The ISEAL Standard-Setting Code sets the rules for legitimate and effective standard-setting processes, thereby increasing the credibility of the resulting standard. It applies to all standards that promote improvement in social and environmental practices.
Credible Standard-Setting Processes
The Code focuses on the standards development process and on the structure and content of the standard. Key steps in standards development include:
Defining the objectives of the standard and justifying the need for its development
Identifying affected stakeholders and providing them with information about the Code development process and how they can participate
Having public consultations and ensuring that there is a balance of interests participating
Providing a variety of opportunities and tools (ie teleconferences, meetings, webinars) for stakeholders to participate
Ensuring a variety of opinions are given equal weight and providing for balanced decision-making
Making the standard and supporting documents publicly available and reviewing the standard on a regular basis
Requirements on the structure and content of the standard include:
Having clearly defined objectives and ensuring that the requirements in the standard contribute directly to achieving those objectives
Ensuring the content of the standard is clear and unambiguous, and that it is relevant to the market and builds on regulatory requirements
Balancing the need to adapt the standard so that it is locally applicable with the desire for global consistency in its interpretation
Working to harmonise standards where their content or scope overlap
Comments and Contact
The current version 5.0 of the Standard-Setting Code was approved by the ISEAL Board in January 2010 following a year long consultation process.
ISEAL welcomes comments on the Standard-Setting Code at any time. Comments will be incorporated into the next review process in 2013. Please submit comments using the comment submission form by email to consultation [at] isealalliance [dot] org or by mail to the ISEAL Alliance offices.