Standards News

The electronic edition of ISO?s magazine "ISO Focus+" (www.iso.org/isofocus+), is available for consultation and downloading free of charge from the ISO Website. ?Furthermore, the previous issues of "ISO Focus+" editions, plus "ISO Focus" (2004-2009), plus "ISO Management Systems" magazine (2001-2009) are also available free of charge as electronic files.

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ISO 50001 on energy management systems will provide public and private sector organizations with management strategies to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve energy performance. ?The standard will be available on the ISO Website www.iso.org on 15 June.

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The 18th Plenary Meeting of ISO/TC71 : concrete, reinforced concrete and pre-stressed concrete was held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology during the period of 20 - 23 June 2011.

The newly published four-page flyer "ISO in brief" introduces ISO International Standards and the benefits they provide. It presents the ISO standardization system comprising the national standards institutes, technical groups and experts. The flyer is available free of charge from the ISO Central Secretariat through the ISO Store or by contacting its Marketing & Communication department.? The brochure can also be downloaded as a PDF file from the ISO Website.

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ISO launches a free tutorial on the second edition of ISO/IEC 17021 which sets new requirements for the auditing of management systems and for auditor competence. The online tutorial is available on the ISO Website at www.iso.org/tutorial17021. To purchase the clean, official edition and the unofficial marked-up edition of ISO/IEC 17021:2011, Conformity assessment - Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, buyers may buy them directly from the ISO Central Secretariat through the ISO Store (please refer to: ) or by contacting its Marketing, Communication & Information department, or from ISO national member institutes, including us (please refer to: ).

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ISO has recently published an information document on International standards and private standards. In relation to increasing debates about private standards, the publication is intended to clarify the correct placement and understanding of ISO International Standards and to show how private standards and ISO International Standards can complement each other or help to harmonize different approaches, and to demonstrate the adherence of ISO's standards development approach with WTO principles of standardisation.

International Standards and "private standards can be downloaded free of charge from the ISO Website. Copy of the brochure is also available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

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In recent years, for security and reliability reasons, it becomes increasingly important for being able to trace products throughout the supply chain. The development of radio frequency identification (RFID), is indispensable for increasing the safety and reliability of products for consumers. The new standard - ISO 17367:2009, Supply chain applications of RFID V Product tagging will help manufacturers and distributors to track products and to manage their traceability thanks to standardized RF tags. It defines the basic features of RFID for use in the supply chain when applied to product tagging.

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ISO has published a new brochure on the ISO Committee on Reference Materials (ISO/REMCO). ISO/REMCO carries out a broad international effort for the harmonization and promotion of reference materials, their production and their application. The committee has developed six ISO Guides on aspects of reference materials. The new brochure describes ISO/REMCO's objectives and how it is organized, explains the structure of its Guides, includes basic information on reference materials, provides definitions and lists its current members.

REMCO V ISO Committee on Reference Materials can be downloaded free of charge from the ISO Website. Copy of the brochure is also available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

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ISO/IEC 31010:2009, Risk management V Risk assessment techniques, has been developed jointly by ISO and its partner IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). ISO/IEC 31010:2009 will assist organizations in implementing the risk management principles and guidelines provided by the recently published ISO 31000:2009, itself complemented by ISO Guide 73:2009 on risk management vocabulary. The latest standard deals with risk assessment concepts; risk assessment process; and selection of risk assessment techniques.

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The ISO Survey of Certifications V 2008, which reveals certification activity around one or more of ISO's management system standards in 176 economies (175 in 2007), shows that implementation of ISO management system standards for food safety and for information security (with IEC) has sharply increased. Certification to ISO 22000:2005, which gives the requirements for food safety management systems, increased by more than 96 % during 2008. At the same time, certification to ISO/IEC 27001:2005, which gives the requirements for information security management systems, increased by more than 20 %. ISO makes available the principal findings of the survey free of charge on its ISO Website at http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_standards/certification/the_iso_survey.htm. ISO also makes available for purchase a combined brochure and CD-ROM which contained more information, including industry sector breakdowns.

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ISO has recently released the Technical Product Specification (TPS) collection on CD-ROM, published as handbooks, or on electronic media. It is a compilation of ISO's collection of 242 TPS standards. The standards are essential to manufacturing on a global basis, and provide a common language for product and contract specification, and other communication along global supply chains.

The Collection is available from ISO national member institutes, including us (please refer to: >>). It may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat through the ISO Store (please refer to: >>) or by contacting its Marketing & Communication department.

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A new ISO standard, ISO 28500:2009, Information and documentation V WARC file format, developed by ISO/TC 46, Information and documentation, subcommittee SC 4, Technical interoperability , will ensure that information posted on the Web is not lost when a page changes or disappears. The WARC (Web ARChive) file format offers a convention for concatenating multiple data objects into one long file.

The standard is available from ISO national member institutes , including us (please refer to: >>). It may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat through the ISO Store (please refer to: >>) or by contacting its Marketing, Communication and Information department.

