minutes of the twentieth iso general assembly geneva … · 1998-04-13 · a general assembly 1997...

AGENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997December 1997

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MINUTES OF THE TWENTIETH ISO GENERAL ASSEMBLYGeneva (Switzerland), 23-24 September 1997

List of delegates

President Mr. Liew Mun Leong

Vice-President (policy) Prof. Dr. H. Reihlen

Vice-President (technical management) Mr. J. Kean

Treasurer Mr. P. Amsler

Secretary-General Dr. L.D. Eicher

Immediate Past President Mr. E. Möllmann

IEC President Mr. B. Falk

ITU Deputy Secretary-General Dr. H. Chasia

WTO Dr. H. Mamdouh

MEMBER BODIES

Albania (DSC) Mr. A. NatiMr. S. Kurteshi

Argentina (IRAM) Mr. M. GiadorouMr. M. Wittner

Armenia (SARM) Dr. G. MehrabianMr. P. Aslanian

Australia (SAA) Mr. R.G. WraightMr. M. Conway (day 2 only)Mr. P.N. Walsh

Observer:Mr. F. Reynolds (day 1 only)

Austria (ON) Dr. E. Stampfl-BlahaMr. G. Friers

Bangladesh (BSTI) Mr. Md. Shahidul Islam

Belarus (BELST) Dr. V. KoreshkovMrs. I. Mikalaeva

Belgium (IBN) M. L. van den NoortgateM. P. CroonM. R. Schonfeld

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BASMP) Mr. I. GalijaševicMr. S. KilalicMrs. M. Vidovic

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Brazil (ABNT) Dr. M.G. CortopassiDr. J. Ferreira BrandaoDr. A. M. Avellar

Bulgaria (BDS) Mr. M. TzokovMrs. L. Todorova

Canada (SCC) Mr. R. LafontaineMr. P. CaillibotMr. M. McSweeney

Observers:Mrs. L. LusbyMr. R. MainMr. W. Yerex

Chile (INN) Mr. L. Ward

China (CSBTS) Mr. Li ZhonghaiMiss Kong XiaokangMr. Zhu Yiwen

Observers:Mr. Chen HanchuMme Guo LishengMr. Guo QiguiMr. Lin QiMr. Liu YongkangMr. Lu ZhifangMme Wang HuipingMr. Zhang LinMr. Zhang MingyiMiss Zhang ShaojunMme Zhao Yangling

Colombia (ICONTEC) Mr. F. Tobón Londoño

Croatia (DZNM) Dr. J. TopicMrs. S. Zima

Cuba (NC) Mr. L. Enriquez RodriguezMr. A. Marrero Terrero

Cyprus (CYS) Mr. S. GeorgiouDr. I.G. Karis

Czech Republic (COSMT) Mrs. V. HorákováMr. O. KuncMrs. Z. Burešová

Observers:Mr. P. BerounskýMr. P. Dvorák

Denmark (DS) Mrs. B. FederspielMr. J. Holmblad

Ecuador (INEN) Mr. F. Urresta

Egypt (EOS) Dr. A.B. El-Sebai

Ethiopia (EAS) Mr. M. Girma

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Finland (SFS) Mr. K. KaartamaMrs. R. Relander

France (AFNOR) M. H. MartreM. B. VaucelleM. A. Durand

Observer:Mme F. Nicolas

Germany (DIN) Mr. G. KremerDr. T. BahkeMr. K.G. Krieg

Observer:Mr. E.-P. Ziethen

Ghana (GSB) Dr. E. K. Marfo

Greece (ELOT) Prof. G. VaroufakisMr. D. AgapalidisDr. P. Theofanopoulos

Hungary (MSZT) Dr. T. KonkolyMr. T. FöldesiMr. G. Ponyai

Iceland (STRI) Mr. F. Sigurdsson

India (BIS) Mr. P.S. DasMr. R. Srivastava

Indonesia (DSN) Mr. H. KartowisastroDr. W. Sugiyanto

Iran, Islamic Republic of (ISIRI) Mr. M.A. SadatMr. J. AsadiMr. M. Gitipeyma

Ireland (NSAI) Mr. E. Paterson

Israel (SII) Mr. A. BerkovichMrs. Z. PatirMr. M. Wolf

Italy (UNI) Prof. G. EliasDr. E. MartinottiMr. P. Morelli

Observers:Mr. E. ArdizziMr. S. BaldiMr. R. BellentaniMr. R. CiarloneMr. M. GanozaMr. D. GiorgiMr. M. MastrobuonoMr. R. MorandiMr. M. RusconiMrs P. Travaini

Jamaica (JBS) Dr. A. HenryMr. J. Milne

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Japan (JISC) Mr. S. SabaMr. A. AokiMr. M. Tanaka

Observers:Mr. M. FujitaMr. M. HamadaMr. S. KakunoMr. I. KikushimaMr. K. NagataMr. T. NakakukiMr. Y. TomiyamaMr. T. Watanabe

Kenya (KEBS) Mr. P.O. OkundiMr. G.K. MuttaiMrs. M.C. Rotich

Korea, Republic of (KNITQ) Mr. Seung-Bae LeeMr. Yoo-Jin KohDr. Eun-Ho Lee

Observers:Mr. Beom-Do HeoMr. Seoung-Pyo KangMr. Hyun-Il KimMr. Sang-Ho KimMr. Young-Kuk Kim

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (LNCSM) Mr. A. Al KamoushiProf. A.M. ShembeshMr. A. Zaiton

Malaysia (DSM) Mr. A. Aziz MatDato’ A. Rahman AbdullahDr. Mohd. Ariffin Aton

Observers:Mr. Ariffin KhalidMs. Robiah IbrahimMr. Ruzain IdrisMr. Othman IsmailMr. Manimuthu NadasonMr. Zakaria Mohd. TaibMs. Mariani MuhammadMr. Hussein RahmatMr. Ti Thiow Hee

Mauritius (MSB) Mr. S.K. BanymandhubMr. S.K. Gujadhur

Mexico (DGN) Mrs. C. Quintanilla MaderoDr. L.F. Hernandez Lezama

Observers:Dr. M. Irueste Alejandre (Mrs.)Mr. J. Acosta Polanco

Mongolia (MNCSM) Mr. N. Bayarmagnai

Morocco (SNIMA) M. A. Allouch (replacing M. A. Benmellouk)

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Netherlands (NNI) Dr. C. de VisserMr. H.W. Schipper

New Zealand (SNZ) Dr. K. McAulay (Mrs.)

Nigeria (SON) Prof. J.A. AbalakaMr. J.T. OshikanluMrs. M. I. Ayivor

Observer:Dr. H.U. Sanusi

Norway (NSF) Mr. T. EspedalMr. I. Jachwitz

Pakistan (PSI) Proxy given to Turkey

Panama (COPANIT) Mrs. L. Carrera

Philippines (BPS) Mr. J.L. MotoomullMr. R. de LaraMr. J. Raspado

Observer:Ms. R. Laqui

Poland (PKN) Mr. M. LukaszewiczMr. Z. NiechodaMrs. L. Pachulska

Portugal (IPQ) Mr. C. Dos Santos

Romania (IRS) Mr. M. MartisMrs. A. Toia

Russian Federation (GOST R) Prof. Dr. G.P. VoroninMr. A.R. KolodkinMr. V.N. Otrokhov

Observers:Mr. A.V. KovalenkoMr. I.I. MovtchanMr. V.M. Zimianin

Saudi Arabia (SASO) Proxy given to Egypt

Singapore (PSB) Mr. Lee Suan HiangDr. S. Lai Mun FookMr. Lim Hui Din

Observers:Ms. Chen Yih LinMr. D. ChinMs. C. KhooDr. F. TanMs. Tan Chee KiowMr. Teo Nam KuanDr. Whang Sun Tze

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Slovakia (UNMS) Mr. L. ŠutekMrs. H. KvietkováMrs. K. Steinlová

Observer:Mr. K. Hrdlicka

Slovenia (SMIS) Dr. B. TopicMrs. J. Perovic-MaroltMr. A. Pogacnik

South Africa (SABS) Mr. M.G. KellermannDr. G. Sibiya

Spain (AENOR) Mr. R. NazMr. M. García

Sri Lanka (SLSI) H.E. Mr. B.A.B. GoonetillekeMr. S.W.P. de SilvaMr. R. Rajeswaran

Sweden (SIS) Mr. L. KylbergMr. S. LundinMr. A. Sköld

Observers:Mr. J-O. GustaviMr. N. RingstedtMr. R. SirvellMr. B. Weichbrodt

Switzerland (SNV) Dr. X. EdelmannMr. P. ScheibliDr. H. Zürrer

Syria (SASMO) Mr. A. Al Noufi

Tanzania (TBS) Mr. D.J. Mwakyembe

Thailand (TISI) Mr. S. HarinasutaMr. S. TepatanapongMs. Y. Thongpahusatcha

The former Yugoslav Republic Mr. R. Josifovskiof Macedonia (ZSM) Mr. Z. Jolevski

Mr. D. Velevski

Trinidad and Tobago (TTBS) Mr. G.A. Hutchinson

Tunisia (INNORPI) M. M. ChaouchMme N. Rezgui

Turkey (TSE) Mr. M. Y. AriyörükMr. I. AtiklerMrs. A. Cosar

Ukraine (DSTU) Mrs. T. KysilyovaMr. M. MuharovskiyMr. V. Zubachenko

Observers:Mr. M. GarmashMr. B. Yakimuk

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United Kingdom (BSI) Mr. P. BonnerMiss A. DickMr. D.K. Potter

Observer:Mr. S. Ekers

Uruguay (UNIT) Mr. P. Benia

USA (ANSI) Mr. L.L. WillsMr. S. MazzaMr. H. Line

Observers:Dr. B. Collins (Mrs.)Mr. G.W. KushnierMr. S.P. Oksala

Uzbekistan (UZGOST) Mr. A.N. MaksudovMr. O.G. Astashin

Venezuela (COVENIN) Mrs. M.T. Saccucci

Viet Nam (TCVN) Dr. Nguyen Huu ThienMrs. Huong Le HuongMrs. Tran Thi Thu Ha

Observers:Mrs. Ngo Thi Hong ThuMr. Nguyen Dinh HachMrs. Nguyen Thi TrinhMr. Truong Van Truong

Yugoslavia (SZS) Mr. B. ŠcepanovicMs. Z. Menaše-Kalinic

Zimbabwe (SAZ) Dr. E.H. Williams

CORRESPONDENT MEMBERS

Bahrain (BSMD) Mr. K.M. Sulaybikh

Barbados (BNSI) Mr. D.B. Rhynd

Botswana (BOBS) Mr. A.A. NapindaMrs. M.B. Marobela

El Salvador (CONACYT) Mr. C. Paredes CastilloH.E. Mr. V.M. Lagos Pizzati

Estonia (EVS) Mr. A. Univer

Hong Kong, China Mr. B. Tyler

Jordan (JISM) Mr. H. Saudi

Kuwait Mr. Y. Al-BaharMr. N. Al-BaghliMr. K. Al-Fahed

Kyrgyzstan (KYRGYZST) Mr. A.A. RysmendievMr. P.Z. AtahanovMr. A.E. Ermatov

Latvia (LVS) Mr. J. Stripnieks

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Lithuania (LST) Mr. B. ŠickusMr. K. Skrebys

Malawi (MBS) Mr. A.S. Khulumula

Malta (MSA) Dr. P. De BattistaMr. J. Spiteri

Moldova (MOLDST) Mr. D. Chimpoiesh

Mozambique (INNOQ) Ms. G.A. Rebello da SilvaMr. E.J. Come

Sudan (SSMO) Mr. Mohamed Abdel Gadir

Turkmenistan (MSIT) Mr. B. HasanovMr. K. Charyev

Uganda (UNBS) Dr. E. Kasirye-Alemu

SUBSCRIBER MEMBERS

Bolivia (IBNORCA) Mr. H. Elsner

Namibia (NSIQO) Mr. R.A. Kaakunga

Saint Lucia (SLBS) Mr. H. H. Lubin

POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Mr. O. Archer Chairman of CASCOMr. G. Hutchinson Chairman of DEVCO, also leading the TTBS (Trinidad and Tobago)

delegationMr. M. Healy Chairman of COPOLCOMr. K. Kaartama Chairman of INFCO, also leading the SFS (Finland) delegation

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

AIDMO (Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization)Mr. M. KarbidMr. M. KhasawnehMr. A. Samad

ARSO / ORAN (African Regional Organization for Standardization)Mr. A.O. Oyejola

CEN (European Committee for Standardization)Mr. G. HonglerMr. G. Michaud

COPANT (Panamerican Commission of Technical Standards)Mr. J.F. LópezMr. M. Diaz Portocarrero

EASC (Euro-Asian Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology andCertification)Prof. G.P. Voronin, also leading the GOST R (Russian Federation) delegation

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ITC UNCTAD/WTO (International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO)Mr. E. Sierra

UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)Dr. O. Maizza-NetoDr. D. Piskounov

GUESTS OF HONOUR

Mr. H.A.R. Binney Past Vice-PresidentDr. V.V. Boitsov Past PresidentMr. L. Borel Past TreasurerMr. G. Fatio Past TreasurerMr. R. Frontard Past Director General of AFNOR (France)Mr. R.L. Hennessy Past Vice-PresidentMr. J.C. Hentsch Past TreasurerMr. J.A. Hinds Past PresidentMr. S. Horwood Immediate past Vice-President (policy)Mr. W. Kuert Past Director of SNV (Switzerland)Mr. R. Maréchal Past Assistant Secretary-GeneralMr. J. Ollner Past Vice-PresidentMr. R.A. Phillips Past PresidentMr. D.G. Spickernell Past Vice-PresidentMr. O. Sturen Secretary-General EmeritusDr. G. Waldvogel Immediate past Treasurer

CENTRAL SECRETARIAT

Mr. J.O Chabot Director, General Services and MarketingDr. A. El-Tawil Director, Programme for Developing Countries, and DEVCO SecretaryDr. C.J. Favre Assistant Secretary-GeneralMr. J. Nagano Conformity Assessment Officer and CASCO SecretaryMr. E. Patrikeev Head, ISO/IEC Information Centre and INFCO SecretaryMr. M. Smith Director, Standards, and TMB Secretary

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT

Mrs. B. Frey Head, Bureau of the Secretary-General, and COPOLCO SecretaryMr. C.M. Rodríguez Head, Translation and linguistic services, Minute writer

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ITEM 1 OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY

1.1 Address by the President

1. The President, welcoming the participants at the meeting, declared the twentieth ISOGeneral Assembly open. He extended a special welcome to the member bodies, correspondentmembers and subscriber members who were attending an ISO General Assembly for the firsttime.

(The text of the President's opening address is attached at annex 2.)

1.2 Roll call of delegates

2. The Secretariat (Mrs. Frey) called the roll of delegates. 82 member bodies (including twoby proxy), 18 correspondent members and 3 subscriber members were recorded as beingrepresented at the General Assembly.

ITEM 2 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

3. The Secretary General drew attention to the papers circulated to the delegates at themeeting, including

– a preliminary list of participants,– comments from KNITQ regarding agenda items 7.2, 8, 10.1 and 10.4,– comments from JISC regarding agenda item 9,– a revised CASCO work programme, for consideration under agenda item 10.1, and– a satisfaction enquiry form (pink form).

4. The Secretary General informed the delegates that the speeches delivered at the officialceremony commemorating ISO's fiftieth anniversary would be circulated in due course to themembers, in the form of a booklet.

5. The General Assembly adopted the agenda (document ISO/General Assembly 1997 -2/1 (Rev.)) without change.

ITEM 3 TABLING OF THE MINUTES OF THE 1996 GENERALASSEMBLY

6. The Secretary-General introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 3/1, regardingthe approval of the minutes of the 1996 General Assembly held in London (United Kingdom).

7. The General Assembly adopted the following resolution:

The General Assembly approves the minutes of the 19th General Assemblyheld in London in 1996, as circulated to the members of the Organizationon 16 December 1996, and requests the Secretary-General to enter, in themaster copy kept at the Central Secretariat, the amendments from MSB,SAA and SCC set out in the annex to ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 3/1.

(General Assembly resolution 2/1997)

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ITEM 4 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

8. The Secretary-General introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 4/1, reportingthat the ISO membership consisted of 85 member bodies, 29 correspondent members and 10subscriber members, reaching a total of 124 members. He reported that the standards body ofArmenia had been upgraded from correspondent member to member body and that five newcorrespondents had been registered, including CODINORM (Ivory Coast), CONACYT (ElSalvador), COGUANOR (Guatemala), MOLDST (Moldova) and SSMO (Sudan), together withnew subscriber members for Benin (DPQC) and the Dominican Republic (DIGENOR). Hegave some highlights of ISO's relations with regional organizations since the 1996 meetingand pointed to his proposal regarding the 1997 ISO annual report.

9. The Secretary-General gave a report on ISO's affairs and on the management of ISO'sstrategic transitions since the 1996 General Assembly. He commented on the Emmy awardrecently received by a subcommittee of ISO/IEC JTC 1 (recognition by the US televisionindustry of the value added by a suite of digital compression standards from JTC 1), on theemergence of ISO 14000 and other standards as new high profile documents, on the currentdiscussions with the WTO regarding standards for services, and pointed to the significantnumber of new ISO members and to the fact that the ISO membership subscriptions hadremained at the same level for the past three years. He reported, regarding the ISO/IECQSAR Programme, that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) seemed to be taking thelead in regard to one-stop accredited certification, and that the TMB and Council had decidedin January 1997 not to proceed any further in the area of management standards forOccupational Health and Safety. The Secretary-General gave a detailed progress report onthe status of ISO's process reengineering, both at the Central Secretariat and within theTC/SC structure. He pointed out for the sake of an example that two sub-committees of JTC 1aimed to work in all-electronic mode by the end of 1997 and did not see a need forreengineering ISO's core processes. With regard to reducing the cost of the total ISOoperation, he pointed to the difficult choices ISO had to face regarding the volume and varietyof the services provided by the Central Secretariat and to the challenges facing the TC/SC inassessing the market relevance of their work, converting to electronic document processingand working with consortia. While ISO appeared to be doing things right, he felt, leadershipvision and decision-making remained of paramount importance in ensuring that theorganization was doing the right things.

10. Prof. Voronin (GOST R) expressed satisfaction at the growing membership of ISO and atthe increasing effectiveness of its links with regional organizations. He supported thecontents and presentation of the 1996 Annual Report which, he felt, had been successfulconsidering the impressive number of additional copies ordered and should be continuedbecause it helped to strengthen ISO's image in line with the theme of the 1997 WorldStandards Day: "World trade needs worldwide standards".

11. Mr. Bonner (BSI) felt that the 1996 Annual Report was very useful for publicizing ISO'sactivities and that in addition to the financial information it contained, it could be more richlyillustrated and its presentation made more attractive.

12. In response to a question from Mr. Vaucelle (AFNOR), the Secretary-General reportedthat about 5 to 10 % of the draft standards submitted to the Central Secretariat by thetechnical committees were considered of too poor quality for processing and had to bereturned to the TCs for further work.

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13. The Secretary-General pointed out in addition that there were a number of specific itemsin progress with the WTO on standards for services and that the latter supported ISO'sinitiatives to have regional seminars on services. In response to a question by Mr. Das (BIS)he recalled that the membership subscriptions had not increased in the last three years.


The General Assembly

thanks the Secretary-General for his interesting report, highlightingimportant results achieved since the last General Assembly and explainingISO challenges for the years to come,

while recognizing that the 1996 annual report was well received and isdeemed to have met the expectations of the various interested circles withregard to both its substance and its presentation, decides that the reportcovering the 1997 calendar year should be produced in a more livelymanner.


15. Mr. Hongler, Secretary-General of CEN, made a presentation in which he reviewed anumber of major issues that would have an important impact on CEN in coming years,including the reengineering and optimisation of the organization's work process, the review ofCEN's strategy in the light of increased market pressures, new deliverables, globalization,European legislation and the requirements of the WTO. Further issues raised concernedCEN's involvement in new products related to the Global Information Society and theappropriate use of information technology in its services. (The text of M. Hongler'spresentation is attached at annex 3.)

