The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is refusing to eject Russia and Belarus from membership, despite international sanctions and denunciation from Switzerland, ISO’s home country.
A source close to ISO has told Oxebridge that discussions were held “at the highest levels” within ISO, and that the organization’s Executive Committee rejected a call to even “temporarily suspend membership” for Russia and Belarus. A separate conversation was then had related to ISO continuing to sell its products in the sanctioned nations, for which the Executive also elected to “stay the course.”
The source reported that ISO’s Secretary-General, Sergio Mujica, was involved in the discussions, as was ISO’s new president, Ulrika Francke. Unlike Mujica, Franke’s role is largely symbolic, and she has no actual executive authority.
Russia is under massive international sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has been added to those sanctions for its support of that invasion.
ISO sells publications and books, branded as “standards”, in Russia and Belarus via its online webstore. Then, the Russian organization Rosstandart re-sells ISO standards on its own website. Cutting off the two nations would impact on ISO’s primary revenue stream. The arrangement may now be illegal, however, given restrictions on doing business with the Russian government.
ISO will continue to allow Russia and Belarus to participate in standards committees and other official activities. The source revealed that ISO feels its policy on “neutrality” protects it from prosecution for violating the EU sanctions. The EU, however, has strengthened sanctions in recent days, making ISO’s position less stable.
For the technical committee that writes the ISO 9000 family of standards, ISO/TC 176, Belarus is represented by BELST, and Russia by GOST R. The Russian body is also the official Secretariat for ISO/TC 20 for “Aerospace Terminology.”
ISO has been criticized for its ties to China, and willingness to overlook that country’s human rights abuses. Nearly every recent ISO President has had ties to China, including Zhang Xiaogang, John Walter, Eddy Njoroge, and current President Francke. In the past, ISO supported ISO President Xi Jinping, and held multiple official sessions in that country. China supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Oxebridge reached out to Nigel Croft of the “ISO 9001 Brand Integrity Group” to press them to honor the international sanctions, but Croft has not responded.