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The Hong Kong Accreditation Service and the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have jointly organised two seminars on food nutrition labelling on 2 and 16 September 2009 respectively. Legislative requirements, services offered by testing industry, experience of the food sector, scope of the food composition database as well as benefits of using accredited laboratories were presented during the seminar.
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ISO has launched the new edition of its publication "ISO 9000 Quality Management collection of standards", whichis published in CD-ROM format. It includes ISO 9001:2008, the latest edition of the standards that establishes the requirements for a quality management system as well as the Draft International Standard, ISO/DIS 9004. They are complemented by the remaining family of generic standards developed by ISO/TC176, Quality management and quality assurance.
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The US' Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a notice of requirements for accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies. The notice sets out the criteria and process for its acceptance of third party conformity assessment bodies for testing in accordance with CPSC regulations relating to bicycle helmets, dive sticks and similar articles, rattles, bicycles, and bunk beds.
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Generally speaking, under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), manufacturer or private labeler for children's products have to submit samples to an accredited third party conformity assessment body to be tested for compliance with applicable rule. The US' Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued proposed regulations establishing requirements for the periodic audit of third party conformity assessment bodies as a condition for their continuing accreditation.
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ISO has updated the section of its website known as the "ISO Cafe". Through the website section interested parties can obtain easily understandable information on ISO International Standards without having to browse through lengthy texts. The menu of the ISO Cafe includes an overview of the ISO system and what it does in user-friendly language as well as lots of everyday examples of the benefits ISO standards bring.
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ISO launched a new electronic newsletter on "conformity assessment". In addition to have more confidence in products, services, systems and organizations when they conform to ISO standards, the conformity assessment processes and the people and organizations that carry them out must also be worthy of confidence. Therefore, ISO also develops standards for conformity assessment through ISO/CASCO, the Committee on conformity assessment. Subscribing to the newsletter is free of charge and can be done quickly and easily on ISO's Website.
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A new ISO/IEC standard is published which gives an overview of information security management systems (ISMS). ISO/IEC 27000:2009, Information technology V Security techniques V Information security management systems V Overview and vocabulary, supplements the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards by providing an introduction to information security management and defining related terms. It aims to assist all types and sizes of organizations (e.g. commercial enterprises, government agencies, non-profit organizations) to understand the fundamentals, principles and concepts to improve protection of their information assets.
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IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, announced that its annual meetings will take place from 11-15 May 2009 in Guangzhou, China, and be hosted by CNCA (the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China), the Chinese member of IECQ. It will be the second time this decade that the CNCA hosts IECQ annual meetings in Guangzhou. In addition to reviewing activities and achievements since last year's meetings, the agenda will focus on future strategies to support all IECQ Technical Certification Programmes.

The IEC is planning to develop a further 60 IEC Standards+ during 2009. The IEC Standards+ package includes the official new edition of an IEC International Standard along with a Redline version that shows all the modifications V additions, replacements or deletions V made since the previously published version of the Standard. It help save both time and money since they have the advantage of providing a customer with an immediate and accurate means of identifying where the technical content of the Standard has evolved from the previous edition. In this way, important areas of technology or safety are clearly highlighted so that customers can make necessary changes to their procedures and equipment.

Australian customs has recently detected a number of goods containing asbestos in imported manufactured goods. An Australia-wide ban on the importation, manufacture and use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos containing products took effect from 31 December 2003. To complement this ban, an import prohibition on asbestos under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 was introduced by Australia. Importers of asbestos or goods containing asbestos into Australia without prior permission can face a fine of up to A$110,000.
Fact Sheet which provides general information on the prohibition can be seen at : >>
Copy of the Fact Sheet in Chinese version is available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The new International Standard ISO 23045:2008, Building environment design V Guidelines to assess energy efficiency of new buildings, will help the building sector to contribute to energy saving by providing it with specific design guidelines. It provides energy-related requirements for the design process, or to achieve targeted values of energy efficiency for new buildings. The objectives are to assist designers and practitioners when collecting and providing the useful data that are required at different stages of the design process and to fulfill building design objectives. The new standard applies to new buildings and is also applicable to systems for heating, cooling, lighting, domestic hot water, service water heating, ventilation and related controls.
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ISO has published new ISO/TR 12885:2008, Health and safety practices in occupational settings relevant to nanotechnologies, which focuses on the manufacture and use of engineered nanomaterials. The Technical Report is based on current information about nanotechnologies, including characterization, health effects, exposure assessments, and control practices. Broadly applicable across a range of nanomaterials and applications, the Technical Report provides advice for companies, researchers, workers and other people to prevent adverse health and safety consequences during the production, handling, use and disposal of manufactured nanomaterials.
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The December issue of ISO Focus explores the work of a number of ISO's committees and initiatives which aim to ensure the quality, safety and sustainability of food products along the production chain. It addresses topics ranging from food safety management systems to quality crops, food irradiation, and olives; radio frequency identification (RFID) of animals to aquaculture; and more. By providing consistent harmonized specifications, international standards provide the tools to ensure that food around the world adheres to the same high standards.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal

