ISO Fo c u s The Magazine of the International Organization for Standardization Volume 2, No. 9, September 2005, ISSN 1729-8709 • Gathering of standard makers • World Trade Report 2005 highlights ISO’s key role ISO Fo c u s The Magazine of the International Organization for Standardization Volume 2, No. 9, September 2005, ISSN 1729-8709 Contents 1 Comment Ziva Patir, ISO Vice-President (technical management), Securing the safety of our society 2 World Scene Highlights of events from around the world 3 ISO Scene Highlights of news and developments from ISO members • Gathering of standard makers 4 Guest View • World Trade Report 2005 highlights ISO’s key role Tamotsu Nomakuchi, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation ISO Focus is published 11 times 7 Main Focus a year (single issue : July-August). It is available in English. Annual subscription 158 Swiss Francs d o Individual copies 16 Swiss Francs Standar s for a safer w rld Publisher Central Secretariat of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 1, rue de Varembé CH-1211 Genève 20 Switzerland Telephone + 41 22 749 01 11 Fax + 41 22 733 34 30 E-mail [email protected] • World Standards Day – Standards for a safer world Web www.iso.org • Advisory Group on security Manager : Anke Varcin • Improved ISO/IEC 17799 heralds new series on information Editor : Elizabeth Gasiorowski-Denis security management systems • Biometrics : global challenges and customer needs Artwork : Pascal Krieger and Pierre Granier • Container security seals ISO Update : Dominique Chevaux • Safer ships : lifesaving and fire protection at sea Subscription enquiries : Sonia Rosas • Safe machine operations ISO Central Secretariat • High ambitions for a new robot safety standard Telephone + 41 22 749 03 36 • Providing fire containment standards for today and tomorrow Fax + 41 22 749 09 47 • Image safety – new biological risks in the IT age E-mail [email protected] • Consumers depend on safety standards • Protecting vital sites with new clean fire extinguishing systems © ISO, 2005. All rights reserved. • Management of food safety in the supply chain The contents of ISO Focus are copyright • Managing security in the whole supply chain and may not, whether in whole or in part, be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 38 Developments and Initiatives system or transmitted in any form or • Putting Passion into Practice – the Standard Makers’ third ISO by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without Conference written permission of the Editor. 43 New this month ISSN 1729-8709 • World Trade Report 2005 highlights ISO’s key role Printed in Switzerland • ISO 9000 and leading agricultural seed researcher and producer Cover photo : Marc Elder, Australia. 45 Coming up ISO Focus September 2005 Comment Securing the safety of our society ecurity is understood as the antidote have also expanded to the management System enables. It is encouraging to note of danger, risk, damage, injury or of security or the tools deployed globally that an extensive array of security-relat- Sdeath – whether they result from to ensure it, such as biometrics or secur- ed standards exist or are under develop- human negligence or violence, industrial ing the global supply chain. In this way, ment, thanks to the strong partnership activities or from natural disasters – and we can contribute to improving the level between government and inter-govern- it implies that dire measures need to be of security worldwide and disseminate mental organizations on the one side, and taken in order to prevent or reduce the good practices, whilst avoiding creating the private sector on the other. occurrence of such threats. new technical barriers to trade. So as we think about standards On 11 September 2001, the world for security, we must consider our strate- Standards for a safer world experienced a tremendous “ wake-up “ At ISO, we have both gic plan, whose vision is to bring a pos- call ”. It has today become clear that itive contribution to sustainable devel- there must be a change in the way secu- an obligation and a tool opment, and implies making a balance rity issues are dealt with, including the to contribute effectively between our present needs and the well need for an evolution of the respective to the global effort being of future generations. By opti- roles of government, the private sector mizing resources and, above all, using and society, as well as for the behav- of providing greater International Standards, we will be in a iour of citizens. security to society.” position to contribute effectively to glo- While acts of terrorism have bal security efforts and achieve a safer drawn the world’s attention to counter- Our Advisory Group on Securi- and more secure world for all people, ing