100-year anniversary SNV: The decade 1940-1950, when the world cried out for standards

The Second World War partially interrupts the already existing efforts for international standards. After the end of the war, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded in London in October 1946. It emerged from the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations (ISA), which had existed since 1926, and the United Nations Standards Coordinating Committee (UNSCC), which had been formed during the war.

October 1946: Founding meeting of the ISO in London

The conference in London is attended by 25 countries with over 60 delegates, which shows the great importance attached to standardization. Fritz Streiff, Chairman of the Standards Commission of the Swiss Association of Machinery Manufacturers, and Willy Kuert, Head of the VSM Standards Bureau and Secretary of the Swiss Standards Association, travel to the negotiations in London to represent Switzerland. The conference focuses on the ISO statutes and implementing regulations.

Only one organization per country can become a member

ISO aims to facilitate the coordination and unification of standards issued by national standards bodies and provides for a continuous exchange of information on countries' standardization work. Membership is open to any national standards organization, provided that it meets the conditions for admission and is willing to accept the statutes and implementing regulations. From each individual country, the organization that most comprehensively represents the standardizing bodies of that country is to become a member. The official languages of ISO adopted in London are English, French and Russian. The headquarters of the ISO are to be in Geneva, where the ISO begins its activities in February 1947.

The London Conference designates Geneva as the headquarters of the ISO. The Geneva office is established and on February 23, 1947, the ISO starts its activities.

Bodies of the ISO

The highest authority in the ISO is the General Assembly, which consists of the assembly of representatives of all members. As a rule, it meets every three years. For the first Presidents of ISO, Howard Coonley, chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Standards Association, is elected. The executive body is a Councilconsisting of the President and ten other members, who together represent eleven different member countries. This Council is vested with broad powers and is responsible for the governance of the ISO between General Assemblies. For the first five years, China, France, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States of America have permanent seats on the Council. The remaining six seats are allocated to Australia, Belgium, Brazil, India, Norway, and Switzerland. The Council elects from among its members a Vice Presidents and a Trésorier. Gustave L. Gérard, Belgium, is appointed Vice President for the first term and Fritz Streiff, Switzerland, is appointed Trésorier. The business of the organization is conducted by a Secretary General guided.

Switzerland recognizes its important role in the ISO

The Swiss representatives are convinced that Swiss industry and business can benefit from international standardization efforts and that active participation is therefore of great importance.

Thus, the Swiss Association for Standardization wrote in its press release of April 1947: "The standards organization of a country which, like Switzerland, is very heavily dependent on exports, must seek and maintain contact with foreign standards bodies by all means. Through our membership in ISO, these indispensable connections have been established, and we will be able to participate in the solution of international tasks. We are particularly pleased with the designation of Geneva as the headquarters of the new organization, the election to the ISO Council and the transfer of the trésorier's office. These decisions of the London Conference testify to the esteem in which our country, and Swiss standardization in particular, is held in international circles. They should be an incentive for the Swiss standardization bodies to assist in the implementation of the ISO work to the best of their ability."

Active cooperation with ISO for over 70 years

Decades after ISO was founded, Switzerland is still actively involved in international standardization and enjoys a high status within the organization to this day. Our country was and is often represented in the steering committees, for example in the ISO Council and the Technical Steering Committee. Currently, Switzerland is represented in the highest bodies with Urs Fischer in the ISO Council and Marcel Knecht in the Technical Steering Committee. Nicolas Fleury from Switzerland has been Deputy Secretary General since 2009, and the current Trésorier is also a private individual from Switzerland.

Urs Fischer: "Proof of confidence"

"Our close cooperation and the fact that ISO continues to maintain its headquarters and central secretariat in Switzerland fills us with great pride and pleasure. We consider it a special proof of the trust of ISO as well as its members and appreciate exceptionally that our know-how, our reliability and our cooperation since the existence of ISO are recognized without any doubt. Our 100th anniversary gives us a perfect opportunity to thank our colleagues at the ISO in Geneva, but also all members, for the extremely pleasant and successful cooperation."

Sources: Archive Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV) and ISO