16. Mr. Hongler, in response to a question by Mr. Wittner (IRAM) regarding the concept ofnew deliverables in Europe, particularly in regard to the degree of consensus theyrepresented, their usage, degree of recognition and non-mandatory character, explained thatthe new CEN deliverables would follow a new set of specific procedures and developmentprocess and would be recognized in the form of CEN Workshop Agreements. The documentswould not have the same significance or status as European standards but were designed totake into account the short time span required for developing normative documents in thefield of information and communication technologies.

17. Mr. Hongler, in response to a question by Mrs. Patir (SII) on the topic of a future mergerof ISO and IEC and the position in relation to CEN and CENELEC, indicated that it was upto the CEN and CENELEC shareholders to decide on such matters and that, while it was notforeseen at this stage that the shareholders wished to proceed to a merger, CEN was on thewhole more favourable than CENELEC to such a perspective.

18. Mr. Lee Suan Hiang (PSB), supported by Mr. Mazza (ANSI), with regard to theapplication of the ISO/CEN Vienna Agreement, felt that not enough opportunity was providedto non-CEN countries to take part in the work of interest to them and that in some cases theAgreement slowed down international work because ISO had to wait for progress withinCEN. He felt, therefore, that close attention should be given to ensuring that the Viennaagreement operated to the fullest extent.

19. Mr. Paterson (NSAI) supported the views of Mr. Lee Suan Hiang(PSB) regarding theneed to provide more opportunity for involvement of non-European countries in the work ofCEN. He mentioned however, as an example of the good operation of the Vienna Agreement,

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the case of the ISO environmental management standards, the work on which had started inCEN and had ultimately led to the ISO 14000 series of standards.

20. The Vice-President (policy) mentioned that, from a policy point of view, he felt thatconsultations needed to be undertaken with non CEN members through bilateral contacts toconsider whether arrangements similar to those provided under the Vienna Agreement couldbe made with other regional groupings or with ISO members whose territories and populationare similarly large as those of regional groupings.

21. Mr. Vaucelle (AFNOR) speaking as Vice-President of CEN for technical matters,supported the Vice-President (policy) on the importance for ISO to discuss real problems dueto differences in regional and international approaches and to define the role of ISO inrelation to regional coordinated efforts, not only in the framework of the Vienna Agreementbut also through agreements with other regional groupings.

22. Mr. Wraight (SAA) mentioned that at the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards andConformance (SCSC) Roundtable held in August, a number of questions had been raisedregarding the relationship between ISO and CEN and some fear had been expressed thatunless these were addressed an unwanted proliferation of regional bodies or other coalitionsmay form. He felt that Council should closely review the matter and that the European Unionneeded to be fully aware of these concerns and of its leadership responsibilities in relation tothe developments of world trade.

23. The Vice-President (technical management) recalled that there were good workingrelationships between the ISO and CEN Central Secretariats and between the ISO and CENTechnical Management Boards. He indicated that discussions had been held to identify anyreal problems and it had been noted that there were misunderstandings at national level insome countries on how to apply the Vienna Agreement, but that there had been no cases ofdelay in International Standards work due to parallel voting procedures. However, thereremained some concern regarding ISO work being put aside in some cases due to priorityfunding of European work. At its meeting held the previous week, the Technical ManagementBoard had reviewed a number of specific problems and would be taking appropriate action. Ifthese problems could not be solved in the framework of the Vienna Agreement, then theremay be a need to amend the agreement accordingly.

24. Mr. Tanaka (JISC), supported by Mr. Mazza (ANSI), concurred with the Vice-President(technical management) on the need to discuss specific items, but nevertheless shared theconcern of PSB and BIS regarding the proliferation of agreements with regionalorganizations, particularly in view of the importance of ensuring equal opportunity andconsensus in the International Standards development process.

25. Mr. Sutek (UNMS), concerning the CEN new deliverables involving open workshopsleading to non-mandatory technical documents, was unsure how CEN intended to complywith the requirements of the WTO/TBT Agreement on the need to give notification of newstandardization work items.

26. Dr. El-Sebai (EOS) expressed satisfaction for the fact that ISO would be involved infuture discussions relating to the WTO/TBT Agreement and particularly in regard toterminology used in connection with the TBT Agreement. He felt it was important to be ableto convey to the TBT committee what ISO understood by an International Standard.

27. Prof. Elias (UNI) recalled that there was not only one kind of standard and that theseapplied sometimes only to small geographical areas within national boundaries or within

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specific areas of industry. He felt that it would be useful to describe these differences, listingthe various types of existing standards, in order to avoid confusion at the user end.

28. Mr. Croon (IBN) recalled that in Europe the new approach had replaced legislation bystandards and that Europe therefore applied the WTO/TBT Agreement. When CEN developedstandards, the European countries had the obligation to apply the European standards and towithdraw the national equivalent. He commented that one of the problems in regard to ISOstandards was that they were applied differently in different countries.

29. The President, noting that there were different views between European and non-European countries on the relationship between ISO and CEN, proposed that the GeneralAssembly request Council to examine this issue at one of its forthcoming meetings.

ITEM 5 ISO/IEC /ITU COLLABORATION – ADDRESS BY THE IECPRESIDENT – ADDRESS BY THE ITU REPRESENTATIVE

30. The IEC President, Mr. Falk, made an address to the General Assembly in which hereviewed the state of cooperation between ISO and IEC, underlining the need for change inorder to meet all of the demands of the market, including in terms of speedy decision-making,timely delivery of relevant standards and greater access of industry to the standardizationprocess. (The text of Mr. Falk's address is attached at annex 4.)

31. The President thanked Mr. Falk for his address and expressed satisfaction at the closecollaboration between IEC and ISO which, he trusted, would continue to develop.

32. The IEC General Secretary, Mr. Raeburn, on behalf of IEC, presented ISO with a gift onthe occasion of the Organization's 50th anniversary.

33. The IEC President, Mr. Falk, on behalf of IEC, presented the ISO Secretary-Generalwith a certificate for ISO's achievements to date.

34. Dr. Cortopassi (ABNT) was strongly in favour of common services between ISO and IECand, together with other members in the Latin American region, considered that an earlymerger between ISO and IEC would make it easier for many developing countries who werealready members of ISO to become members of both organizations without having to beardual membership subscriptions.

35. The IEC President, Mr. Falk, indicated that IEC would welcome any new members andsuggested that there may be countries in the Caribbean region or Latin America who maywish to take advantage of IEC's "Group membership" arrangements.

36. Dr. de Visser (NNI) felt that the General Assembly should make a clear statement of itsposition regarding a possible merger between ISO and IEC.

37. The IEC President, Mr. Falk, mentioned that the Joint President's Coordination Group(JPCG) would be meeting on the 25th of September to discuss the relationships between ISOand IEC. He mentioned that at this stage there was no mandate from the IEC nationalmembers to consider a merger but that there was a demand for increasing cooperation andother working relationships.

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38. The President while noting that there was good ideological value in a merger betweenISO and IEC, felt nevertheless that it was up to the "shareholders" of both ISO and IEC totake initiative if they wished to do so. The subject was further discussed under item 8,resulting in the adoption of General Assembly resolution 6/1997.

39. Dr. Chasia, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union(ITU), made an address to the General Assembly, in which he stressed the impact ofderegulation, privatization, globalization and regionalization on the ever-more convergingtelecommunication and information technologies. Current joint initiatives, such as thesponsoring of the Global Standards Conference to be held in Brussels on 1-3 October 1997,would also help to maintain ISO and the ITU at the leading edge of internationalstandardization in the Global Information Society of the 21st century. (The text ofDr. Chasia's address is attached at annex 5.)

40. The President thanked Dr. Chasia for his address and expressed confidence that evencloser cooperation would be achieved between ISO, IEC and ITU in the interest of worldcommunication.

ITEM 6 COOPERATION WITH THE WTO – ADDRESS BY THE WTOREPRESENTATIVE

41. Mr. Mamdouh, Legal Adviser in the WTO Trade in Services Division, made an address tothe General Assembly in which he underlined the recognition attached by the GATT, and nowthe WTO, to the importance of international standardization in the context of tradeliberalization, where trade in services was of growing significance. Recalling that the WTOaimed to reduce trade barriers, thereby providing access of the WTO members to the worldmarket, endeavouring to ensure at the same time that national regulations did not introducediscrimination between the members of WTO or between their domestic producers, he pointedto the equivalent aims of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), whichextended to the standards in that field. A programme relating to professional services, inparticular accountancy services, was under way, and it was felt that internationalstandardization had a similar role to play in relation to the GATS to that it had in thetraditional areas of trade, since the GATS required its signatory countries to apply existinginternational standards. He looked forward to continued relations between the WTO and ISO,particularly in the area of trade in services, where a number of co-sponsored regionalseminars was being organized.

42. The President thanked Mr. Mamdouh for his address and expressed confidence that closecooperation would continue between ISO and WTO in the interest of free and peaceful trade.

43. Prof. Abalaka (SON), supported by Dr. Henry (JBS), mentioned that the nationalstandards bodies in the developing countries were not always in a position to obtain trade-related standards information directly through the WTO or its representatives, since thelatter operated at governmental level and its representatives were not related to the nationalstandards bodies (NSBs). He suggested that perhaps the WTO could convey such informationto ISO, which in turn could relay it to the NSBs.

44. Mr. Mamdouh, pointed out that while WTO was not directly involved in circulatingdetailed standards information, there was perhaps room in the future for developing thecooperation between ISO and the WTO in that area. He pointed out in addition that, because

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of its structure, the WTO had no say in who the member governments appointed as theirrepresentatives.

45. The Secretary-General recalled that the WTO was active in fostering the adoption ofInternational Standards and that it was important that its representatives be well informedof national standardization matters relating to products and services. The national standardsbodies could play a useful role in supporting the national WTO representatives in thatconnection.

46. Mr. Aoki (JISC) expressed satisfaction at the planned regional seminars on standards forservices which, he felt, would be useful for gathering the views of the users of services andcontribute to the development of standards that took into account their needs.

47. Dr. El-Sebai (EOS), supported by Mr. Gujadhur (MSB), pointed out that technicalassistance was among the items addressed by the WTO/TBT Agreement and he expressed thehope that the WTO would help to increase such assistance for the developing countries, inparticular for attending the proposed regional seminars on services.

48. Mr. Mamdouh indicated that he would convey the concern raised by Dr. El-Sebai to theappropriate department within the WTO.

49. Mrs. Patir (SII) supported the views expressed by EOS and wondered whether trainingcould be provided for instance in the framework of INFCO meetings or via the Internet todevelop the effectiveness of the WTO enquiry points. She further inquired whetherinformation was available on the usage and application of the ISO environmentalmanagement standards at national level.

50. Mr. Mamdouh commented that in order to facilitate the dissemination of information onstandards there was a need for further discussion between WTO representatives. He furtherindicated that statistical information on the usage of environmental standards was likely tobecome available in due course.

51. Mr. Healy , Chairman of COPOLCO, conveyed COPOLCO's satisfaction at the stepstaken in regard to standards for services and, while underlining the significant potential andopportunity provided by the field of services, recognized that the target in the short term wasto identify areas where international standardization was needed.

52. Prof. Voronin (GOST R) underlined the importance of cooperation between ISO, IEC,ITU and the WTO, particularly in regard to the introduction of the ISO 9000 qualitymanagement standards and the ISO 14000 environmental management standards, ISO'sinvolvement in the review of the WTO agreement on technical barriers to trade, and thepotential value of using the ISO/IEC Guides on conformity assessment in connection with theTBT Agreement. He noted with particular satisfaction that ISO was endeavouring to alwaysrespond in time to identified needs for standards and drew attention to ISO's contribution tothe Global Information Infrastructure (GII), where coordination, inter alia with the ITU, wasessential in order to avoid unwanted duplication of standardization work at internationallevel.

53. Dr. Aziz Mat (DSM) felt that the Central Secretariat should not be burdened with extrawork which was not critical to its mission. He commented that in Malaysia, for instance,there were two ministries involved in WTO and ISO activities and that the nationalstandards body had addressed this difficulty by informing these ministries of its existence

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and these ministries approached the national standards body to get the relevant informationthey required on standardization work and standards.

54. Mr. Enriquez (NC), on the topic of relations with the WTO, reported that a group of tradetechnicians had been established in Cuba under the chairmanship of NC, which significantlycontributed to establishing good cooperation between the standardization world and the WTO.He further expressed satisfaction at the arrangements made at the initiative of AENOR toallow Spanish interpretation at General Assembly meetings.

55. Mr. Okundi (KEBS) expressed the hope that ISO and the WTO could help in clarifyingand rationalizing the situation in a number of countries where conformity assessmentactivities were performed by both official bodies and private organizations. He felt also thatthe national standards bodies needed to be briefed on WTO issues and hoped that ISO andthe WTO could provide help in conveying WTO information to the national standards bodieswhich was not always an easy task at national level.


The General Assembly,

emphasizing the importance that trade negotiators at national level beinformed of standardization matters to an appropriate extent in connectionwith their discussions in the WTO framework in general and in that of theAgreement on Technical Barriers to Trade in particular,

underlines the importance for the ISO members to take the necessary stepswithin their respective countries to contact the relevant trade negotiatorsand ensure that they receive the required briefing to enable them to holdpositions consistent with their national standardization counterparts atWTO meetings, and

encourages its members to participate actively in the regional ISO/WTOseminars on services to be held in Argentina, France, Singapore and USA.


ITEM 7 ISO'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVES/OPTIONS

7.1 ISO's long-range strategies 1996-1998

57. The Secretary-General introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 7.1/1,containing ISO's long-range strategies 1996-1998 in annex 1 and, in annex 2, ISO's StrategicAgenda 1996-1998, updated in July 1997 following the Council meeting held in June. Hepointed to the proposal appearing in the working paper, that the Vice-President (policy) beasked to take the necessary steps to submit a draft version of ISO's long-range strategies forthe 1999-2001 period to the General Assembly for endorsement in September 1998.

58. Mr. Mazza (ANSI), while complimenting the President and the Secretary-General for nothesitating to raise difficult and fundamental issues, commented that ISO needed to introducemajor change in order to meet the needs of its customers at a time of increased marketglobalization. The ISO system clearly had two main clients: the national bodies, who were theclients of the Central Secretariat, and the creators and users of standards, whether inbusiness, government or the public, who were the direct clients of the national bodies. Heconsidered that ISO's interests should not diverge from those of its members. Measures were

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now being taken to reduce costs and to use available resources efficiently, while continuing toimprove productivity and the market relevance of ISO's products. ISO had to recognize,nonetheless, that no single approach would cover the needs of all its clients and that strictdiscipline was required in making decisions with financial implications within theorganization's governing bodies, particularly in view of the differing views on what changeswere needed. For instance, ANSI shared the concerns of PSB (Singapore) with regard to theneed for changes in the implementation of the Vienna Agreement. He considered neverthelessthat urgent efforts should be made to implement ISO's Strategic Agenda as soon as possiblesince this was essential for the future of the Organization.

59. Dr. Henry (JBS) recalling that ISO needed to be more proactive in meeting its keyobjectives of being capable of quickly adapting to changes and needs of the world communitywhich it serves and to be organized in a democratic manner and attempt to accommodate theviews and wishes of all its members with governance values respecting the need for balancedrepresentation and consensus-based decision-making, considered that ISO should fullyimplement the 1996-1998 long-range strategies before undertaking the 1999-2001 edition.

60. Mr. Aoki (JISC) considered that ISO's long-range strategy document helped ISOconsiderably in adapting to change in the world economy because of its very pragmaticapproach and, while fully endorsing the implementation of ISO's long-range strategies,supported the Secretary-General's proposal regarding the development of the 1999-2001 issueof the document.

61. Mr. McSweeney (SCC) while recognizing that the development of ISO's long-rangestrategies was the task of Council, suggested that there may be ways to obtain input from abroader range of ISO members in preparing the new version of the ISO long-range strategydocument.

62. Mr. Jachwitz (NSF) welcomed the increased transparency that was being proposed inconnection with the development of the forthcoming issue of ISO's long-range strategies.Supported by Mr. Mazza (ANSI), he felt that a survey should be conducted on the methodsand degree of implementation of International Standards at national level, since it wasimportant to focus on actual usage, particularly in view of the growing influence of consortia.

63. Mrs. Patir (SII), while noting that much of the ISO strategy was focused on speed, feltthat not enough was done to measure the degree of use of International Standards world-wide, for instance in terms of the SI units or the A4 paper size, and considered in additionthat ISO should envisage means for introducing standards application studies in the nationaleducation systems.

64. The President recalled that it was the duty of the national standards bodies to promotethe application of International Standards.

65. Mr. Krieg (DIN) recalled that the Council ad hoc group on royalties had collected acertain amount of data on the degree of adoption of International Standards as nationalstandards and that this information was available. He further pointed out that theInternational Federation for the Application of Standards (IFAN) was involved in studyingthe adoption and usage of International Standards at national level.

66. The Vice-President (policy) reported on the meeting of the Council ad hoc group onroyalties held in August in Berlin, which recommended inter alia that the royalties onreprints of International Standards be gradually lowered over a four-year period from a levelof 40 % to 20 %; that the sales price of ISO standards at the Central Secretariat be increased

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by 30 % and that the discount granted to national members on hard copies be increased to50 %. These and other recommendations were due for discussion at the Council meeting on 25September. In response to a question by Mr. Lafontaine (SCC), he stated that while the directapplication of International Standards was perfectly allowable as long as it did not conflictwith the requirements of the WTO, it was also well-advised to adopt International Standardsas national standards since the national version added value and status to the internationaldocument.

67. The Secretary-General, responding to a question by Mr. Lafontaine (SCC) regarding thelack of progress on the government procurement issue under clause 4.4 of ISO's StrategicAgenda, explained that Council had decided to keep the item relating to the needs ofgovernment procurement agencies, but with the new wording appearing in annex 2 to GeneralAssembly paper 7.1/1.

68. Mr. Croon (IBN) recalled that the countries of the European Community were under theobligation to apply existing European standards and that if no standards were available theywere to apply the International Standard. Only if neither of these existed were they allowedto use or establish a national standard. He pointed out that other regions of the world shouldbe encouraged to apply such a clear policy.



endorses the ISO strategic agenda 1996-1998, up-dated July 1997, as setout in annex 2 to ISO General Assembly 1997 7.1/1, and

regarding the next issue of ISO's long-range strategies for the period 1999-2001, asks the Vice-President (policy) to act as necessary with a view to thesubmission of a draft version of such a document to the General Assemblyfor approval in September 1998, taking into account the comments madeduring the meeting, including those regarding the need for transparency inthe process and a broadly-based input.


7.2 New ISO deliverables – Re-engineering the ISO system

70. Mr. Vaucelle (AFNOR) made a presentation in which he stressed the need for flexibility,transparency and consistency in the work of ISO which, together with a pragmatic and non-dogmatic approach and a vigorous communication policy, would enable ISO to meet thechallenges that the Organization would have to face in coming years. (The text ofMr. Vaucelle's presentation is attached at annex 6.)

71. Mr. Vaucelle (AFNOR), responding to a question by Dr. Henry (JBS), who consideredthat process transparency should be defined in terms of the WTO expectations, for instance interms of safety, underlined that it was important first of all that a standard should meet areal need and should not introduce a trade barrier or otherwise impede trade betweencountries.

72. Mr. Jachwitz (NSF) supported the need for order in deciding on any new deliverables,commenting that the aim was to satisfy ISO's customers and therefore that these customersneeded to understand what was being offered. He felt that ISO should provide cleardefinitions of all of its deliverables particularly in view of the confusion that might arise

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between different names given at national, regional and international levels to such newdeliverables.

73. Dr. Aziz Mat (DSM), concurring with Mr. Vaucelle on the need to improve theinternational standardization system as a whole and not only the ISO component, stressedthe importance of providing full information on the standards process, as well as means forISO's customers to participate in the standards development process.

74. Prof. Voronin (GOST R) approved the steps taken by ISO to improve efficiency andproduce new deliverables, provided this did not increase the Organization's expenditurebudget.