human malevolence, security is not ty has recently submitted its final report from all walks of life in society – today restricted to this aspect ; it addresses a with 15 recommendations for implemen- and tomorrow. wide spectrum of measures to help prevent tation. These recommendations provide One thing has become very clear. the daily occurrence of injuries, caused a strategic and systematic approach that We need to continue working together by everything from physical accidents will allow us to respond effectively to in order to create a safer world. At ISO, at home, at work or in transportation to the evolving needs of society. we have both an obligation and a tool to aggressions, environmental deteriora- Moreover, our stakeholders expect contribute effectively to the global effort tion or hazardous activities, from unsafe standards, where they are needed, to of providing greater security to society. toys for children to the safety in cars as be delivered in a matter of months, not Let us meet the challenge together. well as other threats related to the evo- years. The need for effective solutions lution of society. With the pervasiveness at short notice requires the use of exist- of ICT and our growing dependence on ing products and processes and adapting their reliable operation, IT security has them for security purposes. For exam- also become a major concern. ple, our Advisory Group on Security The need for International Stand- identified many existing International ards has grown with the globalization Standards for products and test methods and broadening of the concern for secu- that could be used in relation to securi- rity and of the scope of standardization ty. There is also an opportunity to adapt itself. ISO, the IEC and ITU have decid- existing products and technologies from ed to devote this year’s World Standards the Defense Industry for civilian secu- Day to the theme, “ Standards for a saf- rity solutions. er world ”. As highlighted in the WSD Finally, with the development of message on page 7, the event is designed trade and the fact that both natural dis- to raise awareness to the extent of this asters and violence know no frontier, contribution, where it impacts and the international solidarity and collabora- scale of its importance. tion is indispensable. Developing and Ziva Patir Indeed, in ISO, we are not only still implementing internationally accepted ISO Vice-President (technical actively producing and updating stand- standards for security requires, more than management) and Director-General, ards related to the safety of consumer ever, the involvement of the world com- Standards Institution of Israel products or industrial equipment, but we munity : this is precisely what the ISO ISO Focus September 2005 1 World Scene Pacific Area Standards work in standardization at culture, from forest manage- with AIDMO, on the provision Congress national, regional and interna- ment to food safety, from the of training services and material tional levels. promotion of the use of the ISO to the Arab region in relation to The 28 th meeting of the Pacific The meeting was hosted by 14000 series to consumer infor- the promotion of standardization. Area Standards Congress mation and protection. (PASC), a forum to strengthen Japanese Industrial Standards international standardization Committee (JISC), ISO member Cooperation within programmes for countries in the for the country. Excellence in education EuroAsian countries Asia-Pacific region, was held in supported by ISO Nagoya, Japan, between 21 and Codex Alimentarius standards 23 June 2005. Commission addresses The Arab Academy in Alexan- ISO President Masami Tanaka relations with ISO dria, in collaboration with EOS, attended the event, and provided The Codex Alimentarius Com- the Egyptian member of ISO, an update on ISO’s progress mission held its 28 th session in organized on 27-29 June a towards Horizon 2010, the ISO Rome from 4 to 9 July 2005. regional conference entitled Code of Ethics, the ISO Five It had explicitly on its agenda “ Quality in education : the path th Year Action Plan for Develop- the issue of its relations with to excellence ”. Attended by The 27 meeting of the the ing Countries, and the ISO ISO. Delegates recognized and over 250 participants from 10 Euro-Asian Council for Stand- Policy of Global Relevance. welcomed the expanding countries, it focused on examples ardization, Metrology and Certi- collaboration and the need for and modalities for implement- fication (EASC), an intergovern- close coordination. ing quality management in mental body of the Common- educational institutions. wealth of Independence States ISO Secretary-General, Alan (CIS), was held in Chisinau, the Bryden, presented the broadening Indeed, education is both a key