ISO Standard

A normative document, developed according to consensus procedures, which has been approved by the ISO membership and P-members of the responsible committee in accordance with part 1 of the ISO/IEC Directives as a draft International Standard and/or as a final draft International Standard and which has been published by the ISO Central Secretariat.

The way it is done

a) A text corresponding to an approved work item is developed as necessary through the preparatory and/or committee stages until consensus is reached in the committee. (In case of doubt, approval by 2/3 of the P-members1 voting may be considered to constitute consensus). The text is submitted to all ISO member bodies for a five-month vote as a draft International Standard (DIS) and is approved if 2/3 of the P-members vote affirmatively and not more than ¼ of all votes cast are negative. A final text is prepared taking into account member body comments on the DIS and this text is issued for formal vote as a final draft International Standard (FDIS). If the text is again approved by 2/3 of the P-members voting and not more than ¼ of all votes cast are negative, the text is approved and the Central Secretariat publishes the International Standard.

b) A standard developed outside of an ISO committee is submitted for fast-track processing. The standard is submitted directly as an ISO/DIS for a five month vote and the same approval criteria as in a) apply. If the DIS vote is positive, a final text is again prepared and submitted as a FDIS. If the same approval criteria are met, the Central Secretariat publishes the International Standard.

c) A standard prepared by an international standardization body recognized by the ISO Council is submitted at the request of such a body for approval as a FDIS by the ISO member bodies. The voting period is five months. The text is approved if not more than ¼ of the votes received are negative.