Australia’s infrastructure spans trade measurement, standards and accrediting bodies. Together they help facilitate trade and ensure the reliability of products, services and systems.
Standards and conformance bodies
We manage the Australian Government’s relationship with the following bodies. These bodies also represent Australia at:
- the International Organization for Standardization
- the International Accreditation Forum
- other international forums.
Standards and conformance system
These bodies each have unique roles.
Read about the essential foundations of Australia's standards and conformance infrastructure and how they contribute. This guide places our infrastructure in the regional and international framework.
Using international standards in policy and regulation
The government has committed to use trusted international standards first, where appropriate. This aligns with Australia’s obligations under the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement.
Aligning with international standards:
- improves Australian access to overseas markets
- reduces costs and delays for businesses
- increases the supply of reliable products into the Australian market.
This best practice guide helps policy officers assess which standards or risk assessments to use to support their policy and programs.
Memoranda of Understandings
The government has had Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in place with Standards Australia and NATA since 1988. The MoUs frame the government's policy relationship with the organisations.