75. Mr. Lee (KNITQ) agreed with the notion that ISO should transform itself into a moreefficient organization, especially in terms of developing International Standards. However, hefelt that care should be taken in deciding on the transfer of any of the core functions to certainmember bodies because many users of International Standards may worry about theimpartiality of the process and turn away from the ISO standards. He felt that criticismregarding the slowness and specialization of ISO should be overcome by renovating ISO'sworking procedures and not merely by transferring its responsibilities to a small number ofmember bodies.

76. Mr. Healy, Chairman of COPOLCO, sharing the concerns expressed by KNITQ, pointedto COPOLCO resolution 10/1997 expressing consumer concern regarding the development ofdocuments such as "publicly available specifications" (PAS) and stressed the need for absolutetransparency in the process of developing new deliverables. He feared that if the stakeholderswere excluded from the development process, they would not feel committed to using the ISOdocuments.

77. Mr. Aoki (JISC) concurred with Mr. Vaucelle that ISO's standards development systemneeded to be revised to take into account new needs resulting from the globalization of worldtrade. In that connection, he was satisfied that Council and the Technical Management Boardwere discussing means to broaden the access to the ISO system and to develop new types ofdocuments. However, he stressed that the new type of document must in no way harm ISO'sreputation of developing truly consensus-based documents and that, in order to be successful,ISO needed to consider the needs of specific sectors, for instance that of informationtechnology.

78. Mr. Mazza (ANSI) recalled the need to remain pragmatic in view of the differences inlegal, cultural and industrial approaches at national level, as well as the need to remaincompatible with all national practices.

79. Mr. Tobón (ICONTEC) pointed out that the developing countries had difficulty infollowing the work at international level due to a lack of resources to take part in thetechnical committees. Furthermore there was the difficulty involved in translatingInternational Standards into the national languages and he feared that the gap wouldcontinue to broaden in the future.

80. Mr. Vaucelle (AFNOR) commented that new communication technologies would perhapshelp to disseminate information to all countries, though perhaps not to the extent wished. Inconnection with the development of standards which was no longer taking place in thenational context but against a background of globalization, much greater focus had to beplaced on which needs had to be met and who the potential customers were. The main issuesfor ISO were to reduce costs, to improve the standards development process and to assess

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customer satisfaction. In relation to IEC, he felt that all parties involved needed to strive toharmonize their procedures and structures and that ISO could perhaps have a more sectoralapproach and show that it was a multisectoral organization which could easily accommodateanother field of activity.

7.3 Commercialization issues facing the ISO members

81. Mr. Wraight (SAA) made a presentation in which he argued that ISO already had theinfrastructure and network needed for introducing the scale and scope economics that wouldbe required by its customers in the near future, and that the national bodies had to thinkabout global coalitions for providing production services, professional marketing, paid service-sharing and customer-focus needed if ISO was to be able to operate as a modern globalorganization. (The text of Mr. Wraight's presentation is attached at annex 7.)

82. Dr. Abalaka (SON) recalled that the national standards bodies in many developingcountries were also certification bodies and that there was some concern that such bodiescould preserve their integrity while increasing their commercial certification activities.

83. Mr. Wraight (SAA) mentioned that in Australia there was felt to be a conflict betweencertification and standardization work and that the certification operations had beenentrusted to a separate company which was nevertheless owned by SAA, while providingopportunities for other bodies to compete in that area.

84. Mr. Wittner (IRAM) mentioned that in Argentina it was not felt that there was a conflictbetween standardization and certification activities since the latter were considered as anapplication of standardization and were not limited to the standards body. In countries wherestandardization was undertaken by a private body, such as in the case of Argentina, nogovernmental funds were provided and therefore the organization needed a commercialactivity in order to survive.

85. Mr. Wraight (SAA) agreed with Mr. Wittner that there was not greater conflict betweenwriting standards and providing certification than there was between writing complexstandards and providing technical advice for their interpretation. He felt that if anorganization did not demonstrate the required integrity, it would not survive in the businessenvironment.

86. Mr. Abdullah (DSM) indicated that in Malaysia conformity assessment work was doneby an independent body operating under SIRIM and that the latter could no longer rely ongovernment funding and therefore needed a commercial activity in order to survive.

87. Mrs. Patir (SII) pointed out that in an ideal world standards would be released free ofcharge but that, as things stood, the national bodies needed some commercial incomeconsidering that ISO had in a way lost its potential international conformity assessmentactivity (QSAR) to the competition, she proposed the concept of network auditing and of abook-shop on Internet as means for securing additional income.

88. Mr. Wraight (SAA) mentioned that SAA was contemplating providing its standards freeof charge and securing revenue from the technical information it provided by charging foraccess time to its information database. He mentioned that Australian standards could bebought via the Internet.

89. Mr. Hutchinson (TTBS) considered that it would be a disservice to standardization not tocontinue to make all efforts to convince governments to provide funding to the national

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standards bodies, arguing that standardization work was in the interest to the nation as awhole.

90. Mr. Rajeswaran (SLSI) mentioned that in Sri Lanka the national standards bodyperformed conformity assessment of local producers since this was important for the economyand provided training on how to avoid conflict between standardization and conformityassessment activities. SLSI therefore relied on the revenue it could derive from peripheralactivities.

91. Mr. Banymandhub (MSB) commented on the main thrust of Mr. Wraight's presentation,namely that one should evolve towards the gradual disappearance of national standardsbodies to be replaced by regional ones. Mr. Banymandhub felt that however desirable thatmay appear in theory, it would only work well where the countries in a particular region wereat similar stages of development with similar degrees of skills and resources. Unfortunately,many regions are dominated by one or two countries. Given that standards organizationsserve the interests of business, and the latter are driven by profit considerations and not byany regional or even national objectives, the proposition of Mr. Wraight would serve toaccentuate the disparity between countries.

92. Mr. Naz (AENOR) pointed out that not all national standards bodies operated ascommercial companies, and neither did ISO. He mentioned that with the growing trend tocirculate information via electronic networks and with decreasing paper circulation, the onlyalternative left for the national standards bodies in the face of dropping sales income wouldbe to increase the services they provided.

93. Mr. Lafontaine (SCC) considered that the stimulating ideas put forward by Mr. Wraightshould be considered by ISO, including in terms of the decentralization of ISO in the light ofthe comments made on the regionalization of customer services.

94. Mr. Wraight (SAA) recalled that the technical work of ISO was strongly decentralized.He underlined the critical importance of competitivity in the production and distribution ofstandards and, while not suggesting that these activities should be done elsewhere than inGeneva, suggested that it might be useful to establish ISO branches in a number of regions tofacilitate these activities.

ITEM 8 REVIEW OF COUNCIL ACTIONS IN 1997

95. The President reported that since the Council meeting in June, Council had approved aguidance document on self-financing principles developed by the Vice-President (policy) andthe document would be made available to all ISO member bodies. He noted in particular theimprovements in cost control performance at the Central Secretariat which had enabled themembership subscription to remain at the same level for three consecutive years, which wasto the credit of the ISO management. Pointing to the poor response by the national standardsbodies to the questions put to them since the last General Assembly, he urged the ISOmember bodies to apply greater efforts in commenting and voting on issues submitted to themby correspondence (the graph used to that effect by the President is attached at annex 8).

96. The Secretary-General introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 8/1 containingin annex the major background documents considered by Council at its meeting in June 1997.He reported that no requests had been submitted so far to the Central Secretariat regardingthe transfer of functions to technical committee/subcommittee secretariats. Regarding the

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proposal on ISO/IEC common service operations and common building, he commented thatonly a very small number of countries had provided a common ISO/IEC response. He referredto the numerous discussions that had taken place regarding developments in the QSAR area.With regard to the proposal for entrusting the continuation of the Mobil Survey of ISO 9000certifications world-wide to the Central Secretariat, he reported that Council had asked for abusiness plan and approved the transfer. Regarding the POCOSA addendum, there had beenvery few comments but the results of the survey were very clear. Regarding financial aspects,he commented that no increase in the budget was expected in 1998 and that Council wouldeven be considering possible decreases for 1999 at its meeting in January 1998.

97. Mr. Mazza (ANSI), stressing the need for greater transparency with regard to thepositions of the ISO members on the issue of a prospective merger between ISO and IEC,asked that the results of the consultation among the ISO members be circulated to all themembers of the organization, since almost all the respondents were in favour of the proposalsput forward and since the lack of support, if any, came from a small number of countrieswithin the IEC constituency.

98. Mr. Saba (JISC) strongly supported the action taken by Council in 1997, and particularlythe proposal to establish an ISO/IEC joint services organization, which JISC considered as afirst step towards the consolidation of ISO and IEC into a single body, while recognizing thatthere were a number of historical differences in the structures, financial situations and policy-making procedures of the two organizations that would require time to solve in the context ofa consolidation. He pointed to the JISC proposal, reported in annex 3 to ISO/GeneralAssembly 1997 - 8.1/1, for the creation of a joint ISO/IEC task force to develop an action planfor practical implementation of the proposals contained in the joint services and commonbuilding study submitted to the Joint Presidents' Coordination Group (JPCG) by the ISO andIEC Secretaries-General. JISC highly appreciated Council's proposal to IEC to establish suchan ad hoc group with four representatives from each party, and had noted that the IEC wouldbe discussing the proposals at its October meeting in New Delhi. JISC expected the ISO andIEC central offices to cooperate closely in developing an action plan that would include annualschedules to achieve the intended goals.

99. The Secretary-General, in response to a question by Mr. Hutchinson (TTBS), confirmedthat the lack of response from any member body in connection with a consultation bycorrespondence was considered as an expression of agreement only if this interpretation hadbeen expressly stated in the relevant circular letter. This had not been the case in asking forthe member bodies' views in respect to the ISO/IEC common services proposal.

100. Mr. Walsh (SAA) apologized for not having responded to the Secretary-General'senquiry and, together with Dr. de Visser (NNI), expressed strong support for the developmentof an ISO/IEC joint services operation and common building.

101. Mr. Mazza (ANSI), noting the strong criticism in certain countries regarding themaintenance of two separate organizations, felt that IEC should be required to account indetail for its response to the proposed study on joint operations and common building.

102. The President urged the ISO members who were also members of IEC to clearly statetheir views on the matter of joint services in the relevant IEC fora.

103. Prof. Voronin (GOST R) expressed satisfaction for the work done by Council andsuggested that it might be useful for the Secretary-General to broaden the working contactswith the Permanent missions in Geneva of the countries of the ISO members.

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having heard the numerous comments made by its members on theISO/IEC common services operation and common building study,

unanimously supports the proposals contained in the above study,

as a first step towards the practical implementation of the proposals putforward in the study decides that a joint ISO/IEC task force, with fourmembers of each organization, should be set up, and

invites its President to convey this resolution to his IEC counterpart and toreport in detail on the outcome at the 1998 General Assembly.


105. Mr. Hutchinson (TTBS) conveyed the views that arose from the DEVCO meeting heldbefore the General Assembly regarding the QSAR issue and the very serious concernexpressed in the DEVCO resolution as voiced by many developing countries attending themeeting.

106. Mr. Lafontaine (SCC) commented that while the temporary suspension of the QSARBoard activities did not necessarily mean the end of the QSAR Programme, it was necessaryto know how IAF would deal with the interests of developing countries, small countries,consumers, non-governmental organizations and small and medium sized companies if theQSAR programme were ultimately abandoned. He expressed the hope that such informationwould be available following the IAF meeting in January 1998.

107. Dr. Abalaka (SON) underlined the bitterness and frustration of many developingcountries who had been looking forward to the establishment of QSAR as a mechanism forensuring fairness in conformity assessment and mutual recognition and, supported byMr. Das (BIS) and Dr. Henry (JBS), urged that QSAR be continued after the IAF meeting in1998 and that if QSAR were to be replaced by another structure, steps be taken as a matter ofurgency to ensure that the body concerned provide the required degree of fairness to avoidputting developing countries at a disadvantage in the conformity assessment area.

108. Mr. Paterson (NSAI) drew attention to items 1 and 2 c) of the IAF resolution regardingopenness, transparency and consistent application of internationally agreed standards andthe requirement for IAF to promote and safeguard the use of the relevant InternationalStandards and guides. Regarding IAF's ability to develop its own rules, he felt that problemscould be avoided by ensuring that IAF used only the documents provided by ISO/IEC.

109. Mrs. Patir (SII) supported by Mr. Wittner (IRAM) underlined that in order to avoidgiving more importance to the IAF guidance documents than was given to InternationalStandards and Guides, the balance between ISO and IAF needed to be re-established, andIAF should be officially asked to turn to CASCO rather than develop its own new documentsif it felt the need to alter the CASCO Guides

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110. Mr. Kellermann (SABS), supported by Dr. Aziz Mat (DSM) and Dr. Williams (SAZ), feltthat ISO should ensure that IAF took into account the needs and views of the developingcountries and that IAF should be asked to establish a regional system involving regionallyappointed accreditation bodies to service the developing countries.

111. The Secretary-General mentioned that there had been a meeting of the IAF Executivein August which had provided a response to the Council resolution and the Secretary of IAFwould shortly be discussing the current situation with the ISO Secretary-General.

112. Mr. Mazza (ANSI) and Dr. Aziz Mat (DSM) felt that ISO could not operate the QSARProgramme without IAF and that close cooperation was necessary, particularly in order toensure that the needs of the developing countries were taken into account.



on the basis of the very strong concern raised during the meeting, inparticular by members in developing countries, regarding the suspension ofthe ISO/IEC QSAR programme,

finds that the situation as it stands now is not satisfactory,

asks that Council review the whole question on the basis of the commentsmade with a view to deciding on the appropriate approach as soon aspossible.


114. Mr. Durand (AFNOR), Chairman of the IT Strategies Implementation Group (ITSIG),reported on the progress achieved by ITSIG in fostering the use of IT tools in theinternational standardization community, primarily in connection with the standardsdevelopment process, involving the use of templates, electronic exchange of documents, usertraining, automated document management and availability of SGML-formatted electronicdocument files. (The text of Mr. Durand's presentation is attached at annex 9.)

115. Mr. Lee (KNITQ) expressed satisfaction for the continued effort made to strengthenISO's standard production capacity by employing information technologies and with theresults of the first meetings of ITSIG. He felt that ISO should nevertheless make furtherefforts to raise the IT capabilities of all member bodies, failing which the consensus processon which ISO was established could be impaired. KNITQ hoped to see a training andeducation programme for ISO member bodies in the areas of information technologyrecommended by ITSIG to help the member bodies develop their own IT infrastructure inorder to take part in the international standardization work.

116. Prof. Elias (UNI) expressed strong support for the work of ITSIG and urged that therequired work be completed as soon as possible. He noted that the member bodies could bedivided into providers of training and benefiters of training and that efforts should be made todevelop means for ensuring low cost communications.

117. Mr. McSweeney (SCC) informed the General Assembly that SCC would be inauguratingan on-line standards information system called Standards Information Service of Canada inconnection with the 1997 World Standards Day celebrations.

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118. Dr. McAulay (SNZ) underlined that in implementing the ITSIG solutions proposed fordecreasing costs and increasing productivity, many countries would need to make furtherefforts to climb the computerization ladder developed by ITSCG.

119. Mr. Croon (IBN) underlined that efforts should be made to ensure that any differencesin the IEC approach to information technology implementations did not disrupt the totalinternational standardization system.

120. Mr. Durand (AFNOR), underlined that there were no major technical differencesbetween ISO and IEC in the area covered by ITSIG, but that it was important to convey aclear message to industry in order not to give the impression that different approaches werebeing taken in the development of International Standards. He pointed out that while IECwas not convinced at this stage of the value of an SGML approach, it would nonetheless usethe PDF format for the time being.



notes with satisfaction the publication of the Guide on access anddistribution of documents in electronic formats, prepared by ITSIG as aresource for all those involved in the development of consensus standardswithin the community of international, regional and nationalstandardization organizations,

urges its members to apply the guide to the widest possible extent,

expresses the hope that other relevant international and regionalstandardizing organizations also decide to apply the guide and asks theSecretary-General to convey this wish to them,

asks that ITSIG be entrusted with the task of looking into the possibility ofproviding training material through Web sites, and

expresses gratitude to the ITSIG Chairman and members for their ongoingefforts in achieving constructive results in an efficient and speedy manner.


122. The Treasurer gave a brief report on the organization's financial results, commentingon the satisfactory level of expenditure and of paid subscriptions. He recalled that the Fundfor the Safeguarding of ISO had been dissolved by Council decision and that the Fund's assetshad been transferred to the General Fund. Council had consequently decided on new rules forthe management of the General Fund which should be maintained at a level equivalent tofour months of the current year's expenditure of the Central Secretariat.

123. The Vice-President (policy), referring to the recommendations from the Council ad hocgroup on royalties and noting that it will have an impact on future budget considerations,recalled that Council would be considering the recommendations of the ad hoc group at itsforthcoming meeting with a view to taking appropriate action.

124. Mr. Motoomull (BPS) sought clarification regarding item 3.3 of the Central Secretariatbudget regarding the QSAR operation and the Secretary-General confirmed that, dependingon the decision to be taken by Council in January 1998, this figure may amount to CHF 0.- ifthe QSAR operation were to be abandoned.

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ITEM 9 REVIEW OF TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT BOARD ACTIONS IN1997

125. The Vice-President (technical management) introduced document ISO/GeneralAssembly 1997 - 9/1, mentioning that in the past twelve months the TMB had focused mainlyon the recommendations of the President's Think Tank and on ISO's Strategic Agenda: a TMBworking group on alternative procedures and new deliverables had submitted proposals to by-pass the standards development committee stage and to have the possibility of dispensingwith the formal FDIS vote. Two new deliverables were being considered, as well as means forimproving market relevance and ensuring that obsolete standards were withdrawn. Trainingof TC/SC officers, contracts or service agreements between ISO and the member bodiesholding TC/SC secretariats, performance requirements for secretariats and the use of IT toolswere being considered as means for improving the overall efficiency of the system. Technicalcooperation with IEC and with CEN was kept under close review and was deemed generallygood. New areas under study included the final report of the High-level Steering group onCALS, an ongoing study in relation to privacy and protection of personal information; and astudy on the need for generic documents in relation to risk management.

126. Mr. Tanaka (JISC), referring to the WTO's policy to encourage the use of internationalstandards, stated that JISC, in its efforts to open its market to international trade, haddecided to harmonize more than 1 000 JISC standards with the current ISO/IEC standardswithin three years, but that this had led to problems in that a number of InternationalStandards had been found technically obsolete for use in international trade. Through thePASC XX Meeting held in Honolulu in April 1997, and with the support of the USA, JISC hadobtained that the ISO Technical Management Board, by its resolution 50/1997, call for astrengthening of the five-yearly review of International Standards. The ISO CentralSecretariat will initiate a review of a non-exhaustive list of 40 examples of apparentlyobsolete International Standards. JISC looked forward to the results of this review and urgedall member bodies to contribute proactively to the implementation of the aforementionedTMB resolution.

127. The Vice-President (technical management) confirmed that the TMB would beconsidering the report from the Central Secretariat at its January 1998 meeting whiledrawing attention to the fact that the concept of obsolescence of an International Standardmight differ from one country to another.

128. Mr. Gujadhur (MSB) reported that Mauritius was experiencing difficulties in adoptingthe International Standard on "Steel for the reinforcement of concrete" without sufficientinformation on the existing national adoptions of this standard. He hoped that a mechanismcould be developed whereby member bodies could obtain information about national adoptionsof International Standards. The availability of this information would facilitate the nationaladoption of International Standards.

129. The Vice-President (technical management) mentioned that the Technical ManagementBoard was fully aware of these issues and had decided that if the standard were not used byat least five countries it would be withdrawn.

130. Mr. Lee Suan Hiang (PSB) proposed that ISO establish an industry advisory group togive advice to the TMB regarding the actual needs of industry. The group could also includerepresentatives of existing consortia. It was also proposed that Council and the TMB should

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look into the various concerns and problems encountered in connection with theimplementation of International Standards.

