Significance of World Standards Day

World Standards Day, also known as International Standards Day, is observed globally every year on October 14. This day aims to create awareness about the importance of standardization to the global economy among the consumers, regulators and industry.

Standards are important for all of us and we were all raised with this concept. This date was chosen to mark the very first meeting of delegates in 1956 from 25 countries in London who decided to design an international organization for facilitating standardization.

Around the globe, various activities are chosen by national bodies to commemorate the date.

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

The International Organization for

Standards was created in 1947 but this day was first celebrated in 1970. Faruk Sunter, the President of IES in the year 1970, formally inaugurated the proceedings of World Standards Day in the year 1970.

The day honours the efforts of the thousands of experts who develop voluntary standards within standards development organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

The aim of World Standards Day is to raise awareness among regulators, industry and consumers as to the importance of standardization to the

global economy. GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS

Around the globe, various activities are chosen by national standards bodies and intergovernmental organizations to commemorate the date.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Canada’s national accreditation body, celebrates World Standards Day together with the international community by observing the day near the dates of the international observance. In 2012 SCC celebrated World Standards Day on Friday, 12 October.

The World Trade Organization, for the celebration of World Standards Day, 14 October 2020, discussed the TBT Committee’s Six Principles for the development of international standards. The United States holds an annual U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day.