An International Organization for Standardization subcommittee recently discussed the development of standards to improve crisis management for natural and man-made disasters. Approximately 70 delegates from 30 countries, including 12 developing countries, attended the first meeting of ISO/TC 223 in Stockholm, Sweden, in mid-May. The committee was formed to develop standards relating to emergency preparedness, crisis coordination and post-emergency reconstruction.

At its first meeting, the committee reached some basic agreements on the scope and structure of its future work, and will prepare a business plan to use as a guide at its next meeting in November. In addition, it established three working groups to address societal security management; terminology; and command, control, coordination and cooperation.

The committee comprises representatives from 22 ISO-member countries as participating members, and. another 21 countries have observer status in the group. The participating countries are: Austria, Canada, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and Ukraine.

 …