In the context of growing adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID), particularly in open supply chain applications and the concurrent development of innovative products and services, the International Standard ISO/IEC 18000-1, Information technology V Radio frequency identification for item management V Reference architecture and definition of parameters to be standardized, has been revised. The standard defines the generic architecture concepts in which item identification may be commonly required within the logistics and supply chain and defines the parameters that need to be determined in any standardized air interface definition in the subsequent parts of ISO/IEC 18000.
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ISO 25639:2008 is the first International Standard for exhibitions, shows, fairs and conventions. It consists of two parts, respectively addressing exhibition terminology and statistical methods. ISO 25639-1, Exhibitions, shows, fairs and conventions - Vocabulary, includes terms and definitions often used in the exhibition industry. ISO 25639-2:2008, Exhibitions, shows, fairs and conventions - Measurement procedures for statistical purposes, provides standard measurement procedures to increase confidence in statistics related to exhibitions. The new standard is expected to bring greater transparency and consistency to the exhibition industry worldwide by providing internationally agreed terminology and statistical methods, thus reducing the potential for misunderstanding and disappointments between organizers and exhibitors.
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a Federal Register notice setting out the requirements for the accreditation of third-party conformity assessment bodies to assess conformity with the 600 parts per million ("ppm") and 300 ppm lead content limits in metal and metal alloy parts of children' metal jewelry established by the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The notice provides the criteria and process for CPSC acceptance of accreditation of laboratories.
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1. Notice >>
2. CPSC's website >>

The focus of November issue is e-standardization. Conscious of the potential that information and communication technology would open up a new world of opportunity, ISO has increasingly moved in the direction of e-standardization. This issue explores the array of e-tools already available to the standardization community, and how they add value to both users and developers of standards. It not only reviews the inventory of what has been accomplished, and where it can take us, but looks farther ahead to the developments of what may come, and the revolutionizing impact technology may still bring.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal

ISO published the ISO 9001:2008, Quality management system - Requirements. It is the latest edition of the International Standard used by organizations in 175 countries as the framework for their quality management systems (QMS) and is the fourth edition of the standard first published in 1987. The standard has become the global benchmark for providing assurance about the ability to satisfy quality requirements and to enhance customer satisfaction in supplier-customer relationships. ISO 9001:2008 contains no new requirements compared to the 2000 edition, which it replaces. It provides clarifications to the existing requirements of ISO 9001:2000 based on eight years' experience of implementing the standard worldwide and introduces changes intended to improve consistency with the environmental management system standard, ISO 14001:2004.
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ISO has published a new brochure - "How ISO's technical programme and standards contribute to a sustainable world". The brochure explains how International Standards of the type developed by ISO, based on a double level of consensus, between stakeholders and between countries, contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development V economic, environmental and social.
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The ISO Survey of Certifications V 2007 reveals certification activity around one or more of ISO's management system standards in 175 countries, up from 170 in 2006 V "a clear demonstration", according to the survey, "that they have become essential tools of the world economy". Up to the end of December 2007, at least 951 486 ISO 9001:2000 (quality management) certificates had been issued in 175 countries and economies. For ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management), at least 154 572 certificates had been issued in 148 countries and economies up to the end of December 2007.
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ISO and IEC have published the joint International Standard, ISO/IEC 29500:2008, Information technology V Document description and processing languages - Office Open XML file formats. It is a standard for word-processing documents, presentations and spreadsheets that is intended to be implemented by multiple applications on multiple platforms. One of its objectives is to ensure the long-term preservation of documents created over the last two decades using programmes that are becoming incompatible with continuing advances in the field of information technology.
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This issue takes a look at the portfolio of International Standards which contribute to promoting intelligent and sustainable buildings, the theme of this year's World Standards Day. The articles respond to an increasing global need to lessen the enormous impact that buildings have on the environment. It explores the latest developments on the wide range of state-of-the-art solution-oriented building standards promoting sustainability and efficiency. It also features standards for ensuring the reliability and durability of structures.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

This issue includes an introduction to the next editions of ISO 9001 and ISO 9004. A new edition of ISO 9001, the world's most widely used quality management system standard, is due to be published before the end of the year and its companion standard, ISO 9004, is undergoing revision and expected to be published as a new edition in 2009.
To know more : >> Copies of ISO Management Systems are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission provides summaries of certain provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. It has also posted the complete CPSIA legislation for reference.

PV (photovoltaic) modules sold in Australia must now be tested and certified to IEC Standards by a laboratory accepted by IECEE, the IEC worldwide system for conformity testing and certification of electrotechnical equipment and components. The Solar Homes and Communities Plan of the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, is a new programme that encourages the long-term use of PV technology to generate electricity from sunlight and to increase the use of renewable energies in Australia.