131. The Vice-President (technical management) urged the member bodies to formulate theirproposals in the form of specific documents for submission to the Technical ManagementBoard which would then be in a position to consider these matters in detail.

132. Mr. Lee Suan Hiang (PSB) indicated that PSB would be sending in written commentshighlighting concerns regarding the Vienna Agreement in particular the effectiveness of theAgreement in giving opportunities for full participation by ISO's stakeholders. Commentswould also be submitted on the proposal for an industry advisory group.

ITEM 10 ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENTS

133. The Vice-President (policy) showed a graph indicating the membership of the four policydevelopment committees (is attached at annex 10).

10.1 Conformity assessment (CASCO)

134. Mr. Archer, Chairman of CASCO, introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 -10.1/1 and reported that CASCO had held its 1997 plenary meeting in Sydney at theinvitation of SAA. CASCO's membership included 61 P-members and 24 O-members, butthere was decreasing participation by developing countries which endangered the consensusprocess, making recognition of the ISO or ISO/IEC Guides more problematic. CASCOintended to provide guidance on services based on the ISO 14000 standards. Regarding thepolicy issues addressed by CASCO, he recalled that the ISO/IEC QSAR Programme hadarisen from CASCO/DEVCO members concerns for the acceptance of ISO 9000 certificatesissued by certification bodies operating in the less advanced countries, primarily for productsor services in the ‘market’ sector of trade. However, the issue of recognition of certificates wasnow being handled by IAF, which was moving ahead with a programme of multi-lateralMRAs, perhaps more suited to the 'regulated' sector. A second major policy issue was theauthorization of CASCO to develop International Standards, as well as guides, in the area ofconformity assessment, under the authority of the TMB and following the ISO/IEC DirectivesPart 1, which would be applied from the outset whenever there was a possibility thedocuments would be used as standards. This had led to the establishment of a jointCASCO/CEN/CENELEC group to review the overall structure of conformity assessmentdocuments. CASCO had started to review existing guides with the view to converting them,where appropriate, into standards, via the normal 5-year rule for the review of guidesprovided in the Directives. The revision of Guide 25 was the first case of active cooperationwith CEN/CENELEC and it was to be the first standard developed by CASCO under a fasttrack procedure. The TMB had endorsed the part of the CASCO work programme comingunder its authority, and the full CASCO work programme, as given in annex 3 to ISO/GeneralAssembly 1997 - 12.1 (Rev) was being submitted to the General Assembly for endorsement.(The text of Mr. Archer's presentation is attached at annex 11.)

135. Mr. Lee (KNITQ), expressed satisfaction regarding CASCO's schedule for transforminga number of its ISO/IEC Guides into International Standards, which he hoped would becompleted rapidly. He described the changes that had recently occurred in thestandardization system of the Republic of Korea as a result of national efforts to adapt toderegulation and a private sector economy, involving circulation of standards for publiccomment, the introduction of technical reports, and the operation of the KS certification andmarking scheme by the private sector on the basis of ISO/IEC Guide 65 General requirements

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for bodies operating product certification systems which, together with other ISO/IEC Guideson conformity assessment, will be adopted as Korean national standards.

136. Mr. Aoki (JISC), while endorsing the revised CASCO work programme, expressed thehope that the number of undecided items to be dealt with as International Standards and asISO/IEC Guides would be resolved without delay.

137. Mr. Paterson (NSAI), sharing the views expressed by Mr. Aoki, asked whether CASCOwould be in a position to produce the documents that might be required by IAF in the future.

138. Mr. Archer (SAA), Chairman of CASCO, expressed CASCO's hope that IAF, instead ofproviding its own interpretation of the CASCO documents, would turn to CASCO forproviding whatever documents they needed. This, he felt, would be possible providedcontinued commitment of the CASCO members was forthcoming. He mentioned in additionthat CASCO had established a working group to identify priorities with regard to theconversion of its guides into International Standards.

139. Mr. Wittner (IRAM) commended Mr. Archer for his presentation and congratulatedMr. Archer on his effective chairmanship of CASCO. He expressed particular satisfaction atthe steps taken to ensure openness of the CASCO by enabling all interests to attend itsmeetings, and to grant observers the possibility of contributing by correspondence and for thefact that the number of CASCO guides were in the process of being transformed intoInternational Standards.

140. Prof. Voronin (GOST R) considered that, when developing International Standards,CASCO should endeavour to make the process as short and economical as possible and todevelop its cooperation with the European standardization organizations in relation to thestructure of standards relating to conformity assessment.



welcomes the report of the CASCO Chairman, Mr. Archer,

noting that for the first time the CASCO work programme is presented in aform reflecting the new terms of reference of CASCO approved by themember bodies earlier in 1997,

endorses the CASCO work programme for 1998 as set out in annex 3 (Rev.)to ISO General Assembly 1997 - 12.1/1, noting that part 2 has beenendorsed by the Technical Management Board.


142. On the proposal of the Vice-President (policy), the General Assembly adopted thefollowing special resolution by applause:

The General Assembly expresses its deep-felt gratitude to Mr. Owen Archerfor his valuable chairmanship of CASCO from 1992 to 1997, for hisdedication to the work of the committee and for his considerablecontributions to the ISO activities in the field of conformity assessment.

(Special General Assembly resolution 2/1997)

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10.2 Consumer needs (COPOLCO)

143. Mr. Healy, Chairman of COPOLCO, introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 -10.2/1 and thanked BSI for hosting the last COPOLCO meeting in London, and DIN for itschairmanship of the COPOLCO Working Group on Priorities. COPOLCO had discussed at its1997 workshop whether the 1979 joint ISO/IEC statement on consumer participation instandardization work was still appropriate and had noted that a significant number of NSBsappeared not to be following the ISO/IEC guidance. Other concerns were raised, aboutprocedures and structures for consumer representation in international standardsorganizations, and COPOLCO had passed resolutions reaffirming the importance ofconsumers as stakeholders in the standards-making process, also in IEC and ITU. It was feltthat formal recognition of COPOLCO by IEC would be useful. COPOLCO had asked the NSBsto report on consumer representation arrangements in their countries and had askedConsumers International to encourage consumer bodies to play a greater part in standardswork. COPOLCO had set up a working group to examine further ways of improvingrepresentation and had asked the COPOLCO Chairman to explore closer cooperation withDEVCO to promote consumer representation in developing countries. The recent DEVCOplenary had addressed topics such as resources, both for NSBs and consumer organizations,and the different levels of competence and interest among consumer organizations and, insome cases, their lack of technical competence. COPOLCO's next plenary was scheduled inMay 1998 in Tunisia, at the invitation of INNORPI, together with a workshop on productlabelling. COPOLCO believed that more coordination was advisable in the area of graphicalsysmbols and he as Chairman welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal that the matterwould be referred to the appropriate technical committees and COPOLCO had set up aworking group to investigate a proposal from SAA to establish International Standards forconsumer protection in the global market. He was satisfied that COPOLCO resolution10/1997 on publicly available specifications had been referred to the TMB for consideration.COPOLCO was submitting its 1998 work programme to the General Assembly forendorsement. (The notes used by Mr. Healy for his presentation is attached at annex 12.)

144. Mr. Ringstedt (SIS), speaking also as Chairman of the SIS Consumer Council,congratulated Mr. Healy on the results achieved by COPOLCO at its last meeting. SIS feltthat it was important for the consumers to take part in the groundwork relating tointernational standardization and mentioned that SIS was fortunate that the Swedishgovernment supported the views of consumers and was providing financial support forconsumer involvement in international and European standardization work. The fundsprovided would be used for the purpose of training, seminars and other activities includingcontribution to travel costs linked with the participation of users in standards work. SIS hadin addition produced a publication consisting of interviews regarding consumer experience instandards work. It was hoped that further discussions at national level would lead topromotion of a similar approach in the framework of IEC.

145. Prof. Voronin (GOST R) suggested that COPOLCO should organize workshops on issuesrelating to the implementation of the WTO Agreement on technical barriers to trade forcountries with transition economies, particularly those in the process of joining the WTO.

146. Dr. Abalaka (SON) pointed out that in some developing countries there was aproliferation of consumer units and organizations which competed for government recognitionand led to a difficult atmosphere. He felt that it was important to help educate the differentconsumer interests in order to avoid a fragmentation of the consumer position at nationallevel.

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147. Mr. Healy (BSI), responding to a question by Mr. Rajeswaran (SLSI), mentioned thatthe information contained in the COPOLCO Directory showed inter alia the relationshipbetween the COPOLCO representatives and their national governments. With respect to theproposal of SON and GOST R to hold a series of seminars, he underlined that it was a matterof resource availability but that if funds were available COPOLCO would be quite willing toorganize such seminars.

148. The General Assembly adopted the following resolutions:


welcomes the report of the COPOLCO Chairman, Mr. Healy,

noting COPOLCO's reaffirmation of its commitment to the standardsdeveloped by ISO and its members as the surest way to secure applicationof the principle of consensus and consumer representation,

asks the Secretary-General to refer the COPOLCO recommendation that aclear distinction be made between PAS (publicly available specifications -accepted by ISO) and consensus-based standards to the TechnicalManagement Board for appropriate consideration and action.



noting COPOLCO's view that there is a need for better coordinationbetween ISO and IEC in the field of graphical symbols (adoption ofsymbols in standards and standards governing symbol design, testing andcataloguing),

further noting that COPOLCO has decided to establish a working group toprepare an ISO/IEC guide for technical bodies on the use of marks andsymbols in relation to consumers and their adoption in standards ofconsumer interest,

asks the Secretary-General to refer the COPOLCO recommendationsregarding graphical symbols to ISO/TC 10 Technical drawings, productdefinition and related documentation and TC 145 Graphical symbols, bothof which have joint working groups with IEC, for appropriate action.


The General Assembly endorses the draft COPOLCO work programme asset out in annex 3 to ISO General Assembly 1997 - 10.2/1.


10.3 Developing country needs (including the ISO Programme for DevelopingCountries 1998-2000) (DEVCO)

149. Mr. Hutchinson, Chairman of DEVCO, introduced document ISO/GeneralAssembly 1997 - 10.3/1 and reported on the 31st DEVCO plenary meeting held on 20-21September 1997, which had been attended by more than 120 delegates from 50 member bodies,3 regional standards bodies and 4 international organizations. DEVCO had noted the progressachieved with regard to the publication programme for ISO Development Manuals; discussedthe information needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition with

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respect to the WTO TBT requirements; noted the growing direct involvement of developingcountries by undertaking secretariats and hosting meetings of TC/SC. DEVCO had approved adraft ISO Programme for Developing Countries 1998-2000, which it was submitting to theGeneral Assembly for endorsement. DEVCO had further considered the Funds-in-Trust, towhich an increasing number of developing countries were contributing. DEVCO had reviewedthe regional seminar programme, the state of cooperation with COPOLCO and the need forspecial focus on awareness of the ISO 9000 and 14000 standards in the African region. DEVCOhad expressed its very strong dissatisfaction with regard to Council resolution 34/1997concerning the suspension of the ISO/IEC QSAR Programme. Finally, the DEVCO workshopUpgrading Standardization Infrastructures in Developing Countries held in conjunction withthe plenary meeting had been a success. (The text of Mr. Hutchinson's presentation is attachedat annex 13.)

150. Dr. El-Sebai (EOS), regarding alternative means for financing the ISO Programme forthe Developing Countries, mentioned that there was a proposal to increase the CentralSecretariat price list of International Standards by 30 % and the discount for purchases bythe members from the Central Secretariat up to 50 %; he proposed that member bodies setaside some part of the additional revenue derived from it to increase their own voluntarycontribution to the funds-in-trust for the ISO Programme for Developing Countries.

151. Mr. Motoomull (BPS) further suggested that the 4 % of the Central Secretariat budgetallocated to the operation of DEVCO could also perhaps be increased.

152. The Vice-President (policy) suggested for reasons of clarity of the proposal that Dr. El-Sebai prepare the wording of a proposal for submission to the Secretary-General and theTreasurer, who could then convey a proposal to Council for consideration.



welcomes the report of the DEVCO Chairman, Mr. Hutchinson,

notes with satisfaction the improving trends in developing countries toadopt and use International Standards,

expresses appreciation for the steady technical and financial assistance ofthe ISO members and other donors in upgrading the human resource andorganizational capabilities of developing countries in the field ofstandardization, metrology, testing and certification,

encourages more members from developed and developing countries tocontribute to the funds-in-trust which support the implementation of theISO Programme for Developing Countries, and

endorses the ISO Programme for Developing Countries 1998-2000 as setout in annex 2 to ISO/General Assembly 1994 - 10.3/1, observing that, forthe time being, the financing of activities other than those of the staffworking in the Developing Countries unit at the Central Secretariat canessentially come only from sources outside the Central Secretariat budget.


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10.4 Information systems and services (including commercial policies and marketing)(INFCO)

154. Mr. Kaartama, Chairman of INFCO, introduced document ISO/General Assembly1997 - 10.4/1 and reported that since the last General Assembly, INFCO had held one plenarymeeting (Helsinki, 29-30 May 1997), four meetings of its Marketing Group and a meeting ofits Information Group, as well as an INFCO/ISONET workshop on Moving standardsinformation into the next century – The best of marketing, which had been attended by 70participants from 31 countries. INFCO's total membership of 83 included 64 P-members and19 O-members, and liaisons were maintained by nine international and regionalorganizations. Participation in ISONET now consisted of 81 national members, 3 associatemembers and 7 international members. Regarding the policy issues under considerationwithin INFCO, INFCO had revised its structure and redistributed its activities internally. Onthe usage of the International Classification for Standards, he commented that 53 ISOmembers used the ICS, 23 intended to use it and only 4 did not plan to use it. A revisededition of the ISONET Manual was due for approval by the end of 1997. It had been decidedto develop a simple thesaurus based on the ICS in replacement of the ROOT and TITthesauri. Guidelines for the development of WSSN Web sites had been approved by INFCO, aswell as a report on a survey on Quality control in information centres. With regard tocommercial marketing activities, the Guidelines and policies for the protection of ISO'sintellectual property and the Recommendations on the distribution of ISO documents viaInternet and other computer networks, both approved by Council, had been circulated to theISO members for implementation. The second edition of the WTO TBT Standards CodeDirectory had been issued in January 1997 and was regularly updated via the ISO Bulletin. Anew INFCO work programme was being submitted to the General Assembly for endorsement.(A selection of the slides used by Mr. Kaartama is attached at annex 14.)

155. Mr. Lee (KNITQ) expressed the hope that ISO could hold a seminar to train the staff ofdeveloping country standards bodies in the development of WWW sites.

156. Mr. Das (BIS) drew attention to the newly published Development Manual No. 8 which,he thought, should also address the matter of harmonization of methods for circulatinginformation to include such matters as information technology equipment, the development ofWWW home pages, etc.

157. Mme Guo (CSBTS) commenting on the importance of the work conducted by INFCO,mentioned that not all countries in ISO shared the same level of development and that it wasimportant, through training courses, to help establish a balance and enable developingcountries to reduce the gap with other member countries.

158. The General Assembly adopted the following resolutions:


welcomes the report of the INFCO Chairman, Mr. Kaartama,

recognizing that harmonized dissemination of information on standardsthrough networks (in particular Internet) will facilitate user access to thisinformation,

encourages the ISO members to follow the Guidelines for the developmentof WSSN Web sites, now approved by INFCO, when developing orupdating their Web sites,

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asks that the above guidelines be conveyed to IEC for possible use by theIEC national committees.


The General Assembly endorses the INFCO work programme as set out inannex 3 to ISO General Assembly 1997 - 10.4/1.


ITEM 11 REVIEW OF THE CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT/ELECTIONTO COUNCIL

159. The Secretary-General introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 11/1containing Council's decision with regard to the appointment and election of member bodiesto Council.

160. Mrs. Patir (SII), while agreeing with Council's decision, felt that consideration shouldbe given in future to an additional criterion involving the rate of adoption of InternationalStandards in connection with a member body's eligibility to Council.


The General Assembly, in accordance with clause 3.1.1 of the ISO Rules ofprocedure,

endorses the Council decision confirming that the criteria for theappointment/election of member bodies to Council shall continue to be thefollowing:

– number of payable units (60% weight),

– number of TC and SC secretariats (20% weight),

– number of P-memberships (20% weight);

thereby confirming that the criteria to be used for ranking member bodiesfor eligibility to Council membership should reflect the size of the economyof the countries of the member bodies and the degree of involvement in theISO technical work, both quantitatively and qualitatively.


162. On the proposal of the President, the General Assembly adopted the following specialresolution by applause:

The General Assembly expresses its deep-felt gratitude to Prof. Dr. HelmutReihlen for his exemplary service to ISO in completing the term of office ofhis predecessor as ISO Vice-President (policy).

(Special General Assembly resolution 1/1997)

ITEM 12 ELECTION OF THE ISO PRESIDENT FOR THE NEXT TERM

163. The President introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 12/1 recalling thatone nomination had been received and confirmed for the office of President. Consequently,

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the President declared Prof. Giacomo Elias (Italy) elected by applause as ISO President forthe 1999-2000 term. Prof. Elias would consequently serve as President-elect in 1998.

164. Prof. Elias thanked the member bodies for their confidence in electing him for the nextpresidency and assured the ISO membership of his intention to devote all efforts in furtheringthe mission that ISO had set for itself.

ITEM 13 APPOINTMENT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT (POLICY) FOR THE1998-1999 TERM

165. The President introduced document ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 13/1 calling for theappointment of a Vice-President (policy) for the 1998-1999 term.

166. The General Assembly appointed Mr. Akira Aoki (Japan) by applause as Vice-President(policy) for the 1998-1999 term.

ITEM 14 ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE 1998-1999 TERM

167. The President, noting that two outgoing Council members (BSI and JISC), whoappeared among the five top-ranking contributors to the Organization, were automaticallyappointed for a consecutive term on Council, introduced document ISO/General Assembly1997 - 14/1 calling for the election of seven members of Council. Having recalled the electionprocedure, he invited the member bodies to cast their ballots and asked the Treasurer tocount the votes together with Mr. Aoki, whose name he had drawn from among the Councilmembers' respresentatives.

168. The Treasurer announced that 811 ballots had been returned, all of which were valid,and that the following seven member bodies, having received the most votes in theirrespective groups, were elected to Council for the 1998-1999 term :

Group 2 Group 3 Group 4BIS (India) TSE (Turkey) JBS (Jamaica)SAA (Australia)SCC (Canada)SIS (Sweden)SNV (Switzerland)

ITEM 15 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

169. The President, joined by the delegates, paid tribute to some 25 Central Secretariat staffmembers who had been in the service of ISO for 20 years and more.

170. The President, noting that there were no further business items to discuss, thanked thedelegates for their many positive and constructive contributions and closed the meeting.

1 One member body, present at the time of the roll call under agenda item 1.2, was absent when the

voting took place.

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171. NOTE: In the course of the Council meeting held the following day, the President drewlots to determine the seating arrangement at the next General Assembly meeting, accordingto which the delegations would be seated in alphabetical order beginning with letter "V".

AANNEX 1

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No. GA resolution 1997 Subject Para.

