(ISO: Geneva) -- Implementation of ISO management system standards for food safety and for information security (with IEC) has sharply increased, as revealed by The ISO Survey of Certifications—2008.
Certification to ISO 22000:2005, which gives the requirements for food safety management systems, shot up by more than 96 percent during 2008. At the same time, certification to ISO/IEC 27001:2005, which gives the requirements for information security management systems, increased by more than 20 percent.
Despite the financial crisis, which began in 2007 and spread to most countries and sectors of the economy in 2008, The ISO Survey reveals certification activity around one or more of ISO’s management system standards in 176 countries (175 in 2007).
"This a clear demonstration that they have become essential tools of the world economy and retain their attraction for organizations even in time of crisis. It is also possible that organizations look to management systems for supporting their objectives even more during a crisis," according to the introduction to the survey.
The 2008 survey reports cumulative results for ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 9001:2008, because the new edition doesn't include any new requirements compared to the earlier edition which it replaces.
ISO 9001, which gives the requirements for quality management systems, is now firmly established as the globally implemented standard for providing assurance about the ability to satisfy quality requirements and to enhance customer satisfaction in supplier-customer relationships.
Up to the end of December 2008, at least 982,832 ISO 9001 (2000 and 2008) certificates had been issued in 176 countries and economies. The 2008 total represents an increase of 31,346 (up 3%) over 2007, when the total was 951,486 in 175 countries and economies. Services have significantly increased their share of certificates, with service providers accounting for 40 percent of all ISO 9001 certificates compared to 32 percent in 2007.
ISO 14001:2004, which gives the requirements for environmental management systems, confirms its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Up to the end of December 2008, at least 188,815 ISO 14001:2004 certificates had been issued in 155 countries and economies. The 2008 total represents an increase of 34,243 (up 22%) over 2007, when the total was 154,572 in 148 countries and economies. Services accounted for 34 percent of certificates, compared to 29 percent in 2007.
ISO/TS 16949:2002 gives the requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2000 by suppliers in the automotive sector. Up to the end of December 2008, at least 39,320 ISO/TS 16949:2002 certificates had been issued in 81 countries and economies. The 2008 total represents an increase of 4,122 (up 12%) over 2007 when the total was 35,198 certificates in 81 countries and economies.
ISO 13485:2003 gives quality management requirements for the medical device sector for regulatory purposes. Up to the end of December 2008, at least 13,234 ISO 13485:2003 certificates had been issued in 88 countries and economies. The 2008 total represents an increase of 249 (up 2%) over 2007 when the total was 12,985 in 84 countries and economies.
ISO/IEC 27001:2005 gives the requirements for information security management systems. At the end of 2008, at least 9,246 ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certificates had been issued in 82 countries and economies. The 2008 total represents an increase of 1,514 (up 20%) over 2007 when the total was 7,732 in 70 countries and economies.
By far, service providers account for the largest share of certificates, 94 percent (up from 90% in 2007).
ISO 22000:2005 gives the requirements for food safety management systems. Although the 2007 survey didn't provide detailed breakdowns of ISO 22000:2005 certifications, it gave a rough global total. The 2008 survey allows a comparison by providing country-by-country breakdowns for both 2007 and 2008.
Up to the end of December 2008, at least 8,102 ISO 22000:2005 certificates had been issued in 112 countries and economies. The 2008 total represents an increase of 3,970 (up 96%) over 2007 when the total was 4,132 in 93 countries and economies.
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