IEEE SA Processes for International Standards

Abstract

What is an international standard? The generally accepted understanding is one that is developed with a process that meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) principles for good practices in developing standards. The World Trade Organization members use a series of international agreements that work to prevent or resolve practices that are or could be barriers to free trade among countries. Traditional barriers to trade could include things like some forms of tariffs or special import or export requirements or inspections designed to exclude non-domestic producers of goods. Most regulations and testing requirements are based on standards, but sometimes standards could be used in discriminatory trade practices, rather than ensuring objective measures, safety, or health of the product users. The WTO has identified six important principles of good regulatory practices in the development of international standards. Processes used to develop standards that embrace these six principles are considered true international standards.