1 The General Assembly,

on the basis of the general considerations regarding the CASCOprocedures and reporting as set out under item 1 in documentISO/Council 19/1997, approves, with immediate effect, the Councilrecommendation as follows:

a) The current terms of reference of CASCO shall remainessentially the same, with the addition of the change indicatedbelow:

• to study means of assessing the conformity of products,processes, services and management systems toappropriate standards or other technical specifications;

• to prepare international guides and InternationalStandards relating to the practice of testing, inspectionand certification of products, processes and services, andto the assessment of management systems, testinglaboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies,accreditation bodies and their operation and acceptance;

• to promote mutual recognition and acceptance ofnational and regional conformity assessment systems,and the appropriate use of International Standards fortesting, inspection, certification, assessment and relatedpurposes.

b) CASCO, remaining a policy development committee for onepart of its programme and acting as a technical committee forthe other part, shall prepare its annual work programme in twoparts to ensure that this distinction is clear:

• Part one for issues of a policy guidance nature; to beendorsed by the General Assembly;

• Part two for issues of a technical nature, i.e. items tobecome International Standards; to be endorsed by theTechnical Management Board on behalf of the GeneralAssembly to ensure proper technical synchronizationwith the work programme administered by the TMB;

c) CASCO shall be the appropriate body to decide, whenagreeing to the addition of a new work item in the workprogramme, whether the project will result in a policy Guideor in an International Standard. A review of main issues underconsideration by CASCO shall be presented to Council on anannual basis. Regarding existing guides, CASCO shall beinvited to review, in close consultation with the TechnicalManagement Board, the distribution proposed by theSecretary General in the table attached at annex 2 to Council19/1997;

CASCO procedures andreportingNew terms of reference

By correspondance

ANNEX 1Page 2

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d) Regarding the relationship with IEC, in cases where CASCOdevelops an International Standard, the parallel approvalprocess shall be applied and the point in the procedure whereformal steps are required for the document to be approved as ajoint publication with double logo shall be the DIS stage(development of joint ISO/IEC Guides should take placeaccording to Annex P to the ISO/IEC Directives, as before).

2 The General Assembly approves the minutes of the 19th GeneralAssembly held in London in 1996, as circulated to the members of theOrganization on 16 December 1996, and requests the Secretary-General toenter, in the master copy kept at the Central Secretariat, the amendmentsfrom MSB, SAA and SCC set out in the annex to ISO/General Assembly1997 - 3/1.

1996 General Assemblyminutes

7

3 The General Assembly

thanks the Secretary-General for his interesting report, highlightingimportant results achieved since the last General Assembly and explainingISO challenges for the years to come,

while recognizing that the 1996 annual report was well received and isdeemed to have met the expectations of the various interested circles withregard to both its substance and its presentation, decides that the reportcovering the 1997 calendar year should be produced in a more livelymanner.

1997 ISO annual report 14


emphasizing the importance that trade negotiators at national level beinformed of standardization matters to an appropriate extent in connectionwith their discussions in the WTO framework in general and in that of theAgreement on Technical Barriers to Trade in particular,

underlines the importance for the ISO members to take the necessary stepswithin their respective countries to contact the relevant trade negotiatorsand ensure that they receive the required briefing to enable them to holdpositions consistent with their national standardization counterparts atWTO meetings, and

encourages its members to participate actively in the regional ISO/WTOseminars on services to be held in Argentina, France, Singapore and USA.

Collaboration with WTO 56


endorses the ISO strategic agenda 1996-1998, up-dated July 1997, as setout in annex 2 to ISO General Assembly 1997 7.1/1, and

regarding the next issue of ISO's long-range strategies for the period1999-2001, asks the Vice-President (policy) to act as necessary with aview to the submission of a draft version of such a document to theGeneral Assembly for approval in September 1998, taking into accountthe comments made during the meeting, including those regarding theneed for transparency in the process and a broadly-based input.

Up-dated ISO strategic agenda1996-1998ISO's long-range strategies forthe period 1999-2001

69

ANNEX 1Page 3

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having heard the numerous comments made by its members on theISO/IEC common services operation and common building study,

unanimously supports the proposals contained in the above study,

as a first step towards the practical implementation of the proposals putforward in the study decides that a joint ISO/IEC task force, with fourmembers of each organization, should be set up, and

invites its President to convey this resolution to his IEC counterpart andto report in detail on the outcome at the 1998 General Assembly.

ISO/IEC common servicesoperation and commonbuilding study

104


on the basis of the very strong concern raised during the meeting, inparticular by members in developing countries, regarding the suspensionof the ISO/IEC QSAR programme,

finds that the situation as it stands now is not satisfactory,

asks that Council review the whole question on the basis of the commentsmade with a view to deciding on the appropriate approach as soon aspossible.

ISO/IEC QSAR programme 113


notes with satisfaction the publication of the Guide on access anddistribution of documents in electronic formats, prepared by ITSIG as aresource for all those involved in the development of consensus standardswithin the community of international, regional and nationalstandardization organizations,

urges its members to apply the guide to the widest possible extent,

expresses the hope that other relevant international and regionalstandardizing organizations also decide to apply the guide and asks theSecretary-General to convey this wish to them,

asks that ITSIG be entrusted with the task of looking into the possibilityof providing training material through web sites, and

expresses gratitude to the ITSIG Chairman and members for their ongoingefforts in achieving constructive results in an efficient and speedy manner.

ITSIGGuide on access anddistribution of documents inelectronic format

121


welcomes the report of the CASCO Chairman, Mr. Archer,

CASCOWork programme

141

ANNEX 1Page 4

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noting that for the first time the CASCO work programme is presented ina form reflecting the new terms of reference of CASCO approved by themember bodies earlier in 1997,

endorses the CASCO work programme for 1998 as set out in annex 3(Rev.) to ISO General Assembly 1997 - 12.1/1, noting that part 2 hasbeen endorsed by the Technical Management Board.


welcomes the report of the COPOLCO Chairman, Mr. Healy,

noting COPOLCO's reaffirmation of its commitment to the standardsdeveloped by ISO and its members as the surest way to secure applicationof the principle of consensus and consumer representation,

asks the Secretary-General to refer the COPOLCO recommendation that aclear distinction be made between PAS (publicly available specifications -accepted by ISO) and consensus-based standards to the TechnicalManagement Board for appropriate consideration and action.

COPOLCOPAS versus consensus-basedstandards

148


noting COPOLCO's view that there is a need for better coordinationbetween ISO and IEC in the field of graphical symbols (adoption ofsymbols in standards and standards governing symbol design, testing andcataloguing),

further noting that COPOLCO has decided to establish a working groupto prepare an ISO/IEC guide for technical bodies on the use of marks andsymbols in relation to consumers and their adoption in standards ofconsumer interest,

asks the Secretary-General to refer the COPOLCO recommendationsregarding graphical symbols to ISO/TC 10 Technical drawings, productdefinition and related documentation and TC 145 Graphical symbols,both of which have joint working groups with IEC, for appropriate action.

COPOLCOGraphical symbols

148

12 The General Assembly endorses the draft COPOLCO work programme asset out in annex 3 to ISO General Assembly 1997 - 10.2/1.

COPOLCOWork programme

148


welcomes the report of the DEVCO Chairman, Mr. Hutchinson,

notes with satisfaction the improving trends in developing countries toadopt and use International Standards,

expresses appreciation for the steady technical and financial assistance ofthe ISO members and other donors in upgrading the human resource andorganizational capabilities of developing countries in the field ofstandardization, metrology, testing and certification,

Contributions to the funds-in-trustProgramme for DevelopingCountries 1998-2000

153

ANNEX 1Page 5

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encourages more members from developed and developing countries tocontribute to the funds-in-trust which support the implementation of theISO Programme for Developing Countries, and

endorses the ISO Programme for Developing Countries 1998-2000 as setout in annex 2 to ISO/General Assembly 1994 - 10.3/1, observing that,for the time being, the financing of activities other than those of the staffworking in the Developing Countries unit at the Central Secretariat canessentially come only from sources outside the Central Secretariat budget.


welcomes the report of the INFCO Chairman, Mr. Kaartama,

recognizing that harmonized dissemination of information on standardsthrough networks (in particular Internet) will facilitate user access to thisinformation,

encourages the ISO members to follow the Guidelines for thedevelopment of WSSN Web sites, now approved by INFCO, whendeveloping or updating their Web sites,

asks that the above guidelines be conveyed to IEC for possible use by theIEC national committees.

INFCOGuidelines for thedevelopment of WSSN Websites

158

15 The General Assembly endorses the INFCO work programme as set out inannex 3 to ISO General Assembly 1997 - 10.4/1.

INFCOWork programme

158

16 The General Assembly, in accordance with clause 3.1.1 of the ISO Rulesof procedure,

endorses the Council decision confirming that the criteria for theappointment/election of member bodies to Council shall continue to bethe following:

– number of payable units (60% weight),– number of TC and SC secretariats (20% weight),– number of P-memberships (20% weight);

thereby confirming that the criteria to be used for ranking member bodiesfor eligibility to Council membership should reflect the size of theeconomy of the countries of the member bodies and the degree ofinvolvement in the ISO technical work, both quantitatively andqualitatively.

Criteria for the appointment/election of member bodies toCouncil

161

Special General Assembly resolutions

1 The General Assembly expresses its deep-felt gratitude toProf. Dr. Helmut Reihlen for his exemplary service to ISO in completingthe term of office of his predecessor as ISO Vice-President (policy).

Gratitude toProf. Dr. H. Reihlen

162

2 The General Assembly expresses its deep-felt gratitude toMr. Owen Archer for his valuable chairmanship of CASCO from 1992 to1997, for his dedication to the work of the committee and for hisconsiderable contributions to the ISO activities in the field of conformityassessment.

Gratitude to Mr. O Archer 142

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TWENTIETH ISO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE ISO PRESIDENT, MR. LIEW MUN LEONG

1. Firstly, let me welcome all of you to this morning’s 20th General Assembly meeting.Today’s General Assembly is no ordinary meeting. It is our Golden Anniversary’s GeneralAssembly and we should be proud to be part of this historical meeting.

2. All of us have enjoyed the wonderful show last evening. This evening, we shall rejoiceourselves with a gala dinner. I am sure you would want to join me in thanking the CentralSecretariat for their commendable effort to make these events a success.

3. Last evening, I briefly talked about ISO’s past achievements and the issues affecting ourfuture. Today, I would like to speak on a few recommendations. I would be quite frank andcandid about my views, some of which you may find provocative. I hope you would bear withmy openness. If I could stimulate some rethinking and discussion, I would have achieved myobjective.

4. First, let’s take stock of what ISO is all about, its mission, form and structure.Unfortunately, after five decades of our existence, public misconception about ISO stillpersist. Some have viewed ISO as a learned institution. We all know, it is not. Neither is ita social club of technocrats or engineers. The founder of ISO has a vision, and I quote, “tofacilitate the international coordination and unification of industrial standards.” Unquote.Today, our principal mission is to produce International Standards to facilitate world tradeand commerce. We hope that our International Standards could also promote scientific andtechnological cooperation and advancement. ISO is therefore an important world body topromote global trade and global industrialisation.

5. Today, ISO faces unprecedented challenges of a fast changing technological world.Beyond our past success in producing useful International Standards, the demand now is forthem to be produced faster and cheaper. The Central Secretariat must somehow learn tokeep up with the changing pace and yet manage within financial constraints. We havelimited funds from limited sources, mainly from membership dues and publication ofstandards. There is reluctance somehow by some members for ISO to generate revenue fromalternative sources. The question is how do we make both ends meet where income is limitedand basic cost is spiraling.

6. Whilst ISO is a not-for-profit organisation, I am strongly convinced that we must manageit like a business. By business approach, I am not suggesting that we attempt to create profitor wealth for its members. However, I recommend that we manage ourselves in a business-like way, both in efficiency and effectiveness, to create values for our shareholders. That’sthe bottomline.

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7. If we are steadfast with our mission and core values, we could plan, organise and manageISO as in any other business corporation. Let’s define what business we are in and who ourcustomers or clients are? We have only one product - International Standards. But we aresomewhat ambiguous about who our clients or customers are? Is it the national standardsbodies who are our shareholders? Are we serving the manufacturers and producers of goodsand services or are we serving the interest of end consumers? This is an important question,albeit, we have a political burden when we try to analyse where our loyalty should finally lie.If we know our customers, are we producing the products they need and are they at the rightprice and right time? We must get our marketing right.

8. Next let’s examine our structure. At the highest level of our hierarchy, we have theGeneral Assembly or GA where member countries attend every year to represent their viewsand endorse policies. It is likened to a shareholders’ meeting in a corporation. GA also electsthe Council, to govern the running of ISO. But is this good enough?

9. I suggest not. Member countries could do more than meet once a year. There is aperception that the GA is a once-a-year social party, some enjoying Switzerland and thegraciousness of the event, others picking issues and making controversial debate. I suggestthat we be more proactive. Prepare for the GA, come with comments, speak up and volunteeryour solutions. We will consider your views seriously whether you come from big or smallcountries, developed or developing.

10. At the macro level, the GA should focus on very fundamental issues like the StrategicAgenda. At the 1995 GA, you approved the ISO’s long-range strategies for 1996 to 1998. TheStrategic Agenda has been strengthened by incorporating recommendations made by twohigh level groups - the President’s Ad hoc Business Advisory Group on Finance and thePresident’s “Think-Tank” group. The Strategic Agenda covers, amongst others, two majorissues - improvement on productivity and cost. Other recommendations include re-engineering of processes, use of IT tools, more rigorous management across total ISO system,tighter control by Technical Management Board on standards’ work programme and thedivisions of responsibility between Central Secretariat and TC and SC secretariats. The GAshould openly discuss and take specific positions of these recommendations. Some toughdecisions have to be taken but again as shareholders, we must decide.

11. GA also decides on our Governance. Think critically about the Council election so thatthe most effective council members would be elected. They are going to represent you for aperiod of two years so the best and most dedicated should be elected. Members’ involvementshould not begin and end at a GA meeting. During the course of the year, you are encouragedto communicate with us your views or comments. We invite you to participate in our task-forces or special working committees set up to resolve specific issues or problems.

12. Next, let’s talk about Council. Council, the equivalent of a Board of Directors, is electedto represent the interest of all the shareholders. Council members should be single-mindedabout championing the interests of ISO and not just the specific country they represent. It isunderstandably a difficult dilemma to support objectively the interests of ISO which at timesmay not necessarily coincide with your country’s. But this impartiality must be held by all

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Council members, if Council is to be effective in governing ISO. Governance must never befractious and our efforts must not be diffused. Council must be impartial, firm and decisive,otherwise, it will turn into a political arena where sectorial interests are lobbied and fought.Ultimately, consensus and the good of the international community must prevail. That, Iremind you, is a fundamental core value of ISO.

13. Next, let us look at management. The Secretary-General and the Central Secretariat arelike the Chief Executive leading the management team in a corporation. Whilst the Councilstrategises the policies and directions of ISO, the Chief Executive and his staff is entrustedwith the full responsibility to manage and achieve the goals set. This responsibility mustcome with the authority to perform. They must be empowered. The Council, being the non-executive party, should set policies, formulate strategies, advise and play the check andbalance role over executive management. Council members could never be in Geneva everyday. Neither is it useful for them to do so. The Secretary-General and his team should beempowered to enable them to do the things they are entrusted to do. If there areshortcomings, it is Council’s responsibility to direct and advise them of any deficiencies. Thebottom line is that management has to deliver. If they fail us frequently and without goodreasons, then we should be business-like and have the discipline to look for alternatives.

14. When we are clearly focused about our business definition, structure and roles, then ISOis well-prepared to run like a business, manage changes and flourish. The game is thenclear.

15. ISO of the next century will be and should be very different. My first encounter with ISOwas in 1988. My perspective was that it was a big and friendly organisation, led by afraternity of good buddies with plenty of goodwill towards one another. The problem, I felt,was that ISO lacked political resolute to make drastic changes. Many, rightly or wrongly,perceive ISO to be Eurocentric, with the Americans, the Japanese and other powers playingthe balancing act. The developing and emerging countries were buzzing around taking in thecomplexity of ISO and at the same time trying to make themselves understood. I am happyto note that now, much has changed and for the better. However, some sceptics think thatthe changes are too little and too slow and, some even feel, too late.

16. The Strategic Agenda, which the Secretary-General will speak on, maps out thestrategies for our future. I would like to highlight some points :

a) International Standards are a key promoter of industrial development and trade. Manyindustries and public sectors are still not well versed with the strategic importance ofinternational standardisation. Governments should be persuaded to appreciate theirvalues and incorporate them in their trade and industrial policies, and planningprocesses. NSBs should liaise with their respective Governments, industry leaders andmanagers to cultivate their understanding and support. ISO should take a lead bystrengthening our links with WTO, and in so doing, build a bridge at the internationallevel between standardisation, industrial application and regulatory requirements.

b) Certain industrial sectors might see their common interests best served by establishing acollective relationship. Some industrial groups have formed their own quality systemswhich are not always in line with best international practice. ISO should try to

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establish protocols and agreements with these groups to avoid fragmentation ofstandardisation. To succeed in this, we must empathise with those in industry toensure that our joint efforts are relevant to industrial needs. We must strive for closerdialogue with industries and the business community.

c) Regional organisations are proliferating and this trend is likely to grow. If this is notmanaged, we would see fragmentation of standardisation which would be a regressivemove. ISO should establish effective linkages and constant contacts with the regionalgroups. In this way, we could gain feedback on how ISO standards can better addresstheir regional needs.

d) We should ensure that development of standards incorporate balanced regionalparticipation and input. In the long run, we may like to explore setting up ISO centresin various regions outside Geneva to manage different aspects of the CentralSecretariat’s work. Such decentralisation will enable us to be closer to the market andlower production costs.

e) National standards bodies (NSB) should review their respective roles and how they arestructured. Fundamental issues like how they are financed and managed may requirere-appraisal. There are several interesting and successful self-financing models of NSBwhich you may like to study and learn from. Financial autonomy, from my ownexperience, is the best model to work for.

f) Traditionally, ISO is mainly financed by membership dues, standards sales and royalties.We have a tight budget. Cost is escalating and there is increasing demand for betterquality and faster services from ISO Central Secretariat. It is natural and fair to expectstandards of service to improve. We could spur efficiency and reengineer ourselves tothe hilt but there is a practical limit to re-engineering and cost containment. We expectgrowth but disagree on income change. Shouldn’t we therefore look at other ways ofimproving our budget? By this, I mean exploring alternative sources of revenue. If weare willing to be creative and business-like, I am sure that there are ways to raiserevenue without jeopardising our mission and core values. Several not-for-profit worldbodies in Geneva are able to do so. Why not ISO?

17. Lastly, I would like to talk about leadership in the standards community. Severaleminent leaders in ISO, many of whom I became acquainted with some 10 years ago, arenearing their retirement age. Several old friends I know in the late ‘80s, who are giants inthe standards world, have left the ISO scene, enjoying their well deserved retirement. A newcrop of NSB Chiefs are elected to the Council. They will have to appreciate the complexity ofthe past and the challenges of the future. This new wave of leadership poses both as achallenge and opportunity to ISO. I have confidence that new blood will break new groundsto bring ISO forward to the next millennium. They will, I am sure, live up to the standardsset by their predecessors.

18. We have been successful during the past half century. It is our job now to see where andhow we can, not only survive, but grow in future. So far, we have managed, by consensus, toagree for 50 years. Can we, for the next 50?

19. With this note, ladies and gentlemen, I declare the 20th ISO General Assembly open.

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ADDRESS BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEEFOR STANDARDIZATION (CEN), MR. GEORG HONGLER

The celebration of 50 years of ISO is a special event for everybody involved in

standardization, and even more so for an organization like CEN which, since its

creation in 1961, has enjoyed a good and close partnership with ISO. This

partnership grew over the years, and was reinforced by the Lisbon Agreement

followed in 1991 by the well-known Vienna Agreement. The Agreement provides an

important support in the exchange of information, and for an efficient use of the

resources in the development of standards by our 2 organizations.

The particular relationship between ISO and CEN can be demonstrated by some

statistics. There are at present about 1000 active work items registered to be

processed in parallel procedures. The work has increased at a yearly rate of 10%

over the past few years. 75% of the projects are realised under ISO leadership. Half

of the work items are at the enquiry stage at CEN and about 100 are ready to be

submitted to the formal vote.

In addition to this, CEN has adopted about 1200 ISO standards as ENs by other

procedures.

Report on CEN major issues

Since CEN is a well-recognized organization for setting standards in Europe, with

increasing influence beyond the European market place, let me take the opportunity

to report on some major issues which will have an important impact in the years

ahead.

Optimization

The first one concerns the re-engineering of the CEN work. Our re-engineering

efforts, generally known as Optimization, are needed for better response to the

market which asks for better programming and quicker delivery, improved

efficiency and improved quality of the ENs.

This will be realised by more delegation and empowerment, better transparency

and accountability.

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Delegation and empowerment means that many decisions can and will be taken in a

decentralized way, at the level of the organization where the work actually takes

place.