The new International Standard ISO/IEC 26514:2008 V Systems and software engineering V Requirements for designers and developers of user documentation will assist documentation designers and developers and supports the interest of software users. The standard defines the documentation process from the documentation developer's standpoint. It covers the phases involved in designing, specifying, and producing user documentation. It is divided in two parts: The first part covers the user documentation process for designers and developers of documentation. The second part provides minimum requirements for the structure, information content, and format of user documentation, including both printed and on-screen documents used in the work environment by users of systems containing software.
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The publication of ISO/TS 27687:2008, Nanotechnologies V Terminology and definitions for nano-objects V Nanoparticle, nanofibre and nanoplate, provides terms and definitions related to particles in the field of nanotechnologies. It is intended to facilitate communications between organizations and individuals in industry and those who interact with them. It is the first part of a projected series on terminology and definitions documents covering the different aspects of nanotechnologies.
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The focus of the issue is standards for sports and leisure. The issue contains articles which describe how international standards offer practical tools for dealing with the many issues and challenges facing the organisers of a global event like the Olympics; and the application and development of international standards in different aspects of sports and leisure, such as supplying artificial turf, safety requirements for stationary training equipment during use, provision of services by golf courses, and safety in sailing, skiing and diving.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The issue focuses on environmental labelling and contains a special report on ISO 14020 series of standards which provides businesses with a globally recognised and credible set of international benchmarks against which they can prepare the environmental labelling they increasingly provide on products and in advertising, in response to consumer demand. The issue also contains an article showing how ISO's management system standards V ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) are emerging as powerful tools for churches and religious organisations seeking to improve accountability, increase donations, reduce negative environmental impacts and demonstrate social responsibility.
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Copies of ISO Management Systems are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The July issue is a special Olympics issue which contains a number of articles on relationship between standards and the Olympic Games. The developments of standards and sports are closely related and they promote and develop each other. Standards touch nearly every aspect of our daily lives and bring connections between the Olympics and the environment, quality management, building, infrastructure, transport and information.
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Copies of China Standardisation are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The newly published ISO/IEC 10779:2008, Information technology V Office equipment accessibility guidelines for elderly persons and persons with disability, provides guidelines for the design and evaluation of office equipment to facilitate their operation by persons with the widest range of capabilities, including persons with disabilities or with temporary disabilities. It provides guidelines to be used when planning, developing and designing office equipment such as copying machines, page printers and multi-function devices. It outlines specifications for operation, display (e.g. auditory), mechanical operable controls (e.g. position, shapes), terms (e.g. commonly used expressions), and maintenance (e.g. care of equipment and parts replacement by users). It also includes provisions for evaluation, feedback and user support requirements.
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World Standards Day this year will be on 14 October 2008. The theme this year is Intelligent and sustainable buildings. International standards provide the means by which desirable principles such as quality life, safety and security, interoperability making possible the use of diverse products, services and sources, information and communication technology connectivity are translated into practical application and implemented efficiently and effectively on a global scale.
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2. 2008 World Standards Day Message >>

A new Kitemark scheme has been launched to improve child safety online. Launched by the UK Home Secretary in April 2008, the Kitemark for Child Safety Online and its supporting guidance set the standard for internet filtering software for internet browsing packages used on home computers. Only products that pass a series of rigorous independent tests - including the ability to restrict access to websites featuring pornography, racism and violence - will be awarded the Kitemark to demonstrate conformity. The Kitemark not only looks at the effectiveness of the software, but also the ease with which it can be installed, the completeness of the user information, the ability to provide online support and the ability for a parent to be able to put a security password in to prevent things being changed.
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3. more about Kitemark >>

The US Department of Energy published the final rule on standards that are applicable to residential furnaces and boilers taking effect as from 27 August 2008.
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The recently released standard ISO 15270:2008, Plastics V Guidelines for the recovery and recycling of plastics waste establishes the different options for the recovery of plastics waste arising from pre-consumer and post-consumer sources. The standard will assist in the selection of methodologies and processes for the management of post-use plastics that may be approached using various strategies.
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The Portable Document Format (PDF), a widely used digital form for electronic documents, is now accessible as an ISO International Standard - ISO 32000-1, Document management V Portable document format V Part 1: PDF 1.7. This move follows a decision by Adobe Systems Incorporated, original developer and copyright owner of the format, to relinquish control to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). ISO is now in charge of publishing the specifications for the current version (1.7) and for updating and developing future versions.
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ISO 15743 : 2008, Ergonomics of the thermal environment V Cold workplaces V Risk assessment and management, has been developed to describe the methods and practices for assessing and managing occupational health and performance risks in cold workplaces. The standard gives practical instructions for risk analysis and management in cold working conditions.
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The issue contains articles which give a technical overview of the different standards in the ISO 22000, Food safety management systems series and how they can be put to use, market feedback and keys to its successful implementation. ISO 22000 series was launched in September 2005 as a global option for ensuring safe food supply chains. Survey reveals that it is implemented in 72 countries.
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Copies of ISO Management Systems are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The issue explores the field of mechanical innovations and international standardisation, including interesting articles on innovations in welding, cutting tools, springs, high level safety devices against excessive pressure, testing methods for reliable mechanical property data and gas turbines for power generation V areas, which cut across all sectors and spheres of activity.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

