DEVCO emphasizes funding, information, training

2000-09-27

Funding, information and training for standardization efforts in developing countries were the key themes of a recent meeting of the International Organization for Standardization's committee on developing country matters (ISO/DEVCO).

Funding, information and training for standardization efforts in developing countries were the key themes of a recent meeting of the International Organization for Standardization's committee on developing country matters (ISO/DEVCO).

The committee, which met September 27, 2000 in Milan, Italy, provides a forum for ISO members to discuss the needs of developing countries and to provide them with standards-related technical assistance. Canada was represented by an eight-member delegation that included Linda Lusby, chair of the Standards Council of Canada.

At the meeting, DEVCO members voted to continue a series of training seminars on ISO 9000, ISO 14000, the World Trade Organization's (WTO) agreement on technical barriers to trade, conformity assessment and laboratory upgrading, and to consider developing additional seminars in other subjects.

Taking part in international meetings can be an expensive proposition for representatives of a developing country. The DEVCO meeting revealed that at least one ISO technical committee has been taking steps to resolve this problem. The Canadian secretary of TC 207, the committee responsible for the ISO 14000 series of environmental management standards, has asked members to contribute funds to support developing country participation.

Using the Internet may help to reduce the expense of taking part in international standardization, but many countries don't have the necessary systems in place. DEVCO plans to work with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to help countries in the Mediterranean and the Horn of Africa to upgrade their communications technology infrastructure.

DEVCO also reiterated its intention to work closely with ISO's committee on conformity assessment (CASCO), the WTO and other organizations concerned with the needs of developing countries.

For more information:

• Draft Minutes of the 34th meeting of the ISO committee on developing country matters (DEVCO), September 27, 2000, Milan, Italy (Adobe PDF file)
• ISO web site
• Standards Council staff contact: Leanne Wright, tel. (613) 238-3222, ext. 465; e-mail [email protected].