Transparency means that the principles of delegation and empowerment need to be

accompanied by full visibility across the System to ensure that all necessary

information is available to those who have to make decisions and that all decisions

are available to those who have to build upon and execute them.

Accountability is the logical consequence of delegation and transparency, it must be

clear to all involved �WHO is responsible for WHAT� in the CEN system.

It has to be noted that the original rigid sector structure will be changed. It will be

replaced by a more flexible mechanism which will allow to co-ordinate potentially

overlapping interests on a case by case basis.

Review of CEN Strategy

A second issue concerns the review of CEN's strategy.

Considering the changing environment in which standardization, and perhaps

especially European Standardization, lives and works, the CEN Members felt the

need to review the CEN strategy beyond the year 2000.

Among the elements which shape our future are increased market pressures, new

deliverables, globalization, European legislation, and last but not least the

requirements of WTO.

The development of CEN's strategy will involve the different stakeholders, such as

CEN National Members, CEN Associate Members, industry, EC and EFTA, as well as

other social and economic partners.

International Standardization will be a major issue of the debate. It will take into

account some main elements agreed upon at European level. The European model,

based on transparency, institutional rules and close co-operation with Public

Authorities (in particular in the case of presumption of conformity with legislation

and standards), is worth promoting, particularly through programmes of technical

co-operation and technical assistance.

CEN will keep ISO informed of the development of the project through its well

established channels.

A new Product as an Answer to the Market

A third issue concerns CEN's involvement in new products starting in the field of the

Information Society, but certainly not limited to it.

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Having made the analysis that CEN, on the basis of past experiences, could achieve

results in the difficult environment in which ICT standardization develops, CEN

decided to take on the challenge to offer to its economic partners suitable processes

in which they will feel comfortable and which enable them to build co-operation,

leading to new deliverables, in this largely international environment.

In developing new deliverables, CEN will respect key requirements, such as :

- a high degree of responsiveness to market needs

- a high degree of flexibility, versatility and openness

- low operating costs

- strong links with Research and Development

- a European strategy with a global vision

The new process takes into account the 10 year experience of Open Workshops

within EWOS and will operate in conformity with the basic values of

standardization, namely openness, voluntary contribution and consensus. The key

principles are simple: Access to the Workshops to interested parties, not necessarily

limited to European participants, who are willing to provide expertise and to adhere

to the operating rules. Objectives and resources, comprising the core of the

Workshop business plans, defined by the participants themselves, and approval of

the results by the participants. The role of CEN and of its national members will

mainly be, to contribute to provide the necessary logistic and secretariat support

and above all to market the concept, while ensuring the identification of the

interested partners and adequate liaisons.

The new deliverable is a new product, corresponding to the direct result of the

Workshops, not a formal standard. Market operators, e.g. in the ICT field, do not

necessarily need standards in the form of formal "ENs" which have a very high level

of recognition from the public authorities and technical legislation, but which can

take a long time to be established because of the value they carry.

The CEN Workshop Agreement - as we call (for the time being) the new deliverable -

will constitute a formal CEN publication and will be listed as such in every national

catalogue - although there is no compulsory procedure for national implementation.

Appropriate use of Information Technology

CEN and its member organizations have, for several years, also been taking steps to

make appropriate use of Information Technology in their services. These initiatives

have developed differently in order to suit the different national environments. With

the advent of more universal standards and increased use of the world-wide

Internet communication services it is now considered timely to foster cohesion of

such information services in order to provide improved European-wide

communication.

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CEN will pilot the re-engineering of traditional committee processes necessary to

take advantage of new electronic Internet services. We will pilot the introduction of

the electronic Internet document management facilities as well as a Web

Information Service and a Standards Delivery Service.

These new services shall make provision for the inclusion of information linking to

(i) all existing European and national standards (ii) related international standards,

(iii) standards development, (iv) informative documents (such as programmes,

processes of standardization, rules.....), (v) news, (vi) services such as training,

consultancy, and (vii) secure delivery of the full text of standards for end users.

As in the past, CEN will co-operate on various aspects of these projects with ISO,

thereby learning from ISO's experience and offering CEN's expertise in return.

In the light of our continued successful co-operation, I am therefore convinced that

ISO's 50th anniversary is at the same time an important historic event and the start

for another exciting 50 years ahead for the standardization community.

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ADDRESS BY THE IEC PRESIDENT, MR. BERNARD FALK

Mr. Liew, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for giving me theopportunity to come here and speak to you today. It is always a pleasure to be invited tospecial moments and since this is the 50th anniversary of ISO’s founding, I would like toextend, on behalf of everyone involved with the IEC, our congratulations for your 50 years ofdedicated work in international standardization.

As many of you may know, the IEC was established in 1906 and may justifiably be seen as aprecursor to ISO. Since ISO’s founding, both organizations have worked closely together andyou may be confident that the IEC is a strong supporter of your work at the same time as it isyour collaborator. In the international standards community, we may liken ourselves tomembers of the same family: brother and sister, perhaps.

The world has changed much in the 50 years of your existence, just as it has changedenormously in the 91 years of our existence. We can no longer meet all of the demands of themarket with structures and procedures that were appropriate for their time when the worldwas different. To serve the market efficiently and effectively, we both have to change. I knowthat you are wrestling with the same problems we have at the IEC on this question.

So allow me take a moment to outline what we have done to address the needs of ourchanging world. Bear in mind there are substantial differences in the constituencies of ISOand IEC. Whereas the ISO membership consists of standards bodies, our membership –National Committees – represent all electrotechnical interests and generally consist of abroad cross-section of industrial producers, users, government, academics, standardsmanagers, and so forth. With this constituency, we have gone about making changes in threebasic ways.

First, the IEC’s members – our National Committees – recognized the need to speed updecision-making because of the pace at which the market now operates. To this end, wecreated a managing body to oversee and take decisions on the Commission’s day-to-dayactivities. Our new Council Board and its operational arm, the Executive Committee (orExCo), will enable us to carry out Council’s will in a much more efficient manner. Top-leveldecisions will now occur year round, instead of simply once per year at the annual GeneralMeeting.

The overall effect of this is to speed up decision-making and streamline efforts, which, inturn, speeds up standardization and related activities as a whole. The market wants relevantstandards in a timely manner. These changes will help us to meet that requirement.

Secondly, we have given industry greater access and more representation in the standards-making process through the President’s Advisory Committee on future Technologies, orPACT, through Sector Boards and through Category D liaisons.

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Along with myself, the IEC general secretary and deputy general secretary, PACT’scomposition involves high-level executives of international electrical and electronicindustries, electrical research institutes and government research and development agencies.Its objective is to advise the IEC president on how the Commission can fulfil industry’s futuredemand for standards in the areas of new technologies, merging technologies and systemswith major electrical content. In this way, the IEC encounters some of the very preliminarythinking for the future of the electrotechnology and can begin to ready itself far in advancefor the innovations that will begin to appear on the horizon.

Sector boards are another new tool. They involve senior management from industry who areparticularly involved in marketing as well as product development and engineering. Thegreat advantage of sector boards is that they allow industry the opportunity to directlyinfluence the standards-making process and thus help to ensure that IEC standardscorrespond to real market needs. Sector boards work with all technical committees in anindustry sector to ensure coherence at the systems level. Not only does this allow us tocombine our efforts in a compatible way so that work is not duplicated, it also follows on fromPACT. Those nascent ideas for technologies which appear first in PACT later emerge andbecome refined into electrotechnical products. With both PACT and sector boards, the IECstays involved from the early stages of idea, through development to production.

Category D liaison, which I referred to earlier, is a new form of relationship for us whichallows industrial associations and consortia to participate directly in IEC work at thetechnical committee level. It really is equivalent to what already exists in JTC 1 as CategoryC liaison, and we’ve called ours Category D to avoid confusion.

Our third change involves expanded categories of membership. Besides full and associatemembership, the new category of pre-associate membership is a temporary status, designedto help introduce prospective new members to the IEC without placing a financial burden onthem. We are also about to introduce a new idea: group membership. This is in its finalstages of preparation and is expected to be officialized at our upcoming General Meeting inNew Delhi. Group membership will allow countries grouped by region to work together insharing the costs and efforts of becoming part of the IEC family.

While we have done much to address the changed world in which we live and work, we stillhave much to do. Above all, we must listen more to our communities which are, after all, theconstituent elements of the market itself. We also plan to accept wider representation fromindustry in both our management and our technical work. Basically, we must continue tocreate new products to meet market demands. And it will ultimately be the market thatdictates to us what those new products will be.

We have both come a long way since our organizations were founded so many years ago. Wehave our separate mandates and our separate work to do. But we also have much in common,both in areas of technology that abut one another, as well as in a unified point of view on thevalue of international standardization. It is these common elements that will lead us tocontinue with our good relations, our joint effort and our on-going, fruitful co-operation.

Thank you again for giving me the chance to speak with you and to wish you well on this,your 50th anniversary. On behalf of the IEC, let me extend our wishes that your next 50years be as productive and as successful as the past 50 years have been.

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ADDRESS BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THEINTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU),DR. HENRY CHASIA

It is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to address the 20th ISO GeneralAssembly.

On behalf of the ITU, I would like to convey our best wishes to this gathering, which will takemany important decisions that will pave the way for future progress in globalstandardization.

The future is now much less predictable than it was in the past. Deregulation, liberalization,privatization, globalization and regionalization are affecting the standardization oftelecommunications and information technology in a way that has not been seen before.

As a consequence, boundaries are blurring, technologies are converging, and new services andapplications are appearing almost every day. Monopolies are being replaced by market-oriented enterprises, and a new breed of powerful global players are emerging. All of this ishappening at breath-taking speed.

This whirlwind of change, both in technology and in the regulatory environment, is re-shaping global standardization. The challenge is clear – either we will respond to thesechanges or we will simply to be by-passed.

In this new environment, cooperation between global standardization organizations isessential. I am pleased to say that there is strong and active cooperation between the ISOand the ITU in a host of areas impacted by the convergence of telecommunications andinformation technology.

Much of this work is now focused on standardization for the Global InformationInfrastructure, which has emerged as a key prority for both our organizations. In this regard,I am sure that the Global Standards Conference which we are jointly sponsoring in Brusselson 1-3 October of this year will mark an important step forward in the development of theGII.

Initiatives of this kind will ensure that our two organizations remain at the leading edge ofglobal standardization as we move toward the Global Information Society of the 21st century.

I wish you every success in your endeavours, and look forward to many more years of fruitfulcollaboration between ISO and the ITU.

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NEW ISO DELIVERABLES – RE-ENGINEERING OF THE ISO SYSTEM

by Mr. Bernard Vaucelle, Director-General, AFNOR (France), under agenda item 7.2

INTRODUCTION

• A core business : the development, approval and publication of internationalstandards

• Requests and needs which are sometimes contradictory and which must be met• The need to be permanently in touch with market needs and for a sector-based

analysis of the latter.

1- FLEXIBILITY

• Differing needs require different answers• Propose a set of deliverables based on levels of consensus, but also having different

costs and time schedules.• Offer within the ISO processes the degrees of flexibility allowing adaptation to the

sector realities.

2 - TRANSPARENCY

• A risk of general confusion to be countered by reinforced transparency• in the management of the procedures• in the deliverables offer

3 - COHERENCE

• Standards and other specifications only assume their true dimension whenincorporated into a coherent collection

• Ensure the coherence of the ISO deliverables• Promote the setting up of a hierarchically organized, therefore coherent, global

standardisation system

CONCLUSION

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• Adopt a pragmatic approach, excluding all dogmatism• Accompany current and future actions by a vigorous communication policy

INTRODUCTION

A core business : the development, approval and publication ofinternational standards....

In January 1997, the Council confirmed the core business of ISO, namely, «thedevelopment, approval and promulgation of consensus-based internationalstandards». This definition highlights the very essence not only of the ISO systemknow-how but also of its legitimacy.

Requests and needs which are sometimes contradictory andwhich must be met

The general trend towards globalisation of the economy pleads in favour of the adventof international systems of reference used by the players of an economy which ishenceforth a planetary one. A large number of socio-economic players consider thatinternational standardisation must go beyond its well established role of supplier ofbasic tools for world trade such as terminology and test methods.

New specific requests are being expressed. Thus, in the agreement relative totechnical barriers to trade, reinforced and specified in 1995 within the framework ofthe new World Trade Organization, the standard appears explicitly as an instrumentat the service of the Public Authorities : it allows, a priori, the implementation of theregulations aimed at preserving general interest, without creating unnecessarybarriers to world trade. Such a function is also advanced for the services or publicprocurements in the relevant special agreements. Of course, not all products, nor alltheir aspects, are intended to be regulated.

The development of societies leads to the emergence of new needs for real consensusbased standards. These needs are still being expressed, initially in a national context,then fitting into a regional, even increasingly more international, logic. New fields aretherefore opening up to standardisation in sectors such as the environment, health orservices, which not only concern new activities, but also new categories of players.

Furthermore, technological developments continue to speed up as well as the life cycleof products. The drafting times and the rapidity of publication of a specification arebecoming a determining factor for its use and therefore for its success. Numeroussectors, and in particular that of information technologies, have expressed their wishfor a more reactive standardisation, even if it means reducing the level of consensusobtained. All sectors are not subjected to cycles of the same extent and the verystructure of certain markets can encourage or on the contrary hamper the reaching ofa consensus. One must be aware of all hasty generalizations.

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The economic difficulties of these past years coupled with greater expectationsregarding international standardisation also lead to new requirements concerning thecosts of standardisation. Like everywhere, it is requested to do more with less, butalso to be able to explain the allocation of the expenditure. The normative system istherefore incited not only to be more efficient but also more accountable vis-à-vis itspartners. However, only the service rendered and the advantages provided can finallyjustify the costs incurred and continue to mobilize all of the socio-economic players.

The need to be permanently in touch with market needs and for asector-based analysis of the latter

This rapid review of the expectations expressed with regard to standardisation allowsone to easily remark their diversity and even in certain cases their contradictorynature. There is nothing surprising about these findings, since ISO has a generalinterest vocation and encompasses very diverse economic sectors such as informationtechnologies, construction products or services.

This therefore signifies that ISO must firstly equip itself with tools enabling it to bein touch with the market. I insist on this notion which each person understands witha different meaning. The market is not confined to industrial manufacturers, althoughthe latter constitute our privileged partners, but also includes purchasers and end-users whether authorities or consumers, in certain cases the Public Authorities,worker Unions engaged in the manufacturing process or diverse associations,particularly those for environmental protection. In this field, there still remains a lotto be done. Nevertheless, ISO is in the course of perfecting its practices in thisdirection with, in particular, the introduction of business plans for each of itsTechnical Committees. These documents should allow one to have a general vision ofthe relevance of international standardisation within the field of a technical structure(Technical Committee or Subcommittee) as well as the means, both human andfinancial, required for reaching these said objectives. A validation procedure by thedifferent member bodies should be the occasion to verify the pertinence of theprogrammed actions and of the allocated resources.

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On the basis of these requests, three major principles must guide the currentISO reconfiguration

■■ flexibility■■ transparency■■ coherence

1 - FLEXIBILITY

Differing needs require different answers

The diversity of the sectors and of the requests addressed to the internationalstandardisation covered by ISO rules out any idea of a single solution. ISO musttherefore develop a flexible approach in order to be in a position to meet theexpectations of its partners. Such an approach must be able to be expressed both inthe products or publications made available to the market, but also in theimplementation of the procedures governing the drafting and adoption of thesepublications, in order to reduce costs and time schedules.

Propose a set of publications based on levels of consensus, butalso having different costs and time schedules

Since a few years now, all standardisation bodies, whether national, regional orinternational, have been reflecting on the diversification of their delivarables offer inorder to respond better to the requests expressed. Therefore, ISO is preparing to offerthe market a differing and hierarchically organized range of publications based ondifferent levels of consensus. The idea is therefore to be able to publish newdocuments under the ISO logo at different stages of the normative process. If themarket players consider it necessary, a path towards a greater consensus wouldalways be possible. It would enable these different deliverables to evolve towardsmore advanced forms of technical specifications up to the final stage of the standard,this being the basis of ISO's activity.

Offer within the ISO processes the degrees of flexibility allowingadaptation to the sector realities

ISO's activity is based on procedural rules which are formalized in the ISO/IECdirectives. However, on a case per case basis, each technical structure has been able,over the course of time, to develop practices enabling these operating rules to beadapted to the characteristics of the sector in question. In this direction, the JTC 1has played a pilot role by proposing solutions adapted to the specific data of theinformation technologies (IT) sector. Thus, it developed procedures allowing theintegration into the ISO and IEC normative collections of the PAS specifications

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prepared by bodies or consortia outside of ISO by complying with the basic data aimedat guaranteeing the veritable public character of these specifications. Indeed, theintegration of specifications into the international standards collections must beaccompanied by guarantees concerning in particular intellectual property rights andthe possiblities of maintaining and developing the integrated specifications. OtherTechnical Committees have also been able to develop some practices in closecollaboration with organizations in liaison with ISO. These developments must beable to be used by each of the sectors provided that the basic principles which governthe operating of the ISO system are not called into question and that everything iscarried out under conditions of satisfactory transparency. This leads me to tackle thesecond principle which must govern the reconfiguration of ISO and the development ofnew publications.

2 - TRANSPARENCY

A risk of general confusion to be countered by reinforcedtransparency

This new flexibility proposed to our partners regarding both the deliverables offeredand the applicable procedures must not result in a general confusion. There is indeeda high risk of seeing the practices multiply without any rules of the game. The onlyefficient way to combat this risk of confusion is to reinforce the transparency bothwithin the ISO system and vis-à-vis its outside partners. This transparency mustprevail both throughout the drafting process of the normative publications and thepresentation of the new range of deliverables on offer.

in the management of the procedures

Flexibility does not signify absence of clear rules for operating and for uniformapplication, even if they propose, in a given situation, several choices. Therefore, thedrafting of new rules for everyone for the operating of ISO must be preferred to sector-based practices or to ad hoc derogations. The major stages of the drafting process ofthe ISO publications must be validated appropriately. Each technical body must beable to choose in full transparency those procedures and products which are bestsuited to its domain, with non debarred.

The implementation of such a principle also means the existence of an impartialplayer who ensures the control of the key points of the process of adoption anddrafting of a standard or of another deliverables, as well as to their time schedules.The existence of a strong and competent central secretariat is therefore a determiningelement of the success of the ISO system and of its effective suitability to the marketneeds. I wish to praise the efforts undertaken by the central secretariat over the pastfew years in order to increase its efficiency, to reduce its time schedules and costs andto equip itself with modern operating and communication facilities. A few figuresenable one to measure the progress accomplished : in 10 years, the central secretariatstaff has risen by 8 % whereas the number of pages published has increased threefold

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and the number of active drafts has gone up by 40 %. This increase in productivityhas been achieved without diminishing the quality of the services provided by thissame central secretariat whose quality I wish to praise.

in the deliverables offer

Moreover, there must not exist any ambiguity regarding the level of consensusreached by the different publications proposed by ISO. The use of the ISO logo mustguarantee in all cases the compatibility of the published specifications with thecollection of international standards. Therefore, where it is not a question of astandard in the traditional sense of the term, the information must figure clearly notonly in the title but also in the publication's reference. Indeed, only the internationalstandard offers the assurance that all the interested parties were able to expressthemselves through national standards bodies and that none of them has any majorobjections to its adoption and application. Only the standard therefore offers sufficientguarantees for reaching the objective of reducing the technical barriers to trade, forbeing used by the Public Authorities in their technical regulations, for supplying toolswhich allow balanced exchanges. The other forms of publications are intended toprovide a tool which is mainly intended for major companies by very often proposing aconsensus between the principal providers at international level. A tool for economicefficiency, it cannot however aspire to the taking into account of all of the market'sexpectations.

However, the veritable proliferation of projects for new publications within eachstandardisation body, both international and regional, is being conducted without anyreal concertation or alignment. One remains puzzled regarding the ability of the usersto find their bearings in what appears as a jungle and to recognize the true value ofthe deliverables on offer. It makes one fear the decrease in the visibility of theinternational standard in which everyone, standards institutes, but also andespecially socio-economic players, would lose out. It militates for a limited number ofoffered publications : it is advisable to beware of the multiplication of the categories ofpublications offering a low level of transparency and consensus.