ISO/IEC 27005 : 2008, Information technology V Security techniques V Information security risk management, which provides guidelines for information security risk management is recently published. The new standard is designed to assist the implementation of ISO/IEC 27001, the information security management system standard, which is based on a risk management approach. The new standard does not provide any specific methodology for information security risk management. It is up to the organisation to define its approach to risk management.
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A new edition of ISO 9001, the world's most widely used quality management system standard, is at its final stage of development. Publication of the revised version is expected to be in the October-November 2008 time frame. The proposed ISO 9001 : 2008 does not introduce additional requirements compared to the last edition in 2000. It represents fine-tuning, introducing clarifications to the requirements existing in ISO 9001 : 2000, based on user experience and changes that are intended to improve further compatibility with the ISO 14001 : 2004 standard for environmental management systems. The new edition will not require any specific reassessment for certification. ISO 9001, first published in 1987, provides the requirements for a quality management system, which is a framework for an organisation to control its processes in order to achieve objectives including customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance and continual improvement. It is estimated that over one million ISO 9001 certificates have been issued to organisations in private and public sectors, in manufacturing and services, and in 170 countries.
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Four national standards body members of ISO and IEC V Brazil, India, South Africa and Venezuela V have submitted appeals against the recent approval of ISO/IEC DIS 29500, Information technology V Office Open XML formats, as an ISO/IEC International Standard. The appeals are currently being considered by the ISO Secretary-General and the IEC General Secretary and to be further considered by the ISO Technical Management Board and the IEC Standardisation Management Board to come to a decision as to whether the appeals should be further processed or not. The decision to publish ISO/IEC DIS 29500 as an ISO/IEC International Standard cannot be taken until the outcome of the appeals is known.
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A new standard, ISO/IEC 38500 : 2008, Corporate governance of information technology has recently been released. It provides broad guidance on the role of top management in relation to the corporate governance of IT and provides a framework for effective governance of IT to assist those at the highest level of organisations to understand and fulfill their legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations in respect of their organizations' use of IT.
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The new standard, ISO 22307 : 2008, Financial services V Privacy impact assessment, defines a methodology to help organisations in private and public sectors identify privacy issues and mitigate risks associated with processing the financial data of customers and consumers, business partners and citizens. The standard describes the privacy impact assessment which should be carried out at an early stage in the development of a proposed financial system. It provides a way to help ensure that the system complies with applicable laws and regulations governing customer and consumer privacy and helps identify optimal privacy options and solutions.
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The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has recently released the ISO 15392 : 2008 Sustainability in building construction V General principles, which establishes internationally recognised principles for sustainability in building construction. The standard is based on the concept of sustainable development as it applies to buildings and other construction works over their life cycle. Construction works absorb considerable resources and contribute to the transformation of the environment. As a result, they can have considerable economic consequences and impacts on both the environment and human health.
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Product safety regulations for children's nightwear labelling will be amended and significant changes to the labels of some types of nightwear will be made. The new requirements aim to provide a clearer message to consumers so that they can make safer choices when they purchase children's nightwear. Certain categories of nightwear currently labelled LOW FIRE DANGER are proposed to carry a warning that will explain that the material is not heat or flame resistant and will indicate that the garment should be worn snug fitting to reduce risk. The new labelling is proposed to be used from 1 July 2008 and enter into force by 1 April 2009.
To know more :
1. >>[Under the section "Notifications submitted by Members on technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures", choose "2008" for year and "New Zealand" for member economy and Notification "G/TBT/N/NZL/44" issued on 23 May 2008.]
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The issue looks at how ISO is engaging in new standardisation paths to address pressing needs in the area of services. It provides an overview of the latest developments on standardisation for personal services (e.g. financial planning), public services (e.g. supply of drinking water), and marketing services (e.g. market, opinion and social research) and looks at consumer requirements, and at service standards for the business community, particularly in relation to information security management and service management.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has recently published an advice of the above title. It states "You will obtain the greatest value by using the entire family of standards in an integrated manner. It is highly recommended that you use ISO 9000 to become familiar with the basic concepts and the language used before you adopt ISO 9001 to achieve a first level of performance. The practices described in ISO 9004 may then be implemented to make your quality management system more effective and efficient in achieving your business goals and objectives." The ISO 9000 family, which currently consists of 17 international quality management standards and guidelines has earned a global reputation as a basis for establishing effective and efficient quality management systems. The best known standard is ISO 9001, which specifies the basic requirements for a quality management system (QMS). The next edition of ISO 9001 is expected to be published before the end of 2008.
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ISO/IEC 10995 : 2008 Information technology X Digitally recorded media for information interchange and storage X Test method for the estimation of the archival lifetime of optical media has recently been published. It specifies an accelerated aging test method for estimating the life expectancy for the retrievability of information stored on recordable or rewritable optical disks. The standard provides a methodology that includes the testing of newer, currently available products. The methodology covers the effects of temperature and relative humidity.
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is seeking public comment on the "Draft Executive Summary : Import Safety Strategy". The document outlines the CPSC's four key strategies for responding to the safety issues posed by consumer products, including imports, as well as the specific activities it has undertaken or plans to take with respect to each strategy. The activities include : the CPSC concluded an MOU with China's General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and established working groups focusing on fireworks, toys, lighters and electrical products; conducted industry-specific seminars, retail and vendor training seminars and training for Chinese government officials, and a third biennial US-Sino Product Safety Summit will be held in 2009.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a press release announcing that effective November 1, 2008, televisions that carry the Energy Star label will be up to 30% more efficient than conventional models and will save energy while they are on, and when they are off. Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Currently, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products as well as new homes and buildings. Products that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. government.
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The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has recently published the ISO 19712-1:2008, Plastics V Decorative solid surfacing materials V Part 1: Classification and specifications, which will help to ensure consistent communication about plastics. It will ensure that manufacturers, fabricators, installers and specifiers around the world use the same terminology, performance indicators and requirements when working with solid surfacing materials made from plastic.
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The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has recently published a new version of the SI Guide, a small manual for the use of the SI. The seven base units are: length, mass, time, electric current, thermodynamic temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity. The SI is built in such a way that only one unit is used for each kind of quantity, which makes the system very simple. It is used everywhere in all contexts: in daily life, just as in the technical and scientific fields. The 32-page SI Guide will be useful for many people including engineers, scientists, technical writers, teachers and students.
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The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has undertaken a study to examine the impact of standardisation on the Canadian economy. The study involved a review of the standards-oriented economics literature, an empirical analysis of the impact of the collection of standards on Canadian labour productivity, a series of interviews with Canadian leaders, and two case studies on the benefits of selected aspects of standardisation. A review of economic literature identifies the many benefits of standards including improved compatibility, the identification of minimum admissible attributes, provision of information and product descriptions, the enabling of economies of scale, the facilitation of international trade, and the promotion of innovation. The empirical work clearly showed that standards play an important role in enhancing labour productivity. Over the study period of 1981- 2004, standardisation accounted for 17 per cent of the growth rate in labour productivity which translates into approximately 9 per cent of the growth rate in output (real GDP).

