ISO Full Form, Establishment Year and Headquarters

ISO full form is the International Organization for Standardization. However, according to ISO’s official explanation, “ISO” is not actually an acronym. The name “ISO” is derived from the Greek word isos, meaning “equal.” This reflects the organization’s mission to develop international standards that promote consistency, fairness and compatibility worldwide.

The organization’s founders deliberately chose “ISO” as a universal short name so that it would be the same in every country. This was important because the organization’s full name “International Organization for Standardization” differs by language. 

For example, in French, this organization is called “Organisation internationale de normalisation.” If initials were used, it would be “IOS” in English and “OIN” in French. So, a single, language-independent name ISO was selected instead.

What is ISO Full Form?

ISO full form is International Organization for Standardization. It is an independent, non-government international standard development organization. It is made up of national standards organizations from 175 countries, including the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China, France, Canada, Australia and Brazil. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India’s national standards organization, is a member of ISO. It is regarded as one of the founding members of the ISO.

BIS itself was formally established in the year of 1986, way after the ISO was established. However, its predecessor Indian Standards Institution (ISI) represented India at the time of formation of ISO in 1947. The requirements for ISO membership are provided in Article 3 of the ISO Statutes. The ISO headquarters are situated in Vernier - a municipality in Switzerland.  

Types of ISO Certificates

There are several types of ISO certificates. Each certificate showcases a company’s commitment to international standards as well as quality management. Below, we have provided you with a list of popular ISO certifications.:

• ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System - QMS): This certification is perhaps the most popular type of ISO certification. Companies possessing this certification showcase consistent product/service quality and customer satisfaction.

• ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management): This certification helps the organizations to focus on improving environmental performance. It helps to build stakeholder interest. It showcases that the company is making efforts to reduce environmental harm. 

• ISO 22000 (Food Safety): It implies that the company manages risk in the food chain in a proactive manner.

• ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety): This certification helps the companies to improve workplace safety. It encourages them to systematically assess hazards and implement risk control measures. Companies possessing this particular certification of ISO demonstrate commitment to worker health, safety and wellbeing.

• ISO 27001:2022 (Information Security): It helps the companies to protect their information assets. It demonstrates that the companies make measures to manage data security and prevent breaches. ISO 27001:2022 is the world's most popular standard for information security management.

Conclusion

ISO full form is International Organization for Standardization. It was founded in 1947, and comprises national standards organizations of various countries. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is a founding member of ISO. Although BIS was formally established later in 1986, its predecessor ISI represented India during ISO’s formation. There are various ISO certifications, such as ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System - QMS), ISO 22000 (Food Safety), ISO 27001:2022 (Information Security) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management). In India, the ISO certificates are issued by accredited private Certification Bodies (CBs).

If you need assistance in ISO Certification in India, you can get in touch with our ISO consultants at Registrationwala.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is ISO full form?

A. ISO full form is International Organization for Standardization.

Q2. What is ISO certification full form?

A. ISO certification full form is International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. It is a third-party validation that confirms that a company’s processes, products or services meet the quality/safety/efficiency requirements set by ISO.

Q3. Which authority issues ISO certification in India?

A. In India, there is no single ISO certification-issuing authority. Instead, there are several accredited private Certification Bodies (CBs) authorized to issue the ISO certification to qualifying companies. 

Q4. When was ISO established?

A. It was established on 23 February, 1947.

Q5. Which ISO certification is best?

A. There are various types of ISO certifications. Each certification has its own significance. The “best” ISO certification depends on what your business goals are. For quality and general management, ISO 9001 is widely considered the best. For sustainability and environmental management, ISO 14001 is regarded as the best. 

Q6. Where are ISO headquarters?

A. ISO headquarters are located in Vernier, Switzerland.

Q7. Is BIS a founding member of ISO?

A. Yes, BIS is a founding member of ISO. Although BIS was formally established later in 1986, its predecessor, i.e., the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), represented India at the formation of the ISO in the year of 1947.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.