Annual performance and customer satisfaction survey
Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual web-based survey which was conducted by Andrew Fletcher Consulting. The survey closed on 2 March 2010 and the responses are now being analysed.
We will publish the results in Touchstone once they are available.
Invitation to attend Standards Australia consultation session – 18 March 2010 in Wellington
Standards Australia is holding an information session, hosted by Standards New Zealand regarding the current Consultation paper 'Project Prioritisation Criteria and Process'. (www.standards.org.au/cat.asp?catid=166)
The consultation paper sets out the prioritisation criteria and process for Standards Australia funded projects (see article below Standards Australia seeking stakeholder input: Prioritising and selecting projects).
Details regarding the consultation paper will be discussed at the information session. The session will also provide you with an opportunity to raise any other issues with Colin Blair, Acting Chief Executive of Standards Australia.
The details for this special consultation session are:
When: Thursday 18 March 2010
Time: 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Where: Standards New Zealand, Level 10, 155 The Terrace, Wellington
Please RSVP to Sarah LeGros on (04) 498 5943 or sarah.legros@standards.co.nz to confirm your attendance.
Standards Australia seeking stakeholder input: Prioritising and selecting projects
Standards Australia will continue to direct its resources to the core function of Standards development. To support the fair and equitable selection of activities and development projects to be resourced by Standards Australia, a clear and agreed prioritisation and selection framework is required. A robust framework will also ensure Standards Australia resources are allocated where they can deliver greatest benefit to the community and in a manner that allows Standards Australia to operate on a sustainable basis.
A Discussion Paper outlining a proposed framework has been developed for stakeholder review with approval from Standards Australia's Standards Development Committee (SDC). The SDC is a Committee of the Board, made up of public and private representation, focused on process approval of Australian Standards.
The Discussion Paper provides an overview of the proposed criteria and process for the submission, assessment, prioritisation and selection of project proposals to be resourced by Standards Australia.
The proposed process and criteria will apply to the assessment of requests for support for activities and projects including:
- new or revised Australian Standards or joint AS/NZS Standards;
- Australian or joint adoptions of international Standards;
- new or revised handbooks or other publications;
- Australian involvement in international Standards development; and
- work secretariat support for ongoing oversight of national schemes.
Prioritisation and selection of projects will be determined by the SDC using the framework outlined in the Paper.
Standards Australia is seeking stakeholder feedback on the Discussion Paper. Comments are to be submitted to prioritisation@standards.org.au by Friday, 26 March 2010.
View the Discussion Paper on the Standards Australia website. (www.standards.org.au/cat.asp?catid=166)
The Collaborative pathway for Standards development remains in place offering stakeholders choice in resourcing levels and project timeframes. Collaborative projects will be subject to project proposal, assessment criteria and Net Benefit requirements but will not be prioritised and resourced as part of the twice yearly assessment and prioritisation process.
The project prioritisation and selection process is expected to be in place by 30 June 2010.
International climate Standards can promote trade
Support for ISO's development of international Standards to tackle climate change has come in a recent speech by Ewa Björling, Swedish Minister for Trade. Ewa was speaking at a conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on 'Climate change, trade and standardisation – In a development perspective', organised by the Swedish Standards Institute.
'The general view that international Standards can promote trade is empirically supported,' says Ewa. 'The OECD, among others, has shown that about 80% of all trade is affected by Standards. Consequently, it should be more efficient if we have one internationally agreed Standard, rather than many differing Standards.'
'These facts can also be applied to international climate Standards. International Standards in the climate area should in the same way be used as a 'common language', and in that way act as a catalyst for trade.'
'Climate Standards could help to spread climate-friendly knowledge and technology, support innovation, enhance knowledge in climate-friendly technology, increase market opportunities, and, in the long run, boost economic growth and welfare.'
Ewa referred to the 'explosion' of carbon-related product and service activities in the marketplace with some 200 initiatives worldwide for different types of climate labelling and climate declaration schemes, initiated by government agencies, multinational and national corporations, businesses, and non-governmental organisations.
The problem, says Ewa, was how to ensure that this multiplication of schemes did not create technical barriers to trade, particularly for developing countries and for small and medium-sized enterprises.
'The harmonisation of existing national Standards, certification and labelling schemes, or the development of new international schemes, can contribute to avoiding unnecessary trade restrictions,' says Ewa. 'Thus, international Standards can be thought of as providing a common language for traders. The benefits that are derived are significant. International Standards facilitate trade and improve efficiency in production.'
Ewa concluded by saying that the Swedish Government intended to support developing countries that wish to participate in the development of the ISO Standard on carbon footprints of products – the future ISO 14067.
ISO 14067 will complement the already published Standards ISO 14064 and ISO 14065, which provide an internationally agreed framework for measuring greenhouse gas emissions, verifying claims made about them, and accrediting the bodies which carry out such activities.
Overall, ISO has more than 500 international Standards directly related to environmental subjects and many more that can help in reducing environmental impacts. Offering business, government, and society a complete portfolio of practical tools for tackling environmental challenges, they range from Standards for sampling, testing, and analytical methods, through environmental management and environmental aspects of product design, to ship recycling.
Other examples of ISO Standards that can help to reduce the effects of climate change include the ISO 14000 family of Standards for environmental management, which is firmly established as the global benchmark for good practice in this area. Up to the end of December 2008, more than 188 800 ISO 14001 certificates of conformity had been issued to private and public sector organisations in 155 countries and economies.
ISO's proactive stance on energy and climate change matters has resulted in initiating ISO work on energy management systems (the future ISO 50001) and examining new opportunities in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
→ Buy ISO 14064-1:2006 Greenhouse gases – Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals
→ Buy ISO 14064-2:2006 Greenhouse gases – Part 2: Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements
→ ISO 14064-3:2006 Greenhouse gases – Part 3: Specification with guidance for the validation and verification of greenhouse gas assertions
→ ISO 14065:2007 Greenhouse gases – Requirements for greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition
Related Touchstone article