Government

What role do standards play in government?

Using standards benefits government organizations in many ways, from streamlining their own processes to helping build alternative approaches to regulation.

Government is keen to reduce red tape for both the private and public sectors. A key way to do this is to have regulators and their inspectors concentrate their efforts on those organizations who present the highest risk – rather than putting the burden on everyone, as has often been the case in the past.

This is where standards come in. Not to replace regulations, but to complement them. Standards are shaped by best practice, so if an organization is using them, it’s probably being well managed. This makes it easier for regulators to decide where to focus their attention. Standards are the foundation on which a risk-based approach to regulation can be built.

We work closely with the UK government in many areas. Its representatives participate in our technical committees along with those from business, academia and consumer groups. Together, we make sure that products, processes, new technologies and services incorporate the knowledge and needs of all interested parties.

Using our standards also helps the government’s own processes become more efficient, for example eliminating waste and achieving maximum value for money in its procurement processes.

Finally, standards help government departments encourage the growth of groundbreaking new products and industries – by providing dependable knowledge and standardization so that new technologies can work seamlessly with existing technologies.