The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

The standardisation of records management policies and procedures ensures that appropriate attention and protection is given to all records, and that the evidence and information they contain can be retrieved more efficiently and effectively, using standard practices and procedures.

ISO 15489 was developed in response to consensus among participating ISO member countries to standardise international best practice in records management using the Australian Standards AS 4390, Records Management as its starting point.

The South African Bureau of Standards adopted the ISO 15489 (without changes) in 2004 and it became the SANS 15489.

South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) – www.sabs.co.za   

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is a statutory body that was established in terms of the Standards Act, 1945 (Act No. 24 of 1945) and continues to operate in terms of the latest edition of the Standards Act, 2008 (Act No. 29 of 2008) as the national institution for the promotion and maintenance of standardisation and quality in connection with commodities and the rendering of services.

As the national standardisation authority, the SABS is responsible for maintaining South Africa‘s database of more than 6,500 national standards, as well as developing new standards and revising, amending or withdrawing existing standards as required.

Internationally, SABS experts represent South Africa‘s interests in the development of international standards, through their engagement with bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). South Africa has a long and proud history of involvement with these bodies and was a founder member of ISO. On a regional level, the SABS currently holds the Secretariat for SADCSTAN, the standardisation body for the Southern African Development Community of 14 nations.