ISO 26000 is intended to assist in ushering companies, government agencies, and other organizations toward a more sustainable global economy by establishing common guidance on social responsibility concepts, definitions, and methods of evaluation.
The FDIS has been released after a processing period approved by the multi-stakeholder ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility (ISO/WG SR) at its 8th plenary meeting on May 17-21, 2010. The Working Group is made up of experts from 99 ISO member countries including the United States, plus 42 participating liaison organizations including inter-governmental and non-governmental associations representing business, industry, society, and consumers. These organizations do not have voting rights, but have actively and directly participated in developing ISO 26000 and commenting on the document.
Prior to the plenary meeting, the WG received 2,650 comments from ISO members and liaison organizations during the voting process. Key topics identified in these comments were addressed at the plenary to increase the level of consensus and the quality of the document.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO SR is administered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). In this capacity, ASQ staff provides administrative facilitation for all aspects of the TAG's work.
For more information, contact Steven P. Cornish, ANSI senior director for international policy ([email protected]).
To track the development history of ISO 26000, see these related ANSI news items:
ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility is Approved for Release as Final Draft International Standard (May 27, 2010)
ISO Confirms International Standard on Social Responsibility as Final Draft (March 3, 2010)
ISO Releases Draft International Standard on Social Responsibility (September 14, 2009)
ISO Social Responsibility Working Group Makes Strides at Seventh Plenary (June 11, 2009)
ISO Social Responsibility Working Group Leaders Report Preliminary Voting Results on ISO Committee Draft 26000 (March 18, 2009)
U.S. Technical Advisory Group Reaches Consensus National Position on Draft ISO Standard on Social Responsibility (March 11, 2009)
U.S. Input Sought for Draft ISO Standard on Social Responsibility (December 23, 2008)