A standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for purpose.

Standards make an enormous contribution to most aspects of our lives. Usually, when products meet our expectations, we tend to take this for granted. We are generally unaware of the role that standards play in raising the bar for quality, safety, reliability, efficiency, and interchangeability, as well as providing such benefits at affordable cost. The standards used can be local, domestic, national, international or global. There are several standards institutions that develop and update standards on a regular basis.

Some of the main standard institutions are:

1. Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM)

2. International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

3. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

1. Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM)

The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) is the national standards body of Nepal. It is a public body under the Ministry of Industry. It is also the national inquiry point for the WTO (TBT and NTM) and the focal point of the National Authority for Disarmament Affairs (NADA).

NBSM was established with a vision

· Provide an efficient and timely service.

· Satisfy the customer’s need for quality goods and services.

Raise awareness in the field of standardization and metrology.

The 1974 government industrial policy recognized that economic development was only possible through industrial development in the country and industrial development is only possible through quality production in compliance with required standards. Therefore, it was felt that there is a burning need for an organization that takes care of activities related to standardization and quality control for qualitative improvement in industrial production and to increase productivity. This is how the National Standards Agency in Nepal was born.

Under the “Nepal Standards (Certification Marks) Act 2037”, the Nepal Council of Standards (NCS) was formed as the governing body for Quality, Standards, Testing and Metrology (QSTM) activities in Nepal and NBSM will act as the secretariat for this council.

NBSM Goals

· Harmonious development of standardization, marking and quality certification.

Harmonious development of scientific and legal metrology.

Facilitate the development of production and exports.

Main activities of NBSM

The main activities of NBSM are:

national Standard Formula,

Operate the product certification mark,

Provide testing facilities and technical services in the fields of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control (SMQC),

Work as a third-party guarantor agency,

Provide lot certification service and pre-shipment inspection, as well as laboratory recognition,

· Launch of consumer awareness programs on quality,

Provide laboratory services for the testing of various commodities,

Get involved in protecting the environment,

Legal metrology services and calibration of weighing and measuring devices.

2. International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards, founded in 1947. ISO has published more than 19,500 International Standards covering nearly all aspects of technology and business. Today, there are members from 164 countries and around 150 people work full-time for the Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.

ISO Code of Ethics

a) Committed and organized to face the challenges of the 21st century

As providers of solutions to business, government and society, ISO and its members recognize that it is imperative to conduct business in an ethical manner that is trusted by all parties involved in standardization and the general public.

b) Develop globally relevant International Standards in a fair, responsive and efficient manner

c) Promote the implementation of international standards and associated good conformity assessment practices

d) ISO integrity monitoring and ISO image protection

e) Take into account the development dimension

Benefits of International Standards

ISO helps harmonize the technical specifications of products and services, making the industry more efficient and removing barriers to international trade. Compliance with international standards helps reassure consumers that products are safe, efficient, and good for the environment.

Some of the important benefits of ISO are:

I. For business

· Cost savings: international standards help optimize operations and therefore improve results.

Increased Customer Satisfaction: International standards help improve quality, improve customer satisfaction, and increase sales.

Access to new markets: international standards help avoid trade barriers and open up global markets.

Increased market share: International standards help increase productivity and competitive advantage.

· Environmental benefits: International Standards help reduce negative impacts on the environment.

ii. for society

· When products and services conform to International Standards, consumers can trust that they are safe, reliable and of good quality.

· ISO supports consumer participation in standards development work through its Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO).

· The International Standards on the quality of air, water and soil, on gas and radiation emissions and the environmental aspects of products contribute to efforts to preserve the environment and the health of citizens.

iii. for the goverment

Expert opinion: By integrating an ISO standard into national regulation, the government can benefit from expert opinion without having to call their services directly.

Opening up world trade: By integrating ISO standards into national regulation, the government helps ensure that the requirements for imports and exports are the same around the world, thus facilitating the movement of goods, services and technologies of one country to another.

Development of ISO standards

An ISO standard is developed by a panel of experts, within a technical committee. Once the need for a standard has been established, these experts come together to discuss and develop standards as follows:

Popular ISO standards

Some of the popular ISO standards are:

ISO 9000 – Quality management

ISO 14000 – Environmental management

ISO 3166 – Country codes

ISO 22000 – Food safety management

ISO 26000 – Social responsibility

ISO 50001 – Energy management

ISO 31000 – Risk management

ISO 4217 – Currency codes

ISO 639 – Language codes

ISO 20121 – Sustainable events

ISO 27001 – Information security

3.American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Organized in 1898, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a world-recognized leader in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus international standards. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, improve safety, facilitate market and trade access, and build consumer confidence.

As used in ASTM, a standard is a document that has been developed and established within the principles of organizational consensus and that meets the requirements of ASTM procedures and regulations.

ASTM standards are used by individuals, businesses, and agencies around the world. Some of the important uses are:

Petroleum

Atmosphere

Sports and recreational equipment

ASTM Standards Development

– Anyone who identifies a need for standardization submits a written request to ASTM headquarters.

– ASTM staff research the idea to assess whether there is adequate interest in the field.

– The members of the working group prepare a standard draft.

– It is reviewed by its parent subcommittee through a letter vote.

– After the subcommittee approves the document, it is simultaneously presented to the main committee and all ASTM members.

– All negative votes cast during the voting process, which must include a written explanation of the voter’s objections, must be considered in their entirety before the document can be sent to the next level of the process.

– Final approval of a standard is contingent on the competency of the ASTM Standing Committee on Standards that proper procedures have been followed and due process achieved.

ASTM’s method of developing standards has been based on consensus without boundaries. The ASTM process ensures that interested individuals and organizations representing academia, industry, product users, and governments have an equal vote in determining the content of a standard. Participants are welcome from anywhere in the world. In addition, ASTM’s high-quality standards are responsive and relevant to the needs of the global marketplace.

ASTM has more than 30,000 members from more than 100 countries around the world who are producers, users, consumers, and general interest parties such as academics and government representatives. These members write ASTM standards through their service on one or more of ASTM’s more than 130 technical committees. It is these members who determine what standard development activities will be carried out. Anyone with an interest in the field covered by a committee’s scope is eligible to become a committee member.