What is the primary function of standards organisations?

The primary function of standards organisations is to set, manage, and monitor standards. These organisations play a crucial role in ensuring consistency, safety, quality, and interoperability across various industries and sectors by developing guidelines and specifications that members and other stakeholders can adhere to. This helps in fostering confidence in products and services, facilitating international trade, and enhancing consumer protection.

By establishing clear standards, these organisations enable businesses to create products that meet specific criteria, ensuring that consumers can trust their safety and quality. They also help in reducing misunderstandings and disputes between parties by providing a common framework that all participants can reference. Moreover, these organisations continuously monitor and update standards to reflect changes in technology, environmental concerns, and consumer needs, ensuring relevance and efficacy.

In contrast, developing products for specific industries involves a more focused approach at the product level rather than standard-setting across broader sectors. Establishing prices for goods and services is generally outside the purview of standards organisations, as pricing is influenced by market dynamics, competition, and other factors. Conducting market research and analysis is typically a separate function that may inform the development of standards but is not a primary focus of standards organisations themselves.