Standards are documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. Standards thus contribute to making life simpler, and to increasing the reliability and effectiveness of the goods and services we use.
The list contains the major International , Regional, and National standards institutes found on the web.
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 100 countries, one from each country. ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947. The mission of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services,and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity. ISO's work results in international agreements which are published as International Standards. (For a list of some ISO/CCITT standards click here ).
International Electrotechnical Commission
The object of the Commission is to promote international co-operation on all questions of standardization and related matters in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering and thus to promote international understanding. The IEC is composed of National Committees, of which there are 49 at present, representing all the industrial countries in the world.
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Electronics Standards Association
VESA is the international organization that sets and supports industry-wide interface standards for the PC, workstation, and other computing environments. VESA promotes and develops timely, relevant and open standards for the electronics industry, ensuring interoperability and encouraging innovation and market growth.
International Telecommunication Union
The ITU is an intergovernmental organization, within which the public and private sectors cooperate for the development of telecommunications. The ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the frequency spectrum as well as the use of the geostationary-satellite orbit, within which countries adopt their national legislation. It also develops standards to facilitate the interconnection of telecommunication systems on a worldwide scale regardless of the type of technology used.
The Internet Engineering Task Force
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is the protocol engineering and development arm of the Internet. The IETF is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual. The actual technical work of the IETF is done in its working groups, which are organized by topic into several areas (e.g., routing, network management, security, etc.). Much of the work is handled via mailing lists, however, the IETF also holds meetings three times per year. Chairs and presenters might find it helpful to read the instructions for sessions and plenaries. First-time attendees might find it helpful to read The Tao of IETF.
United National Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization
Its constitution was adopted by the London Conference in November 1945, and entered into effect on 4 November 1946 when 20 states had deposited instruments of acceptance. It currently has 185 Member States. The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.
The Internet Society is a non-governmental International organization for global cooperation
and coordination for the Internet and its internetworking technologies and applications.
The Society's individual and organizational members are bound by a common stake in
maintaining the viability and global scaling of the Internet. They comprise the companies,
government agencies, and foundations that have created the Internet and its technologies as
well as innovative new entrepreneurial organizations contributing to maintain that dynamic.
Visit their home pages to see how Internet innovators are creatively using the network.
The Society is governed by its Board of Trustees elected by its membership around the world.
The World Wide Web Consortium exists to realize the full potential of the Web. W3C is an industry consortium which develops common standards for the evolution of the Web by producing specifications and reference software. Although W3C is funded by industrial members, its products are freely available to all. The Consortium is run in the United States by MIT Laboratory for Computer Science and in Europe by INRIA, in collaboration with CERN where the web originated. For details on the joint initiative and the contributions of CERN, INRIA, and MIT, please see the statement on the joint World Wide Web Initiative.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world's largest technical professional society. Founded in 1884 by a handful of practitioners of the new electrical engineering discipline, today's Institute is comprised of more than 320,000 members who conduct and participate in its activities in 147 countries. The men and women of the IEEE are the technical and scientific professionals making the revolutionary engineering advances which are reshaping our world today. ...Achieving Goals The technical objectives of the IEEE focus on advancing the theory and practice of electrical, electronics and computer engineering and computer science. To realize these objectives, the IEEE sponsors technical conferences, symposia and local meetings worldwide: publishes nearly 25% of the world's technical papers in electrical, electronics and computer engineering; provides educational programs to keep its members' knowledge and expertise state-of-the-art. The purpose of all these activities is two fold: (1) to enhance the quality of life for all peoples through improved public awareness of the influences and applications of its technologies; and (2) to advance the standing of the engineering profession and its members.
Comite Europeen de Normalisation
The European Commitee for Standartization is responsible for European standartization in all fields except Electrotechnical (CENELEC) and Telecommunications (ETSI). Related project of the CEN on the web is the standartization of the european character set in the fields of identification, coding, and more.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute Was set up in 1988 to set standards for Europe in telecommunications, and in the related fields of broadcasting and office information technology with cooperation of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and CEN. This organisation includes technical committees such as for signalling, protocols, switching, network aspects, transmission, multiplexing and other fields related to telecommunications, but also special committees that are assembled fromtime to time to inspect specific and well defined tasks.
The European Workshop on Open Systems
The European Workshop on Open Systems is the open European forum for one-stop development of technical guidance and prestandards in the information and communications technologies (ICT) field, working for the benefit of vendors, planners, procurers, implementors and users.