3 - COHERENCE

Standards and other specifications only assume their truedimension when incorporated into a coherent collection

At different rhythms depending on the activities, the geographical and technologicalfrontiers between different sectors of industrial production or of the economy aretending to disappear under the combined effect of the globalisation of production andof exchanges and of the interpenetration of the technologies. The most obviousexample is provided by electronics which is henceforth present in almost all industrialproducts well beyond the sole electronics sector. It is therefore not very efficient todevise technical specifications in isolation, if the latter are to be incorporated intocoherent wholes.

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A normative collection is not only a sum of standards or of other deliverables, butconstitutes a whole as such, the different elements of which interact. For the ISOsystem, this coherence must prevail both at ISO deliverables level and at that of thepublications made available by the ISO system, i.e. ISO as such and all of its nationalmember bodies.

Ensure the coherence of the ISO publications

The introduction of other types of deliverables into the ISO collections must be carriedout in a manner compatible with the existing international standards. Thiscompatibility operates at two levels. On the one hand, these future ISO deliverablesmust not come into conflict with the existing international standards or at the veryleast with their current draft revision. The doing away with the public enquiry forthese publications obliges one to pay increased attention to this point. In this field,the central secretariat probably looks set to hold a determining role. On the otherhand, the different publications proposed must always be able to evolve towards ahigher level of consensus and finally be transformed into a standard if such a need isrecognized.

Promote the setting up of a hierarchically organized, thereforecoherent, global standardisation system

The objective of each of us is, of course, the widest possible use of the ISO standards.In this perspective, the ISO member bodies have a particular responsibility in thedissemination and, finally, in the use of the international standards by the economicplayers of their country. The transposal of the international standard into thenational collections seems to me to constitute the privileged means for assuming thisresponsibility. Indeed, this act facilitates the appropriation of the internationalstandard by all of the national socio-economic players, and in particular the SMBs,the purchasers, notably public, and the regulatory Authorities. Indeed, it places thestandard in the national context by the use of the national language, by theintroduction into the national legal system and by its integration into the technologybeing used.Transposal at national level ensures the coherence of the normative collections : defacto, it obliges the withdrawal of divergent specifications and incites one to use theinternational standard. It ensures the progressive introduction of a hierarchicallyorganized standardisation system at world level where the national standards andspecifications published by the national or regional standards bodies supplement theinternational standards and do not compete with them. A hierarchy must therefore beestablished between the different suppliers of standards. Just like the liaisonsestablished between the CEN and ISO through the Vienna Agreement, the ISOsystem would be well advised to also formalize its relations with the other regionalcooperation organizations which are organizing themselves and developing in otherregions of the world. This would make it possible to ensure the coherence of thenormative collections of the planet, while observing the regional or national

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particularities which are far from having disappeared within a large number ofsectors.

CONCLUSION

Adopt a pragmatic approach, excluding all dogmatism

In conclusion, I underscore the great number of current reflections and of initiatedactions which this rapid survey shows. They concern both the redefinition of theorganization of the ISO system and of its operating mode and that of the range ofdeliverables offered. The reconfiguration exercice under way therefore pinpoints ISO'smissions. It must not be the occasion to call into question the core business of theorganization nor its principal values which have been recently reaffirmed. It must fallwithin the scope of a long term vision of ISO's missions and activity in order to alwaysbetter meet the needs of the market's players. The guidelines of this movement arebecoming apparent and, taken as a whole, do not give rise to any reservations.Nevertheless, quite often they require either to be materialized or to be examined ingreater depth. This work is considerable : it must be carried out without anydogmatism and must adopt a pragmatic approach based on a true analysis of theneeds. I therefore insist on the need to comply with the three principles which I havedeveloped.

■ flexibility in order to meet differing sectorial needs by offering a different rangeof deliverables and flexible work procedures, thereby making it possible tointegrate into the ISO system specifications developed within otherorganizations.

■ transparency in order to avoid confusion between the different deliverables andto maintain the consensus as standardisation's core value : this transparency canonly be based on clear procedures and on a strong central secretariat capable ofguaranteeing compliance with them and an operation which is fair for everyone;it also signifies a limited number of proposed deliverables in line with those ofthe other standardisation organizations.

■ coherence, so that international standardisation is truly a progress tool for all ofthe socio-economic partners : the standards assume their full value and utilitywhen incorporated into a collection; ISO must therefore ensure the absence ofincompatibility between the different publications which it offers and mustpromote a hierarchically organized world normative system.

Accompany current and future actions by a vigorouscommunication policy

I would add that an exercise of such a scale must be accompanied by a vigorouscommunication policy both with respect to the economic players and to those of the

ANNEX 6Page 9

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ISO system (central secretariat and member bodies) and with respect to its customers.Tools as well as a veritable policy in this field still remain to be developed. It is on thissole condition that the signification of the reforms in hand will be correctlyunderstood, accepted and implemented and therefore that ISO will be able to fitharmoniously into its economic, technical, legal and cultural environment.

A ANNEX 7

vp//CS973250.026


DISCUSSION ON THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF STANDARDSORGANIZATIONS

by Mr. Ross Wraight, Chief Executive, SAA (Australia), under agenda item 7.3

World trade growth means more services and investment will be required by standards andconformance bodies to assist in these larger markets. With increasing global trends to smallgovernment and "user pay" principles, standards bodies will need to seek additional fundsfrom commercial activities. Ironically some of these are now faced with the dilemmas ofsubstantial balance sheets, and growing customer expectations for improved services. Theywill also be required to strive for efficiency. One powerful response to this new situation canbe joint ventures, commercial alliances and even mergers with other standards organizations.

I have a reputation for pushing the envelope or some might say taking extreme views. Ibelieve very much in challenging the status quo and in seeking new ways, better ways ofdoing things and achieving enhanced outcomes. So it may seem to many here today thatwhat I am going to say appears strange. However it may also be the truth!

What I am not going to do or imply, is suggest that what we have achieved in the past shouldbe in any way diminished. In fact what we have contributed to our communities andglobalization in the past and will contribute into the future has actually defined the role weneed to play tomorrow.

For those who may still be doubtful of the possibility of these changes, consider the massivechanges that have occurred in the geo-political environment in Europe and Asia in the last 10years; Consider that in this century the history of flight, from Kittyhawk to a drive aroundMars, to the banking industry now faced with corporations cutting out inter companybanking transaction to the brilliant yet unplanned Internet - a virtual corporation, to thelatest - Virtual surgery!

Back to earth and perhaps to what some may see as one of the least dynamic areas -Standards! Well watch this space..............

Coming fresh to this industry the first thing that struck me was that several Standardsbodies have built substantial financial and technical discretionary capabilities. StandardsAustralia for example has revenues today of 50m US$ and around $20 in net property andcash assets; a very stable cash flow and no gearing. This, like many other non governmentstandards bodies, has now presented us with significant challenges and opportunities.Several factors have been responsible for this occurring: the success of ISO 9000, professionalmarketing skills being brought in, the globalization of economies, "user pays" principles, lessgovernment involvement in the operations and funding of standards organizations and theimpact of the WTO and regional coalitions such as the EU. These have all stimulated manystandardization bodies to grow diversify and become market orientated.

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With these changes has come greater customer demand and accountability. If they pay forproduct then they want value and service. Our customers want -

• faster speed to market• lower cost product• international and regional harmonization• electronic delivery• technical assistance and training• assurance and conformity assessment• networking and knowledge transfer• enlarged markets• product diversification• testing and global recognition regimes• market enlargement through technical barrier removal

If we are to remain relevant and continue our success we need to recognise these trends andrespond like other service-based organizations. We are now very much part of a globalvillage; an increasingly competitive one and one where our customers will increase theirdemands on us or go elsewhere-consortia for example.

So how to respond? Well firstly let's just describe what we do today in perhaps differentterms than we may have considered before -

• capture and transfer technical knowledge- standards, codes,manuals etc.

• provide tools for connectability, interoperability, systems, tests, process improvement and risk management• provide technical advice• offer assurance through

– certification– testing– inspection

All these services fit nicely with the global market demand. What we need to do now iscontinue our development by using our resource base and consolidate relationships withinour industry.

Like other industries we will need to build scale and scope and if we are to serve theincreasing number of multi-national corporations, then global alliances and global reach willbe required. Much of our current activities are already driven by these multi-nationals. Wewill have to find resources to invest in new technologies; Internet, electronic publishing andnew delivery systems, electronic committee working, product and people development andinformation systems to run our businesses.

It is conceivable that in the very near future, as a result of these trends, the number ofStandards bodies will decline and mergers and alliances take place. National interest will beserved by global and regional organizations. If that seems too far fetched then I am certainthat at the very least joint standards projects, merged and contracted out publishing, mergedconformance and testing business, will be in place within the next few years. As we strive forefficiency, customers demand more from us and as national interest becomes regionally andglobally intertwined, we will be forced to do this or the emerging competitors will.

ANNEX 7Page 3

//CS973250.026

This is in my view a good thing. We can all be very parochial and rightfully very proud of ournational achievements, history and culture. However I contend that those very things arebetter served if we concentrate on the customer interests we must align with globalizationas it shrinks our world. Our industry is very much part of the technology that contributes tothis occurring. We achieve this by improving inter-operability, connectability, removingtechnical barriers to trade, gathering and distributing knowledge through standardization,developing conformity assessment regimes to facilitate trade and providing tools to improveefficiency and effectiveness.

We already act as a 'global franchise' with ISO as the franchisor and us as the franchisee.For example we use the management systems, process and rules established by ISO. Inreality, we already have MacStandards. A version of the global franchise system alreadyexists in practice. If we recognize this reality, then surely it is only a short psychological leapto have us rationalise our operations to produce and deliver better cost structures andservices to our customers be they governments, industry or consumers.

I can picture a world where there are only 4-6 regional standards bodies or at leastcoordinating and distribution businesses. We already have CEN. Imagine only 4-6 membersof ISO (Larry may say "Oh what joy!").

The preliminary steps may be a move to joint publishing and electronic distribution on aregional and international basis. I can also conceive in certain cases, particularly for serviceand management standards, multilateral development work - as a precursor to regional orinternational standards.

I think many of us and our customer base want the flexibility these changes will bring.Faster, cheaper and better products and services - all delivered in a one stop shopenvironment, consistently anywhere around the globe.

Of course there are many issues for each of us to consider - our monopoly and sovereigninterest position may move our stakeholders to prevent a proactive approach. Differingdefinitions of national interest may create difficulties. There are many of these issues.However, I believe the global trends of deregulation, less government, increased tradevelocities, opening of markets, removal of trade tariffs and technical barriers will allcontribute to making it inevitable that our industry will be swept along with this relentlessand accelerating tide.

If we are to remain relevant, we will need to match our activities and investment strategieswith the needs of our customers, many of whom operate across borders. We are required toaccount to these customers. We must offer the value-added services they demand at the righttime, at the right place, and at the right price - if we don't, someone else will.

This is an exciting time for us. We have the knowledge, the global network and the resourcesin many cases to seize this opportunity.

Conclusion

6 key points

1. Scale and scope economics are required and we will be driven by customer needs -speed, cost, relevance, global services - all required today.

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2. Costs and less government funding are an issue for many if not all standards bodies -this is only increasing.

3. Regionalization is already a reality. The European Union for example.

4. The interests of our economies, regions and the globe need to be seen as one.

5. ISO and its members already have the infrastructure and network to lead this response.

6. Necessary for success, national bodies will need to think about global production andpublishing coalitions, professional marketing of their services, fee for service, sharingand cooperation, and customer focus.

In closing I would like to echo some of the remarks made by Chulsu Kim from the WTO in hisaddress to the ISO General Assembly (I am not so far out as I thought!):

- Globalization needs global rules- National interest needs to be defended without boundaries- All our economies are interconnected- Regional activities are increasing - we need to avoid duplication by greater

coordination and cooperation amongst national, regional and international bodies.

I believe the ideas I have suggested will contribute to these objectivesand indeed may be inevitable.

MO/LDE23.PPT1997-09-19

8585

18182525 2424

4343 4545

Total member bodiesTotal member bodies

Comments on POCOSAComments on POCOSAaddendumaddendum

Comments on IEC/ISOComments on IEC/ISOcommon services andcommon services andbuilding studybuilding study

Vote CASCO (on time)Vote CASCO (on time)

Vote CASCO (after reminder)Vote CASCO (after reminder)

Study on distribution ofStudy on distribution ofISO/CS documents to MBsISO/CS documents to MBs

MEMBER BODIES' PERFORMANCE IN RESPONDINGMEMBER BODIES' PERFORMANCE IN RESPONDING

A ANNEX 9

vp/CS972890.043


REPORT OF THE ITSIG CHAIRMAN , MR. ALAIN DURAND

In 1997, the ITSIG Group, which I have the honour of chairing, actively addressed themission entrusted to it by the ISO Council in September 1996, which is to foster thesystematic use of IT and telecommunication tools within the international standardizationcommunity. To that end, we had welcomed the direct participation of IEC and ITU.Unfortunately, as far as IEC is concerned, this participation now seems to be raisingproblems, a development which I find somewhat difficult to understand.

Our task of organizing the implementation of IT tools was to be based on the strategicrecommendations developed by the ITSCG Group in 1994 and 1995, and approved by the ISOCouncil in February 1996 for inclusion in ISO's Strategic Agenda.

1) The first requirement was to have a clear view of priorities with respect tocomputerization.

We felt that the first item to be addressed was the International Standards developmentprocess. This has not yet been as strongly affected in practice by modern tools as the"standards distribution" component, which has a much older tradition of using computertools. Depending on the technical fields, TCs and member bodies involved, the degree ofcomputerization varies considerably and, on the whole, is still insufficient. An enormousreserve of productivity remains to be tapped.

ITSIG has therefore devoted its attention first to the standardizers, with the valuable help ofthe TMB ad hoc group on information technologies, and has decided on the following actionitems and tools:

a) Implementation of a 1997 priority programme for the standards development process,consisting in :

• Setting a specific requirement for the submission of new drafts (DIS and FDIS) to theCentral Secretariat by the TC/SC secretariat: As of January 1998, these drafts shall besubmitted exclusively in electronic form, using the ISO Template. This target has ofcourse been agreed by the TMB, who have introduced the principle of sanctions, a noveltyin ISO and a brave, but necessary step.

• Introducing of a statistical monitoring system at the ISO Central Secretariat, withoutwhich the above decision would be meaningless. As a result, by mid-1997 nearly half ofthe DIS submitted were recorded as being available in electronic form, together withnearly 80 % of FDIS.

• Generalised use of the famous templates developed by ITSIG and the CentralSecretariat, and freely available world-wide (on the Web site and on diskette) to allworking draft or draft standards writers. The templates have been updated to take intoaccount developments in Word and WordPerfect word-processors.

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• To facilitate the exchange of working documents in electronic form between the variousparties involved in the standards development process by using Internet and the Web,e-mail and common formats such as PDF, and by clarifying the problem of drawings andgraphics.

• Introduction of a training and assistance programme – a fundamental requirement – forusers of the IT tools recommended by ITSIG, with the publication of a richly documentedUser Guide, a copy of which you will find in your pigeon-holes here in Geneva and on theWeb; management of a help-desk by the Central Secretariat; and organizing trainingsessions for TC/SC secretaries. We take this opportunity to invite you to attend theseminar organized in partnership with CEN on 19 November in Brussels to introduce allthese aspects. This follows the successful seminar held in Seattle at the end of 1995 andmay be repeated in Asia in 1998/1999. I am fully aware of the importance of providingsuch assistance and upgrading guidance to all member bodies without exception.

2) The second stage of our work involved contributing to clarify the various organizationalcomponents of the standards processing operation, both at the ISO Central Secretariat and atthe member body level.

There are clear perspectives, in that area, of increased productivity for the standardizationsystem as a whole but also – which is most important – means for facilitating the processingof documents and standards information for commercial purposes. We have therefore takenpart in the analysis performed by the Central Secretariat regarding the introduction of anautomated document management system (DMS), which will soon be operating in connectionwith the project management database. More recently, we have contributed to theassessment of a standards production line based on the SGML format.

We consider, indeed, that there is a strategic advantage for the world community ofstandardizers to be able to have access as soon as possible to a standards collection inelectronic format, structured according to the SGML standard. Early access to structured textfiles in the standards preparation process means considerable time spared on subsequentprocessing operations, both at the current stage and for other partners downstream.

That is why a business case and a proposal for joint action have been prepared for Council bythe ITSIG experts. Council, I hope, will approve the business case this week and allow theCentral Secretariat to initiate, at last, a pilot project at the beginning of 1998. Real benefitsmay be expected for all member bodies planning to introduce such an SGML production linefor publishing their national versions of ISO standards in their own language. There will bereal benefits also for those who, at any given point, wish to use the electronic files structuredby the Central Secretariat for a broad range of purposes, commercial or otherwise. Exchangeformats other than SGML, involving structured documents in character form, such as PDF,will also be encouraged by this approach. Through the Central Secretariat, we are all makinga collective investment with promises of high returns in the mid-range future. For theCentral Secretariat alone, these returns may be estimated in millions of Swiss Francs,starting in the fourth year already.

3) A new stage initiated by ITSIG which, I hope, will attract the support of the TMB andCouncil, involves the use of new Internet tools: electronic bulletin boards, groupware andelectronic voting, which need to be implemented without delay in order to facilitate themanagement of working groups and procedures by both the TC secretariats and the CentralSecretariat.

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I should like to conclude by expressing my conviction that the new stages in thecomputerization process resulting from the work of ITSIG are going in the right direction;they have indeed been broadly encouraged by the TMB, INFCO and Council, in particular ata time when the ISO family is concerned with reducing costs and speeding up its work. Thisforward move should of course be undertaken in close liaison and cooperation with ISO'ssister organizations. I have already mentioned IEC, but I am thinking also of ITU, which hasconsiderable experience, and of regional organizations such as CEN and CENELEC, whomust be directly associated in our technological choices in order to avoid differences inapproach that would prove extremely costly to many of us.

I feel it necessary, however, that the leaders of the national institutes attending this meetingin Geneva be aware that the real efforts to be made now lie at the national level. It is up toyou, Ladies and Gentlemen, to climb the computerization ladder that we have proposed.Progress must be achieved at all levels, and this means involving your staff, experts,industrial partners and standards users to the broadest extent. I believe there is a need for aproject manager within each standards institute to be in charge of the replacement of existingtools and the related organizational matters, in liaison with the ISO Central Secretariat, whocan provide help.

Even the best computerization plans will be of little effect if, outside Geneva, there is littlewillingness to follow the offered guidance, to accept to abandon national habits and tosanction excessive gaps or delays in the implementation of our computerization process.

To conclude, let me thank the Central Secretariat, and in particular the Assistant Secretary-General, Christian Favre, and his team for the outstanding professionalism and enthusiasmthey have displayed in supporting the work of ITSIG.

MO/LDE23.PPT1997-09-19

CASCO COPOLCO DEVCO INFCO0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

CASCO COPOLCO DEVCO INFCO

P O Total

PARTICIPATION IN PDCPARTICIPATION IN PDC

A ANNEX 11

me//CS972740.038


REPORT OF THE CASCO CHAIRMAN, MR. OWEN ARCHER

1. It is my pleasure to report to the General Assembly for the last time as the Chairman ofCASCO

My report is in your working documents. I will try to give some more personal views of thehighlights. For members of DEVCO who have heard some of this during your meeting, Iapologise.

2. The 1997 CASCO meeting. in Sydney was, in a sense, an indulgence to me as the outgoingChairman. While we were happy to host this meeting and showcase Standards Australia’shome city, distance was obviously a problem for many, and attendance was down,particularly from the developing countries.

3. While CASCO has a healthy membership of 61 ‘P’ and 24‘O’ members, as reported toDEVCO, there is decreasing participation by DEVCO members because of cost.

