WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/14 
29 November 2004 
 
 (04-5174) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
STATEMENT BY ISO ON ITS ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES   
 
TBT Committee Meeting of 4 November 2004
 
 
 
 The following document, dated 4 November 2004, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Organization for Standardization . 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. It is important that developing countries acces s and participate, as fully as possible, in 
international standardization and conformity assessm ent related activities and, consequently, benefit 
from the transfer of technology that standards make possible, in adapting their products and services to global requirements and in demonstrating their compliance for world markets.  This can result in 
greater competitiveness, growing market share and higher price of exports.  It can also result in 
improved resistance to undesirable low quality imports  or in increased competitiveness for attracting 
investment or procurement and stimulating econo mic activity.  Finally, it may facilitate the 
development and effectiveness of  infrastructures and networks. 
2. Sustainable development is not an objective that a country, or a region, can pursue in 
isolation, leaving others behind.  The importance of raising awareness, capacity and participation of 
developing countries is therefore high on ISO's age nda.  Some 110 of the 146 ISO members are from 
developing countries or economies in transition.  This  situation has prompted ISO and its members to 
develop actions to improve the standardization infrastructures and capacities in developing countries 
and to enhance their participation in relation to in ternational standardizati on and related conformity 
assessment activities. 
II. ISO ACTION PLAN FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
3. ISO's global vision is for International Standa rds to contribute to economic and social 
progress through the facilitation of trade, improvement  of products and services together with global 
dissemination of technologies and good practices.  Furthermore, one of the key objectives of the 
ISO Strategic Plan 2005 -2010 – Standards for a Sustainable World  unanimously approved by the ISO 
General Assembly in September 2004, is to raise aw areness and capacity in developing countries of 
international standardization and related activities.   The objective also states that ISO will promote 
active involvement of developing countries in its  work.  Members from developing countries shall 
have access to tools, processes and programmes wh ich will assist them in building their capacity, 
participating effectively in ISO's technical wo rk and implementing international standards.  
4. The ISO Five-Year Action Plan for Developi ng Countries 2005-2010 – Standards for 
Progress  represents the implementation of the elements of the ISO Strategic Plan relating to 
developing countries.  This ISO Action Plan is b ased on a broad consultation of ISO members through G/TBT/GEN/14 
Page 2  
 
surveys
1 and regional seminars, some of which have been conducted in collaboration with the WTO, 
and follow-up work carried out by the ISO De veloping Country Task Force (DCTF) for the 
ISO Council.  The Plan is intended for ISO me mbers and regional organi zations, as well as 
international organizations likely to provide funding.   The document also covers the identification of 
needs, administration, funding and monitoring of actions in favour of de veloping countries.  
Furthermore, ISO’s commitment to its developing c ountry members is now enshrined at the highest 
level in the ISO Code of Ethics . 
5. The ISO Action Plan for Developing Countries  sets the following five objectives for 2010: 
• Improve awareness of key stakeholders in devel oping countries of the role of standardization 
in economic growth, world trade and sustainable development; 
• build capacity of ISO members and stakeholders  involved in developing the standardization 
infrastructure and participating in in ternational standardization work;  
• increase national and regional cooperation to share experience, resources, training, 
information and communications technologies; 
• develop electronic communication and expertise in  IT tools to participate in international 
standardization work, reach out to stakeholders and make efficient use of ISO e-services;  
• increase participation in governance and technical  work of ISO to voice priorities, contribute 
and influence the technical content of ISO deliverables.  
 6. To meet these objectives, three groups of actions have been defined: 
(a) Action group 1:  Making the best of membership in ISO 
- Involving developing countries in the ISO governance structures, enhancing 
the role of the ISO Committee on Developing Countries Matters (DEVCO) and encouraging membership upgrades; 
 
- providing basic assistance to ISO members regarding access to generic 
information, and to e-services made available by the ISO Central Secretariat; 
   - encouraging and enhancing par ticipation in ISO's technical work. 
 
(b) Action group 2:  Supplying targeted assistance and training 
- Developing training services and ta rgeted educational materials; 
 
- providing assistance in the usage and implementation of information and 
communication tools. 
 
(c) Action group 3:  Involving regions, inte rnational organizations and donor agencies 
- Promoting regional cooperation; 
 
- fostering partnerships with interna tional organizations and donor agencies. 
 
                                                     
 
 1 ISO/DEVCO - TMB Survey on Standards, Regulations and Conformity Assessment in Developing 
Countries, 2002;  WTO Survey of Needs of Developing Countries in the TBT field, 2002;  IAF/ILAC Survey on 
Needs of Developing Countries in the Field of Accreditation.   G/TBT/GEN/14 
 Page 3 
 
 
7. WTO and ISO have solid ongoing relations wh ich are based on shared objectives linked to 
transparency, consensus and global relevance as we ll as on the strategic considerations of each 
organization.  The Triennial Review has underlined  the need for promoting good regulatory practices, 
including the use of International Standards and conformity assessment procedures, which can only 
lead to a strengthening of the coope ration between the two organizations. 
8. The areas of cooperation between WTO and ISO relate mainly to: 
• Providing information on the role of standards and conformity assessment in promoting world 
trade; 
• reviewing good regulatory practices and the use of internationally recognized standards and 
conformity assessment procedures; 
• providing, through the ISO/IEC Information Centre, information on the relationship between 
WTO, ISO and IEC with regard to world trade and on standardizing bodies which have accepted the WTO TBT Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application 
of Standards .  The Information Centre has now a publicly accessible Web site at 
< www.standardsinfo.net > which, in addition,  contains and provides access to reference 
publications on standards development and use, and serves as a portal for access to standards and standards information. 
 
9. For any information on ISO's role in providing technical assistance to developing countries, 
please do not to hesitate to contact   Dr. Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento  Director, Development and Training Programmes 
 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 
 1, rue de Varembé  1211 Geneva 20  Switzerland   Tel: +41 22 749 01 11 
 Fax: +41 22 733 34 30 
 e-mail:  calzadilla@iso.org  Web address: www.iso.org  
__________