The Australian Government is now operating in line with Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Australia’s standards and conformance infrastructure

Australia’s standards and conformance infrastructure gives businesses and consumers confidence in the goods and services they are developing, using or trading.

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. 

National Measurement Institute (NMI)

NMI is responsible for developing and maintaining Australia’s measurement system.
Read about NMI’s measurement standards

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)

NATA is an independent, not-for-profit national accreditor of laboratories and testing facilities.
Learn about NATA

Standards Australia

Standards Australia is an independent, not-for-profit national standards development body.
Learn about Standards Australia

Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ)

JAS-ANZ is a bi-national government accreditor of conformity assessment bodies who inspect organisations, products and people.
Learn about JAS-ANZ

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. 

More information

Find standards and conformance summary information for personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitisers
Learn how uniform standards, regulation and conformity assessment procedures reduce barriers to trade
We are increasing Australia's influence on international standards for critical technology