The issue concentrates on how international standards facilitate information and document management in all areas V from presentation to classification, contextualization, management and preservation of information. Standards promote records management, as a means to establish control and accountability in business environments. They facilitate the portability, retrievability, compatibility and interchangeability between document management systems across global operations, ensuring the best policies and practices to protect information. In an exclusive interview with Mr Sergio Giacoletto, Executive Vice President of Oracle Corporation, he said Our success depends on hundreds of standards allowing our products to function in todays complex technological ecosystem.
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hold a roundtable in May 2008 to provide stakeholders with an understanding of the use of lead in consumer products and related congressional proposals. At the meeting CPSC staff will discuss pending lead legislation and enforcement issues, current events abroad and laboratory testing procedures for lead. Industry representatives will discuss the use of lead in consumer products (e.g. paints and coatings, toys, plastics, jewelry, electronics, batteries and textiles), potential substitutes for lead in their products, best practices that can be implemented to eliminate or reduce the use of lead, and differences between domestic manufacturing plants and their practices and those outside the U.S.
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ISO/IEC DIS 29500, Information technology V Office Open XML file formats has received the necessary number of votes for approval as an ISO/IEC International Standard. ISO/IEC DIS 29500 was originally disapproved in the "fast-track vote" which ended in September 2007, when 3,500 comments were received. Further to the ballot resolution meeting held in Geneva during the week 25-29 February 2008, the issues addressed and revised have resulted in sufficient national bodies withdrawing their earlier disapproval votes, or transforming them into positive votes, so that the criteria for approval of the document as an international standard have now been met.
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The issue contains the special report about the ISO/TS 29001 V the quality management requirements for the oil and gas sector, and the viewpoints about the challenges of succession planning of small business on sustainability. It also discloses that as increasing number of organisations is applying a range of management system standards, a book to help these organisations integrate the use of the management systems is being prepared for publish in the first quarter of 2008.
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Copies of ISO Management Systems are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The issue takes a close look at conformity assessment V the process of verifying compliance with international standards and explores the different facets of conformity including testing, surveillance, inspection, auditing, certification, registration and accreditation.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The issue contains feature articles on how China ensures product quality and food safety in the face of the particularly cold weather, improvements in Chinas food additive laws, national standards for urban rail transit and its launch of standardisation of risk management.
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Copies of China Standardisation are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is amending its flammability standard for general wearing apparel, the Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles, 16 CFR part 1610. The Standard, originally issued in 1953, has become outdated and the revisions better reflect current consumer practices and technologies and clarify several aspects of the Standard. The amended Standard will become effective on 22 September 2008.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has recently established three new project committees, namely ISO/PC 240 : Product recall, ISO/PC 239 : Network services billing and ISO/PC 242 : Energy management. The product recall standard will provide a code of good practice for establishing, implementing and managing an effective, flexible and responsive consumer product recall programme with corrective actions. The billing standard will provide guidance on dealing with consumer concerns about billing practices so that consumers will find it easier to read and understand their bills, and verify their accuracy. The energy management standard will provide all types of organisations and companies a practical and widely recognised approach to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve their environmental performance by addressing both the technical and management aspects of rational energy use.
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The US Department of Energy (DOE) is considering amendment of existing energy conservation standards for general service fluorescent lamps and incandescent reflector lamps, and it is also considering whether standards should apply to additional general service fluorescent lamps. The DOE accepts comments until 14 April 2008.

A bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to provide greater protection for children's products, to improve the screening of non-compliant consumer products, to improve the effectiveness of consumer product recall programs among other purposes was passed by the US Senate on 6 March 2008 The measure will have to be reconciled with a House bill passed in December 2007 before it can be sent to the President for approval/ enactment.
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(search for HR 4040)

The draft standard ISO/IEC DIS 29500, Information technology V Office Open XML file formats had its ballot resolution meeting (BRM) in Geneva, Switzerland on 25 V 29 February 2008. The last voting which ended on 2 September 2007 did not result in the proposed standard meeting the acceptance criteria to be published as an ISO/IEC international standard. No decision or vote on publication was taken at the BRM. Following the BRM, the 87 national member bodies that voted in the 2 September ballot will have 30 days V until 29 March 2008 V to examine the actions taken in response to the comments and to reconsider their vote if they wish. If the modifications proposed are such that national bodies then wish to withdraw their negative votes, or turn abstentions into positive votes, and the acceptance criteria are then met, the standard may proceed to publication. Otherwise, the proposal will have failed and this fast-track procedure will be terminated. This would not preclude subsequent re-submission under the normal IEC and ISO standards development rules.
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) created the new Import Surveillance Division, which in coordination with the Customs and Border Protection, is tasked with inspecting, detecting and stopping hazardous products from entering into the US.
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is proposing flammability standards for residential upholstered furniture and seeking public comments by 19 May 2008. The proposal would establish performance requirements and certification and labelling requirements for upholstered furniture. Manufacturers would be required to certify compliance with the standard and to comply with certain recordkeeping requirements as specified in the proposal.

ISO 17090:2008, Health informatics V Public Key Infrastructure was published recently. It contributes to defining how digital certificates can be used to provide security services in the health industry. The standard describes the technical, operational and policy requirements that need to be addressed to enable digital certificates to be used in protecting the exchange of healthcare information within a single healthcare organisation, between organisations and across jurisdictional boundaries. Its purpose is to create a platform for global interoperability.
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The issue contains special reports introducing ISO/PAS 22399:2007 which was published in November 2007 to address the global awareness that both the public and private sector must proactively prepare for unexpected, disruptive incidents and how ISO management system standards can be important tools in a company-wide risk management programme. Another article of the issue explores the possibilities of the latest mobile phones as tools for accessing ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 documentation, filling in report forms, performing audits and for fulfilling other quality management system and environmental management system implementation requirements.
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Copies of ISO Management Systems are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) will have a new project committee to develop an international standard for road traffic safety management systems. There are already more than 200 ISO standards relating to road safety. The new standard to be developed will provide a structured, holistic approach to road safety with the intention to help organisations improve their performance in relation to road safety, contribute to reducing accidents and better meet regulatory requirements and societal expectations regarding road safety. The standard may also provide an internationally harmonized tool useful for organisations involved in auditing the effectiveness of road safety programmes or analysing accident black spots.
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ISO 23600:2007, Assistive products for persons with vision impairments and persons with vision and hearing impairments - Acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights will help persons with vision and hearing impairments to cross the street safely. The standard sets out the requirements, technical specifications and performance criteria for acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights and will help to ensure harmonized criteria for manufacturers and designers; safe, reliable and functional products; enhanced compatibility between products; and common testing methods leading to comparable, reliable test results.
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The issue on Climate Change concentrates on ISO's publication of the ISO 14064 and ISO 14065 standards on the verification and accounting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their importance in delivering credible and reliable information in voluntary and regulatory carbon markets. The issue also looks at the collaboration between ISO and some major private sector initiatives in this area. In an exclusive interview, Mr. Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), underlines the value and role of standards in addressing climate change. Mr Steiner also said I applaud the role of standardisation as a means to communicate basic expectations and facilitate greater performance innovation and free trade in the global economy.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

