ISO (the International Organisation for Standardisation) is an independent, non-governmental organisation, based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the world’s largest developer of voluntary international standards and facilitates world trade by providing common standards between nations.

ISO Standards are documents that provide requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. ISO appoints independent Accreditation Bodies for each region all around the world (the Australian/New Zealand Accreditation Body is JAS-ANZ). The Accreditation Bodies manage the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) whom ultimately certify or inspect organisations, people or products within their region. Therefore, businesses certified to ISO Standards within Australia and New Zealand operate Business Management Systems which are recognised and valid all around the world.