Standards Australia is the Australian representative on the two major international standardizing bodies, the International Organization for Standardization, ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC. Standards Australia was founded in 1922. Its original name was the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association. The organization mission is to excel in meeting the needs of Australia's technical infrastructure for contemporary, internationally aligned standards and related services which enhance the nation's economic efficiency, international competitiveness, and fulfil community desire for a safe and sustainable environment.
Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
The Standards Council coordinates the contribution of Canadians to the two most prominent international standards-writing forums - the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The SCC's activities are carried out within the context of the National Standards System, a federation of organizations providing standardization services to the Canadian public. The SCC is manager of the System.
Deutsches Institut für
Normung (DIN)
DIN, the German Institute for Standardization, is a registered association with its head office in Berlin. It is not a government agency. The work of standardization as undertaken by DIN is a service in the field of science and technology that is provided for the entire community. The results of standardization benefit the whole of the national economy.
National Standards
Authority of Ireland (NSAI)
NSAI operates under Forf`s, the Irish National Policy Advisory and Coordination Agency for Industrial Development, in respect of the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961 and the Industrial Development Act 1993, on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment for the development and publication of Irish Standards including harmonized European Standards of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and international standards of ISO and IEC. NSAI also provides a comprehensive product and management system certification service. NSAI activities are focused in two distinct areas: Standards Development and Standards Application, which in turn comprises Certification Services and the Irish Agriment Board.
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione (UNI)
UNI - Italian National Standards Body - established in 1921, is a legally recognized association, whose function is to prepare, publish and disseminate standards in all sectors except for the electrotechnical and electronic one, which falls under the responsibility of CEI (not on the web) . The EEC directive 83/189 of March 28, 1983 - enacted in Italy as law no. 317 of June 21, 1986 - recognizes UNI as the only national body entrusted with the adoption of technical standards in all fields except the electrical one.
Standards and Industrial Research of Malaysia (SIRIM)
The Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) is a national multi-disciplinary research and development agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment. Established in 1975 under the SIRIM (incorporation) Act 157, SIRIM was set-up to assist companies solve technical problems through the use of technology and help their business growth.
Standards and Metrology Institute (SMIS)
SMIS prepares, adopts and issues Slovenian standards, while also coordinating the tasks according to the rules of international standardization. Slovenian standards are therefore either international or European standards adopted according to the rules of the ISO IEC Guide 21. SMIS establishes technical committees, coordinates their work, links and integrates them through corresponding regional and international technical committees.
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) United States private sector voluntary standardization system for 78 years. Founded in 1918 by five engineering societies and three government agencies, the Institute remains a private, nonprofit membership organization supported by a diverse constituency of private and public sector organizations. ANSI was a founding member of the ISO and plays an active role in its governance. ANSI is one of five permanent members to the governing ISO Council, and one of four permanent members of ISOU.S. participation, through the U.S. National Committee, is equally strong in the IEC. The USNC is one of 12 members on the IEC. Through ANSI, the United States has immediate access to the ISO and IEC standards development processes. ANSI participates in almost the entire technical program of both the ISO (78% of all ISO technical committees) and the IEC (91% of all IEC technical committees) and administers many key committees and subgroups (16% in the ISO; 17% in the IEC) . As part of its responsibilities as the U.S. member body to the ISO and the IEC, ANSI accredits U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (U.S. TAGs) or USNC Technical Advisors (TAs). The U.S. TAGpurpose is to develop and transmit, via ANSI, U.S. positions on activities and ballots of the international technical committee.
National
Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology was established by Congress to assist industry in the development of technology needed to improve product quality, to modernize manufacturing processes, to ensure product reliability and to facilitate rapid commercialization of products based on new scientific discoveries. As an agency of the U.S Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, NIST's primary mission is to promote U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards.
Accredited Standards
Committee X3
The Accredited Standards Committee X3 was established in 1961, and is accredited by ANSI to develop voluntary standards. X3 sets standards in dynamic areas of commerce, technology and society. It contains Technical Committees such as X3T10 which is responsible for Lower-Level Interfaces, X3T11 (Fibre Channel, HIPPI, and IPI) , and X3T13 (ATA and ATAPI).
National Information Standards Organization - USA
The National Information Standards Organization is a nonprofit association accredited as a standards developer by the American National Standards Institute, the national clearinghouse for voluntary standards development in the U.S. NISOs Voting Members and other supporters include a broad base of information producers and users including libraries, publishers, government agencies, and companies that provide information services. NISO is a leader in shaping international standards.
ASTM has developed and published 10,000 technical standards, which are used by industries worldwide. ASTM members develop the standards within the ASTM consensus process. Technical publications, training courses, and Statistical Quality Assurance Programs are other ASTM products.
The Internet Society 
The World Wide Web Consortium 
Standards Australia (SAA)
ASTM