What are Standards

Standards are agreed criteria designed to ensure that products and services meet minimum thresholds. They cover areas such as:

• Quality
• Performance
• Design
• Safety
• Environmental impact.

Standards create a climate of trust in the marketplace for goods and services. For customers, a certified standard is a badge of quality. For business, it can provide protection against unfair competition and help instill consumer confidence.

Standards and trade

As a cost-effective way of complying with regulations, Standards help to stimulate trade both in domestic and overseas markets. Many public sector contracts are required to comply with specified standards.

Voluntary standards are a form of flexible self-regulation for business and can remove the need for government-imposed regulation, which tends to be more rigid and less adaptable.

SPC works closely with the Government and provides support to the Department of Enterprise, Trade, Employment and Innovation on the subject of the removal of technical trade barriers.

Legally enforceable standards

The standardization of most products and services is a voluntary process. However, some standards are established by law, through European Directives and UK legislation.

These are designed to protect the public and employees, and include:

• Compulsory safety standards
• Standards referenced in Statutory Instruments
• Toy Safety Standards
• Food hygiene standards

ISO Standards

International Organization for Standardization, better known by its acronym, ISO.

A non-governmental organization that spans the public and private sectors, ISO coordinates the work of 161 national Standards Authorities. ISO has developed over 21,000 International Standards and all are included in the ISO Standards catalogue.