There are two dangers in this trend:

a) Conformity assessment documentation becomes a preserve of the more developed economies, with the voice and needs of the developing countries not given adequate weight or consideration. Conformity assessment then becomes a real barrier to trade.

b) Secondly, documents (be they published as Guides or Standards) are open to questionby others as to whether they really represent the broad views of the international community.

This occurs as the developing countries, if unable to participate in plenary and working groupmeetings, then in turn feel unable to comment and more importantly, vote on thedocumentation produced. In defending the consensus process, ISO is then placed in adifficult position. The records of the process of developing and approving the documentationfor publication and hence subsequent adoption by ISO members or other internationalorgans, clearly shows a very thin record of participation. This then makes recognition of theISO or ISO/IEC Guides or Standards by bodies such as WTO much more problematic.

4. My period as Chairman of CASCO has been one of change. This has not always been due tothe working of CASCO or influence of the Chairman. More, it has been CASCO carried alongon the same great wave of “Quality” sweeping over the rest of the world.

The emphasis has changed over the period. Several years ago it would not be possible to be ata gathering such as this without being overwhelmed (or overloaded) with ISO 9000considerations. Now the requirements for implementation of ISO 9000 are accepted withoutcomment.

Awareness in the community is such that ISO 14000 is promoting itself. Significantly it isindustry pressure that is driving services based on these standards to be value adding, and

ANNEX 11Page 2

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provided in a coordinated manner. The need is not questioned. CASCO has work in handaimed at providing guidance on this coordination.

The Secretary of CASCO went through a period which could be likened to a revolving door. Ihave lost count of the number of secretaries and do not wish to dwell on this matter, otherthan to say it was good to see so many of them at the opening ceremony on Monday evening.Suffice to say CASCO is now in calmer waters and for the past year, CASCO has beenadmirably served by Juichi Nagano and the ISO CS staff.

Because of the rapid turnover, much corporate knowledge has been lost and it has required a‘Back to Basics’ approach, coupled with rigorous application of laid down procedures.

5. Two important policy issues have been addressed in my period as Chairman, one of whichhas been satisfactorily resolved, although there remains some detail to be settled, and theother which remains a festering irritant to a significant part of the ISO membership. I willfirst scratch at this irritant...QSAR.

6. QSAR, you will recall, arose from CASCO/DEVCO members concerns for the acceptance ofISO 9000 Certificates issued by certification bodies operating in the less advanced countries.This was seen as primarily for certificates used with products or services in the ‘market’ asagainst the ‘regulated’ sector of trade. Issues of ‘risk’ of these products was not considered.This issue of recognition of certificates is now, being handled by IAF, which has saidparadoxilly, that, by survey, there is not a problem with acceptance of certificates. At thesame time IAF moves ahead with their programmes of multi-lateral MRAs which, by theirnature, probably have greater weight in the regulated sector of the market.

7. The other important policy issue concerns the authorization of CASCO to developInternational Standards as well as guides in the area of conformity assessment. For theseStandards, the ISO/IEC Directives Part 1 will be used, as compared to using Annex P for thedevelopment of Guides. These Standards will be produced under the authority of the TMB.From the point of initiation of new work, the Directives will be used whenever there is apossibility the documents will be used by any member body as a standard. This has also hadthe effect of promoting a joint CASCO/CEN/CENELEC group which will look at the overallstructure of conformity assessment documents.

8. Because of the change authorizing the development of Standards, CASCO has commenced aprogramme to review existing guides with the view to converting guides where appropriate,to standards. Essentially, the normal 5-year rule for the review of guides will be used toensure that the CASCO work program remains manageable.

The revision of Guide 25 is the first document to be produced under the process of activecooperation with CEN/CENELEC. It is hoped it will also be the first Standard to be producedby CASCO, as it is planned to be ‘fast tracked’ once the CASCO draft is approved. Two otherstandards projects have been approved.

9. The CASCO work program was agreed by CASCO at its May meeting. TMB has endorsedthat part of the program which will come under their remit. At the time of preparing yourworking documents, some aspects of the program were under active inquiry. This has beencompleted and these small amendments are given in the penscript amended document onyour desk – Annex 3 to ISO/General Assembly 1997 - 12.1 (REV). The work program iscommended to you.

A ANNEX 12

pig//CS972720.080


REPORT OF THE COPOLCO CHAIRMAN, MR. MAURICE HEALY

1. Thanks to all member organizations for help and cooperation, and in particular for taking onthe tasks needed to carry through the Committee's work programme. Particular thanks toDIN for its Chairmanship of the COPOLCO Working Group on Priorities, and thanks to theSecretariat - grateful for the advice and the enormous experience on which it is based.Thanks also to BSI for hosting our last meeting in London, delegates were most appreciativeof BSI's organization and hospitality.

2. I propose to concentrate on what is important and new since last year.

3. First, structures of consumer representation, both in national standards bodies and ininternational standards organizations.

We came to this because we felt that the time had come to consider whether the 1979 jointISO/IEC statement on consumer participation in standardization work was still appropriate.The best way to start this process was to hold a study day (workshop) before our last meeting;we were fortunate to have a keynote speech by the Director General of ConsumersInternational (CI), based on a study of existing arrangements worldwide. Also contributionsfor business, from standards-makers and from developing countries, as well as case studies.

The results were in some ways encouraging, and in some ways less so. Many nationalstandards bodies have robust and thorough arrangements, but the Director General of CIpointed out that some 22 national standards bodies appeared not to be following the ISO/IECguidance. Other concerns were raised, both about procedures and structures in internationalorganizations – COPOLCO passed the resolutions 7, 8 and 9.

a) Reaffirming our conviction in the importance of consumers as stakeholders instandards-making process and the need to seek a quality process for continuousimprovement in the systems for their implementation.

b) The next point concerns consumer representation in international organizations.This raised again the issue of relations with IEC. The ability for consumerrepresentation to contribute to ISO at a policy level through COPOLCO is muchvalued. There are no corresponding mechanisms in IEC and ITU, althoughCOPOLCO has good liaison arrangements with IEC. How IEC and ITU deal withconsumer representation is of course a matter for them, but it was COPOLCO's viewthat to try to establish parallel mechanisms would be a waste of resources forinternational organizations, national standards bodies and consumer organizations,and that the best way forward was to build on what we already have by seekingformal recognition of COPOLCO by IEC. I am therefore grateful to the Secretary-

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General for the action he has already taken. I hope that this General Assembly willgive support in principle to what we have proposed.

Actions:

c) Asked national standards bodies to review the situation in their countries and reportback.

Asked CI to encourage consumer bodies to play a greater part in standards work.

d) Set up a Working Party to examine the ISO/IEC joint statement, and other ways ofimproving representation.

e) In particular, I was asked to explore closer cooperation with DEVCO to promoterepresentation of consumers in developing countries.

I was fortunate to be able to attend the DEVCO meeting just prior to the General Assembly,

we had a substantial discussion which was very helpful to me and I hope useful to themembers. We explored many of the difficulties: resources, both for national standards bodiesand consumer organizations, and the different standards of competence and interest amongconsumer organizations and in particular in some cases their lack of technical competence.

DEVCO has asked me to continue that dialogue and I shall be delighted to do my best to do

so. As one immediate step, I am very happy to be able to tell you that our meeting in May next

year will be in Tunisia. Very grateful to INNORPI for inviting us. We are all looking forwardto it. We have a study day on product labelling, a subject of vital interest to all consumers,but of course particularly those in developing countries.

I hope therefore that many developing countries will take the opportunity to take part in

COPOLCO's work, in particular those in the Arab region. Glad to say that DEVCO hasexpressed support for this work.

4. Now some other points:

Graphical symbols

Concern about duplication and confusion in standards work about graphical systems;consumer problems with the new language.

ISO has a good record in recording and trying to harmonize the creation of graphical symbols.Nevertheless we believe that more coordination is advisable. Therefore the Secretary-General's proposal to refer the matter to the appropriate technical committees is mostwelcome.

Consumer protection in the global market

COPOLCO at the meeting had before it a far reaching proposal from SAA for a project forISO to react to the ever-growing globalization of world trade by establishing internationalstandards for consumer protection in the widest sense. Discussions on how that might beachieved and how practical proposals for standards work might evolve proved controversial inour meeting and will, I imagine, continue to be so. However, we decided to set up a workinggroup to investigate the ideas more fully. I hope to be able to bring you a further report nextyear.

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Publicly available specifications

I spoke yesterday about the resolution COPOLCO passed on this subject. So I shall only sayhere that the Secretary-General's proposal to refer this resolution to the TechnicalManagement Board is welcome.

To close

President – grateful for the opportunity to report COPOLCO's work to this GeneralAssembly. I ask the General Assembly to consider the Secretary-General's suggestions foraction to follow up our report and to endorse our work programme.

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REPORT OF THE DEVCO CHAIRMAN, MR. GENE HUTCHINSON

I had the signal honour to chair the thirty-first meeting of DEVCO, which was heldover one and one-half days on 20-21 September 1997. The meeting was attended bymore than 120 delegates representing more than 50 member bodies; six ISO liaisonregions; two ISO policy development committees; three regional standardsorganizations; four international organizations and other bodies. The meeting wascharacterised by brevity of speech, directness of expression, and a spirit of awillingness to reach a consensus, on the part of delegates, together with the mostcommendable efficiency and efficacy on the part of the DEVCO Secretariat. Thismade my task a reasonably simple one and resulted in the eighteen point agendabeing addressed without a need for an undue extension of time.

The decisions arrived at and the work over the past year, are reflected in thepreparatory papers of the General Assembly and I wish, in deference to our timeconstraints, merely to highlight some of them:

1. Development Manuals: The Committee noted with appreciation the publicationof Development Manual 9 Establishment of a Testing Laboratory and the progress inthe preparation of Development Manual 10 Environmental Management. Both ofthese hold much interest for the developing countries.

2. On the matter of the relationship with the WTO: The Committee noted thatmany developing countries, and countries with economies in transition, had becomemembers of WTO or were in the process of becoming members, and needed to learnabout the WTO TBT Agreement and thanked DIN and SABS for contributing to thelearning process. It encouraged NSBs to upgrade their standards information servicesin preparation to become WTO TBT Enquiry Points.

3. Technical Secretariats: The Committee noted with pleasure that thesecretariats of three technical committees had been taken up by members indeveloping countries and urged other members to follow the example. The committeenoted also that some members (Brazil and Argentina) had hosted meetings of TCsand SCs and considered that this was an innovative way to get an appreciation of theworkings of the TCs and encouraged other NSBs to follow this example.

4. Programme for Developing Countries for 1998 - 2000: The Committeeapproved the contents of the Draft Programme for Developing Countries for 1998 -2000 and submits it to the General Assembly for approval.

5. Funds in Trust: The matter of the Funds in Trust generated much discussion.The Committee noted with approbation, that increasing numbers of developing

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countries were contributing to the Fund and that many countries contributed not incash but in kind. Nonetheless the Committee could not help but notice that there hadbeen an overall decrease in the contributions received so far this year, and reiteratedthe strong hope that more members will contribute in support of the Programme forDeveloping Countries.

6. Regional Training Seminars: The Committee noted with satisfaction thesuccess of the regional training seminars on Quality Assurance in AnalyticalLaboratories held in three countries of the Caribbean on a cost sharing basis and hasasked the DEVCO Secretariat to explore the possibility of extending the project toother regions.

7. COPOLCO / DEVCO Co-operation: The Committee endorsed the request thatthe Chairman of COPOLCO explores closer co-operation with DEVCO with a view topromoting the representation of consumers in developing countries. Co-operation withCASCO is also to be explored. The possibility of meetings around the time of theGeneral Assembly is being considered.

8. ISO 9000 and 14000 Standards Awareness: The Committee noted thesentiments expressed by the delegates from the African region to the effect thatthere was a low level of knowledge and awareness of ISO 9000 and 14000 standardsin the region and supported the idea that the ISO DEVPRO should have a specialfocus and concentration on the region to remedy the defect.

9. QSAR: The matter of QSAR and the action of the QSAR Board generated muchcomment and I must apologise to the members of DEVCO if because of some lack offacility with the language, I am unable to give full expression of their feelings on thematter. Some committee members felt betrayed, others felt conned, some weredistressed and disturbed, they felt exasperated, even enraged, certainly frustratedand long suffering and the only way that I could get them to contain their emotionwas to point out that DEVCO was a Policy Advisory Committee of the GeneralAssembly, wherein lies the ultimate authority of ISO, and, as members thereof, theywould have an opportunity to vent their spleen. In the end chairman, in a masterlyunderstatement, DEVCO, referring to Council resolution 34/1997 concerning thesuspension of the ISO/IEC QSAR Programme, supported the Council’s views andadded its serious dissatisfaction at this suspension.DEVCO noted the Programme of Co-operation between UNIDO, the IAF and ISODEVPRO on assistance to developing countries to enable them to adhere to the IAFMultilateral Agreement and urged ISO to ensure that the needs of developingcountries are addressed in any decisions concerning ISO/IEC/QSAR.

10. DEVCO Workshop: Finally Chairman, I wish to report that the DEVCOWorkshop, which you honoured by your address and which the Secretary Generaldeclared open, was a resounding success. Members felt that they had been given agood opportunity to share experiences and increase their knowledge of matters ofgreat interest to them. The papers were all of high standard and some members feltthat sessions of that sort should become a regular part of the DEVCO meetings.

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In conclusion, may I make a final plea. From time to time I am called upon as yourDEVCO Chairman to represent your views on various subjects (such as theenvironmental and quality matters - the POCOSA meeting in Berlin was a recentexample). Where necessary I will endeavour to ascertain your views by way of yourRegional Liaison Officers. This is necessarily a slow process and I will therefore askyou to respond to your RLOs as quickly as possible so that I may be able to representyour views in the various fora.

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REPORT OF THE INFCO CHAIRMAN, MR. KARI KAARTAMA

INFCO CHAIRMAN'SREPORT

Kari Kaartama

Chairman of INFCO

INFCO MEETINGS

since the last General Assembly, INFCOhas held meetings of:

■ INFCO plenary, Helsinki, 29-30 May 1997■ INFCO MG, Paris, 23-24 October 1996■ INFCO MG, Helsinki, 26 May 1997■ INFCO IG, Helsinki, 27 May 1997■ INFCO MB, Paris, 22 October 1996■ INFCO MB, Helsinki, 30 May 1997

INFCO/ISONET WORKSHOP

Moving standards information into the next century – The best of marketing

■ 23 presentations■ 70 participants■ from 31 countries

Participation in INFCO

64 . 19 . 830

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

64 . 19 . 83

P-members

O-members

Total

International Organizations inliaison with INFCO

■ ARSO

■ AIDMO

■ CEN■ CIE

■ COPANT

■ IEC

■ ITC

■ ITU■ WTO

Participation in ISONET

81 . 3 . . 7 . 910

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

81 . 3 . . 7 . 91

Nat'l.

Assoc.

Int'l.

Total

10 new ISONET members:

■ National membersBELST, BNSI, DZNM, EVS, JISM

Kuweit, MOLDST, MSB, SNIMA

■ Associate memberQ&C–Qualita et Competivita (Italy)

Policy issues underconsideration within INFCO

Modification of the INFCOstructure

■ INFCO Systems Group has beendisbanded

■ its tasks related to business aspects of- document reproduction- document delivery- document distributionhave been re-allocated to the INFCOMarketing Group

■ INFCO Marketing Group has set upan INFCO AHG for studying the aboveaspects

INFCO structure

ISONET

ICSMaintenance

Agency

AHG 1i"Manual"

AHG 2i"Thesaurus"

AHG 7i"WSSN"

INFCOInformation

Group

AHG 5m"Pricing"

AHG 9m"Distribution

systems"

INFCOMarketing

Group

INFCOManagement Board

INFCO

Information activities

INFCO ICS Maintenance Agency

responsible for:

■ updating ICS

■ training ICS indexers

■ promoting ICS implementation

Results of the survey on the use of the ICS(October 1996)

1 2 30

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 2 3

■ Out of 80 ISO members(73%):

➊ 53 use the ICS (66% of80)

➋ 23 intend to use it (29%)

➌ 4 do not use anddo not plan to use it (5%)

Results of the survey on the use of the ICS(October 1996)

1 2 3 4 5 6 70%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

■ Out of 76 ISO members,the ICS is used for

➊ catalogues (69 members)

➋ bibliographies (42)

➌ standing orders (20)➍ tech. programmes (26)

➎ databases (57)

➏ online inf. services (16)➐ other purposes (11)

The ICS has been:

■ translated by 35 members into 26 languages

■ published by 24 members

INFCO AHG "Manual"

■ was set up for the revision ofthe ISONET Manual

■ has held four meetings- September 1994 in Geneva- June 1995 in Geneva- October 1995 in Delft- 18-20 February 1997 in Geneva

INFCO AHG "Manual"

■ prepared four revisions of the ISONETManual

■ the fourth revision contains 114 pagesincluding descriptions of 171 dataelements combined in 9 tables

■ expects that the final draft Manual will becirculated for approval by the end of 1997

INFCO AHG "Thesaurus"

was set up for the assessment of effortneeded to achieve harmonization oftwo thesauri:

■ TIT Thesaurus (AFNOR)■ ROOT Thesaurus (BSI)

INFCO AHG "Thesaurus"

■ has held two meetings in Geneva:- March 1993- 17 February 1997

■ decided to develop simple thesaurusbased on the ICS

■ prepared a business plan (the timescale for work has been estimated atthree years)

INFCO AHG "WSSN"(World Standards ServicesNetwork)

■ has held two meetings in Geneva:

23–24 July 1996

20–21 February 1997

INFCO AHG "WSSN"

■ Guidelines for the development ofWSSN Web sites have beenprepared and approved by INFCO

■ working on the project of setting upWSSN

WSSN structure

WSSN welcome page

Generalinformation onstandardization

Links to members'home pages

Structuredindex

INFCO AHG "Quality"

■ accomplished the survey Qualitycontrol in information centres

■ prepared a report on the surveywhich was approved by INFCO

Commercial marketingactivities

INFCO AHG "Copyrightprotection"

■ prepared document Guidelines andpolicies for the protection of ISO'sintellectual property

■ document was accepted by INFCOand approved by Council inDecember 1996

Guidelines and policies for theprotection of ISO's intellectualproperty

■ The guidelines have beencirculated to ISO members

■ ISO members have been requestedto implement the guidelines

INFCO AHG "Internet"

■ prepared document Recommendationson the distribution of ISO documents viaInternet and other computer networks

■ document was accepted by INFCO andapproved by Council in January 1997

■ ISO members and ISO/CS wererequested to follow theserecommendations

INFCO AHG "Pricing"■ prepared document INFCO AHG 5m/22

(Rev.) Draft recommendations of INFCOAHG 5m "Pricing" to the INFCO MarketingGroup

■ document was accepted by the INFCOMG and submitted to POCOSA RevisionGroup set up by ISO and IEC Councils

■ intends to develop guidelines onimplementation of POCOSA agreementwhen it is approved by Council

WTO TBT Standards Code

■ The ISO/IEC Infocentre receivesnotifications and conveys them to WTO

■ The second edition of the WTO TBTStandards Code Directory was issuedin January 1997

■ The information contained in theDirectory is regularly updated in theISO Bulletin

Growth of the number of standardizingbodies having accepted the Code

9 9 1995

39 45 1996

65 86 1997

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

9 9 1995

39 45 1996

65 86 1997

ISOmembers

Total

INFCO work programme

■ The work of INFCO was carried out inaccordance with the INFCO workprogramme endorsed by GA in 1995

■ Work items regarding- strategic planning of marketing- copyright protection- distribution of ISO documents via Internethave been accomplished

■ the status of the other projects is mainlycovered in the previous sections

ISONET publications

■ INFCO terms of reference andoperating procedures: issued in July1997

■ ISONET Directory: published inMay 1997

■ ISONET Guide: to be published in 1997■ ISONET Communiqué No. 24: issued in

May 1997

■ INFCO approved a new workprogramme at its plenary meeting inHelsinki

■ The General Assembly is invited toendorse the programme

minutes of the twentieth iso general assembly geneva … · 1998-04-13 · a general assembly 1997...

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