Standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures play a vital role in international commerce and affect on average around 65% of global imports; although in some highly regulated sectors such as agri-food this figure can be almost 100%. Standards have long provided for interoperability, reduced transaction costs and are a signal of quality to global consumers and regulators alike.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), estimated in a study from 2022 that standards contribute £5.4bn per year to the value of UK exports and that companies using standards in a range of sectors see the biggest increase in revenue generated through exports.
As the complexity of the global regulatory environment has intensified, standards now also increasingly support companies in meeting requirements linked to their broader supply chains including ESG and due diligence reporting. Examples include BSI’s recently developed standard on the prevention of modern slavery, BS 25700, which will form the basis of a future ISO standard.
As the UK’s National Standards Body, BSI plays a key role in supporting UK companies to access global markets through influencing the content of international and European regional standards. This influence explains why many of the world’s leading international standards from management system standards to standards on how to calculate embodied carbon emissions in products began life in the UK.
How we support the UK’s commitments to the World Trade Organization
International standards, such as those developed in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), are recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as playing an essential role in removing obstacles to global trade, and the WTO’s Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) strongly encourages WTO members to use them as a basis for technical regulation. Standards are essential in other areas of the WTO’s vast remit too, from supporting the implementation of the recently finalised e-commerce plurilateral agreement to driving the de-carbonization of the global production of iron and steel.
BSI supports the UK government in meeting its WTO commitments through accepting and complying with Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement, the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards. This Code sets out important principles of non-discrimination, openness and transparency and adherence to this Code is a requirement of BSI’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government. Three key pillars of BSI’s commitments under the Annex is to publish its full work programme, to allow a period of public enquiry on all draft standards and to ensure that, once published, standards undergo regular review.
Within the UK, BSI adopts all international standards as British Standards as part of its international first policy unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. This explains why today, over 95% of British Standards in the UK’s national standards catalogue are comprised either of international or European standards. This helps to ensure that the standards we use in the UK, are to the largest extent possible, the same as those used across the world, another factor in reducing the cost of exporting.
We also support companies from outside the UK looking for information on the use of standards to place products and services on the UK market and is the UK’s recognized WTO TBT Enquiry Point for standards.
Shaping global standards that create value for the UK and beyond
The WTO encourages its members to play an active role in the development of international standards. BSI, as a founding member of the WTO recognised international standards bodies of ISO and IEC as well as the associated European regional standards bodies of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) carries long-standing influence at all levels in this integrated system of international standards contributing to forging global best practice. BSI is ranked in the top five of participating members in ISO technical committees and leads important international work from sustainable finance to quantum technologies.
BSI also carries out important technical assistance work with developing countries to broaden the adoption of international standards and participation in international standards work. Important examples are the work BSI does with the support of the UK government through the Standards Partnership and the Commonwealth Standards Network.
Ensuring that all voices are heard in standards development
UK stakeholder voices are essential in the development of international standards, ensuring they reflect the needs and perspectives of all sectors. BSI facilitates this representation, helping diverse interests participate in national committees, including committees mirroring European and international standardization work, guided by the governance principles set out in BS 0.
We make sure that all those who may be impacted by a standard have a say, not just businesses, but also charities, NGOs, consumers, regulators, trading standards authorities and academia. By creating an environment where all concerned stakeholders can shape the UK’s position on European and international standards, we ensure that, once adopted, the standards work for everyone they impact.
Supporting post-Brexit UK trade policy
Since the UK’s exit from the EU, we’ve played an active role in supporting the development of the UK’s sovereign trade policy, working closely with the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, other government departments and the devolved nations to fully leverage the role of standards and the broader quality infrastructure in the implementation of trade policy to ensure benefits for the UK in terms of competitiveness, productivity, employment and growth.
When it comes to the negotiation of new UK trade agreements, we support government in striking ambitious deals that encourage trading partners to broaden the use and adoption of international standards. This increases market access opportunities for UK companies while ensuring that the UK’s unique model of standards and regulation, including the use of designated standards, is not undermined. These deals have led to increased bilateral cooperation between BSI and our counterpart national standards bodies.
The role of standards in the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU
The UK’s departure from the EU has undeniably led to increased trade friction and cost, particularly for UK companies placing products on the EU market. Against this backdrop, BSI has maintained its memberships of the European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs), CEN, CENELEC and ETSI post Brexit. Helping to keep trade friction and costs for business lower than would otherwise be the case and providing a means for continued UK influence over the technical specifications which are essential for market access in the EU.
The fact that the UK and EU largely use the same technical standards to underpin product regulations helps to facilitate trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, can provide support to future regulatory cooperation under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and, in the longer term, may help pave the way for more ambitious mutual recognition agreements including in the area of conformity assessment. BSI is an active member of the UK TCA Domestic Advisory Group which advises the UK government on how to optimize the UK’s trading relationship with the EU.
