Standards and International Trade

Using standards to improve your global trading prospects

The global business landscape is constantly evolving and staying on top of geopolitical, technological and cultural change is a challenge for every business with international interests. A strategic approach, using international standards, enables businesses to capitalize on the benefits of international trade, while strengthening business operations, protecting brand reputation and managing change.

International standards from ISO and IEC are a cornerstone of the WTO rules-based trading system. They are adopted through BSI as British Standards to create a common language for trading partners: they deliver simpler market access globally. The majority of British Standards are international, actively worked on by UK stakeholders, helping to equip all businesses, including SMEs, for international trade.

International standards are a vital tool in ensuring products and services are interchangeable and compatible across borders, removing barriers to trade, reducing production and supply chain costs and building confidence in business services and protecting consumers.

They can provide the guidance and strategic direction that enable organizations of all sizes to perform better, manage risk and support sustainable growth in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

International standards act as a benchmark of best practice, providing a considerable advantage over competitors when tendering for business. By using international standards, businesses can improve the prospects of trading successfully overseas and increase global sales by providing reassurance on provenance, quality and health and safety.

For the wider economy and society, the effect of standards on facilitating free trade can be transformative. It brings greater access to higher-quality, lower-priced goods, drives competitiveness, and fuels economic growth and job creation.

Standards also support transparency and accountability for producers and consumers, both significant issues for industries undergoing rapid change driven by the fourth industrial revolution.

Below are some of the key standards for organizations already trading globally or planning to expand into overseas markets:

ISO 9001 - Quality Management

This standard specifies requirements to implement a quality management system (QMS) that is tailored to individual business needs and meets regulatory requirements worldwide.

It provides a globally recognized language of quality and shows a commitment to excellence. Underpinned by a QMS, businesses can improve the quality of their management systems and goods and improve their prospects of gaining new customers worldwide.

Certification instils confidence in consumers and partners. As well as improving product quality and compatibility, it simplifies internal procedures, improves efficiency and reduces costs. It helps to build trust and establishes the credibility of your brand.

 

ISO 14001 - Environmental Management

ISO 14001 helps organizations to embed a culture of sustainability that meets the high standards that consumers increasingly expect from businesses they their buy goods and services from. It also ensures legal and regulatory compliance.

 

ISO 26000 - Guidance on Social Responsibility

ISO 26000 provides guidance in implementing a social responsibility strategy, enabling an organization to fulfil policy commitments and reassure stakeholders it operates in a socially responsible way.

 

ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety & ISO 45003 - Psychological Health and Safety

ISO 45001 is the standard for implementing the right occupational health and safety (OH&S) policy and practices. ISO 45003 focuses on psychological health in the workplace. Certification demonstrates that your organizations cares about the working conditions of employees and partners, bolstering brand reputation.

 

ISO 22301 - Business continuity

ISO 22301 is the international standard for business continuity management. It provides a system for responding to unexpected situations, helping to mitigate potential loss of revenue and reputational damage.

 

ISO 27001 - Information security

ISO 27001 offers a robust methodology for identifying cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities so risks can be managed and incidents kept under control. It also ensures sensitive data and critical assets are protected, increasing trust in your business.

 

ISO 44001 - Collaborative Business relationships

ISO 44001 provides a framework for to help establish collaborative partnerships. Such partnerships can deliver increased innovation, improved cost management, and better risk mitigation. It also shows a commitment to transparency and good governance.

BSI working internationally

A large number of the world’s most used international standards started out as British Standards (BS), like quality and environmental management systems, asset and risk management, antibribery and information security. We export our standards to the world, driving better business, securing innovation and creating direct competitive advantage; all helping to deliver an additional £6.1bn of exports per year.

With BSOL anyone in your organization that needs access to multiple standards can access them. You can subscribe to our pre-built modules or build a personalized standards collection, saving you money, reducing risk within your organization and instilling trust with your clients.