
We are living in rapidly changing and challenging times and, more than ever, governing bodies are being called upon to ensure their organizations act with purpose, sustainability and society in mind. Good governance not only builds trust, it improves business performance and contributes to social and environmental integrity. ISO 37000, Governance of organizations, provides organizations and their governing bodies with the tools they need to govern well, enabling them to perform effectively while behaving ethically and responsibly.
