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International Standards

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) follows a structured and well-defined process for developing international standards. This process ensures that standards are developed transparently, with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, and are based on consensus. Kenya's involvement in standards development at ISO is comprehensive and strategically oriented, driven primarily by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
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ISO Standards Development Process

Key stages in the ISO standards development process:

1

Proposal Stage

The first step is to confirm that a new International Standard the need for a new international standard in the subject area. A new work item proposal (NP) is submitted to the committee for a vote using the New Work Item Proposal Form.

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2

Preparatory Stage

The preparatory stage involves drafting the standard. Once the proposal in stage 1 is approved, a working group of experts prepares the working draft. This draft is then reviewed and revised as necessary.

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3

Committee Stage

The draft standard is reviewed by the relevant technical committee. This stage involves multiple rounds of review and revision take place to address all comments and reach a consensus.

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4

Enquiry Stage

The draft standard is circulated to all ISO member bodies for a vote. This stage is crucial for gathering broader feedback and ensuring that the standard meets the needs of all stakeholders.

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5

Approval Stage

After the enquiry stage, the draft standard is revised based on the feedback received and then submitted for final approval. This stage ensures that the standard has been thoroughly vetted and agreed upon by all relevant parties.

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6

Publication Stage

Once approved, the final draft is published as an official ISO standard. This stage marks the completion of the development process and the standard becomes available for use.

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IEC Standards development process

1

Preliminary stage (PWI)

The preliminary stage comprises projects envisaged for the future but not yet ripe for immediate development.

This stage can be used for the elaboration of a new work item proposal and the development of an initial draft. These work items are subject to approval in accordance with the normal procedures before progressing to the preparatory stage.

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2

New work item proposal (NP)

New work item proposal (NP) (Form NP)

A proposal for new work is generally rooted in a specific need by a stakeholder group in one or several countries. It is brought to the attention of the relevant IEC technical committee/subcommittee (TC/SC) via a National Committee (NC) by using a special form.

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3

Preparatory stage

Working draft (WD)

During the preparatory stage, a working draft is developed in a TC/SC, generally by a project leader within a project team. The preparatory stage ends when a first committee draft (CD) is ready for circulation to the members of the TC/SC for comments and approval.

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4

Committee stage

Committee draft for comments (CD)

The committee draft (CD) is submitted to all IEC Members: those who participate actively in IEC work, and those who have observer status only (P- and O-members) for comment and approval.

This is the most important commenting stage. At this point, NCs are able to submit all their comments with a view of reaching a consensus on the technical content. Depending on each TC/SC, NCs have between 8 and 16 weeks to submit their comments.

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5

Enquiry stage

Committee draft for vote (CDV) (FormCDV)

This is the last stage at which technical comments for an international standard can be taken into consideration. The committee draft for vote (CDV) is submitted to all NCs for a 12 week voting period.

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6

Final approval stage

Final draft international standard (FDIS) (FormFDIS)

After technical changes requested at the CDV stage have been incorporated, an FDIS is prepared and sent to all NCs for a 6 week voting period.

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7

Publication stage

Following the approval of the FDIS (or CDV – if no technical changes were requested) the IEC International Standard is published by the IEC Secretariat in Geneva, normally within 6 weeks after approval.

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