The director of BSI British Standards, Mr Mike Low, has been appointed to the China Standardisation Expert Committee (CSEC) as the first foreign advisor to the committee. CSEC advises the Standardisation Administration of China (SAC) on national standards strategy and policy; major reform and innovative measures for standardisation; key projects in science and technology; and publication and implementation of standards. BSI has been working closely with SAC for several years in developing strategy and addressing key topics such as energy, sustainability, IT security and standards associated with major events such as the Olympic Games.
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has made corrections to its flammability standard for mattress sets. The corrections rectify typographical errors, clarify technical aspects of running the flammability test required by the standard, and clarify that the certification statement on the mattress set label may appear in another language in addition to English. The corrections become effective on 6 February 2008. According to the CPSC, the corrections are technical and do not change the substantive obligations of the mattress manufacturers and importers.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that as of 1 November 2008 televisions will have to comply with stricter requirements in order to carry the Energy Star label. Additional criteria will have to be met as of 1 September 2010. The EPA states that TVs complying with the revised Energy Star specification will be up to 30 percent more efficient than conventional models and will save energy whether they are on or off.
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ISO 19092:2008, Financial services V Biometrics V Security framework has been published. The new standard establishes the security requirements for the implementation and management of biometric identification technology (which includes finger image, voice identification, eye scan and facial image) within the financial industry.
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The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and Universal Postal Union (UPU) signed a memorandum of understanding to increase their cooperation in the development of international standards for postal services. International standards help ensure effective interoperability, processing and distribution of data, objects and services.
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ISO/IEC 24762:2008 : Information technology -- Security techniques -- Guidelines for information and communications technology disaster recovery services has been published. It provides guidelines on the provision of information and communications technology disaster recovery (ICT DR) services, applicable to both in-house and outsourced ICT DR service providers of physical facilities and services. It is a best practice documentation on DR services and covers facilities, services capability, fallback and recovery support to an organisation's ICT system(s). It also includes the implementation, testing and execution aspects of DR. The standard is developed by Subcommittee 27 : IT Security techniques, of the International Organisation for Standardisation/ International Electrotechnical Commission Joint Technical Committee 1 (ISO/IEC JTC1) where two experts from Hong Kong are observers.
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The issue contains articles which discuss how international standards set human-friendly requirements to facilitate our daily lives, making sure our equipment and buildings are functioning safely and reliably. Not only do these standards contribute to our comfort and health, but also disseminate good practices and fuel international trade.
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Copies of ISO Focus are available at Product Standards Library, ITC for perusal.

ISO 18192-1:2008, Implants for surgery V wear of total intervertebral spinal disc prostheses, Part 1: Loading and displacement parameters for wear testing and corresponding environmental conditions for test has been published. The standard provides requirements for comparing the wear performance of different spinal disc prostheses. It helps promote the development of safe and resistant prostheses for patients and constitute a useful tool for the medical industry.
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At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held on 23-27 January in Davos, Switzerland, the Secretary-General of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), an institutional member of the WEF, outlined how voluntary international standards can pave the way for the dissemination of technology through the creation of world markets and through good management and organisational practices.
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ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007, International vocabulary of metrology V Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM), has been published to give guidance on the concepts and terms used in various approaches to measurement. The guide covers measurements in chemistry and laboratory medicine for the first time, as well as incorporates concepts such as those that relate to metrological traceability, measurement uncertainty, and nominal properties.
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Two sessions of introductory standards information seminar were held on 25 January 2008. The seminars were organised by the PSIB, ITC as part of its efforts to promote general awareness of the benefits and importance of standards. The seminars introduced to the over 50 participants the benefits of standards and standardisation, how standards are closely related to us V as traders, producers, innovators and consumers, how to ensure standards are met, where to obtain further information on standards and how to play a part in the development of international standards.
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The US Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the rulemaking and data collection process to consider establishing amended energy conservation standards for certain fluorescent lamp ballasts and to consider whether energy conservation standards should apply to additional fluorescent lamp ballasts. Accordingly, DOE welcomes written comments from the public on the rulemaking and will hold an informal public meeting to discuss and receive comments.

ISO/IEC Guide 76:2008, Development of service standards V Recommendations for addressing consumer issues, provides a series of questions related to all stages of service delivery, from first thinking about the service, through engagement or purchase, service delivery to after sales or post engagement. It will be of value to service providers in reducing customer complaints and cutting the business costs of poor service.
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ISO 30000, Ship recycling management systems has recently been launched. The series of standards will increase transparency, facilitate trade, provide a clear reference for industry and constitute a valuable risk assessment tool. These standards can be used by any organisation and for ships of all types and sizes, everywhere, employed in international and domestic trades alike.
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ISO 21809-2:2007, Petroleum and natural gas industries V External coatings for buried or submerged pipelines used in pipeline transportation systems - Part 2: Fusion-bonded epoxy coatings has recently been published. The standard specifies the requirements for the qualification, application, testing and handling of materials for plant application of single-layer fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) coatings applied externally for the corrosion protection of bare steel pipe for use in pipeline transportation systems in the petroleum and natural gas industries. The standard will facilitate the purchasing, manufacturing and application of FBE coatings in the international market.
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The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have recently published a free brochure (available for downloading) which gives an overview and concise descriptions of joint ISO/IEC guides. The information would provide a rich source of advice for standards writers, consumer representatives, designers, product manufacturers, service providers, retail chains, testing laboratories, regulators environmentalists, academics and students.
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Three new standards, namely, ISO 24510, Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services V Guidelines for the assessment and for the improvement of the service to users; ISO 24511,Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services V Guidelines for the management of wastewater utilities and for the assessment of wastewater services, and ISO 24512, Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services V Guidelines for the management of drinking water utilities and for the assessment of drinking water services have recently been published. These standards are designed to help water authorities and their operators to achieve a level of quality that best meets the expectations of users and the principles of sustainable development. They provide methods and tools to define, at local level, objectives and specifications, and assess and monitor performance for possible benchmarking among water utilities.
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