What is ISO?

ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental organisation representing the National Standard Institutes of over 150 countries. They develop and publish international standards in response to the needs of the international market and global expert opinions.

In Australia, the standards that are most common for certification are:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems;
• ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management;
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems;
• ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management;
• ISO 31000 – Risk Management; and,
• ISO 27001 – Information Security.

ISO ensures products and services are of a high quality and showcases the credibility of businesses to consumers. Therefore, some business contracts and insurance agreements may also require evidence of certification.

There are two steps to certification, first of all ensuring your systems meet ISO compliance standards and second, an external audit.