Publishing and copyright information

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this document:
Committee reference SPSC/-/3
Draft for comment 20/30415946 DC

Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 30 November 2021. It was prepared on behalf of the BSI Standards Policy and Strategy Committee.

Supersession

This British Standard supersedes BS 0:2016, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

This is a full revision of the standard, and introduces the following principal changes:

updating of the references to the European Community and European standardization in the light of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union;
greater emphasis in 4.1.6 on the need of all those involved in developing British Standards to adhere not only to BS 0 but to all policies in force at the relevant time;
expansion of the principles for meetings in Clause 7 to cover conference calls, online meetings and hybrid meetings;
updating of the roles and responsibilities of committee members and chairs in Clause 7 and Clause 8;
expansion of the roles and responsibilities pertaining to UK national standards work in Clause 8, including the roles of panel convenor and editorial project manager;
revision of 9.5.2 on intellectual property rights. There is no radical alteration to BSI’s position regarding IPR, but it has been restated in a clearer fashion; and
removal of Annex A, which will become an online resource.

Certain topics regularly arise during any revision of BS 0, and it was decided that the following conventions will be retained in all British Standards of UK origin:

the “z” spelling usage (e.g. “standardization”) for consistency with the preferred variant listed in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, noting also that it is the traditional English usage rather than an Americanism;
the use of the decimal point in preference to the decimal comma, noting that it reflects the overwhelmingly predominant practice in the UK and is inconsistent with many international and European standards that are adopted without change by BSI; and
the use of the “f” spelling of “sulfur” and its derivatives, noting that it is the agreed variant adopted by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and most analogous professional bodies in the UK, and reflects the general usage of most of those in the UK scientific community.

BSI might from time to time develop policies or guidance documents to support the application of BS 0.

This publication can be withdrawn, revised, partially superseded or superseded. Information regarding the status of this publication can be found in the Standards Catalogue on the BSI website at bsigroup.com/standards, or by contacting the Customer Services team.

Where websites and webpages have been cited, they are provided for ease of reference and are correct at the time of publication. The location of a webpage or website, or its contents, cannot be guaranteed.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its principles are expressed as statements, or in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Where words have alternative spellings, the preferred spelling of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is used (e.g. “organization” rather than “organisation”).

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This British Standard sets out the principles of standardization undertaken by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in its role as the UK National Standards Body (NSB).

The principles encompass the development, publication, maintenance and application of British Standards, together with the UK’s participation in international and European standardization.

The principles set out in this British Standard do not include details of BSI’s non‑NSB activities, nor the rules and procedures of the international and European standardization bodies.

2 Normative references

3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms

3.1 Terms and definitions

3.2 Abbreviated terms

4 Principles of standardization

4.1 Context and purpose

4.2 The National Standards Body

4.3 Application of standards

4.4 Transparency

4.5 Disclosure of documents to nominating organizations and employers

5 Development of British Standards

5.1 Principles

5.2 New work

5.3 International standardization

5.4 European standardization

5.5 Common features of international and European standardization

5.6 UK participation in international and European standardization

5.7 British Standards of UK origin

5.8 Consultation – Draft for public comment

6 Publishing and maintaining standards

6.1 Publication

6.2 Maintenance

7 BSI committees

7.1 Principles

7.2 Committee constitution

7.3 Nominating organizations

7.4 Co‑option for specific tasks

7.5 Decision making

7.6 Minutes

7.7 Disputes

7.8 Legal issues

7.9 Confidentiality and external communications

7.10 Delegation of responsibilities

7.11 Inter‑committee liaison

8 Roles and responsibilities

8.1 BSI

8.2 BSI employees

8.3 Conduct

8.4 Committee members

8.5 Committee chairs

8.6 Committee managers

8.7 Additional roles and responsibilities for British Standards of UK origin

9 Content and drafting of standards

9.1 Principles

9.2 Relationship with the law

9.3 Drafting

9.4 Types of standardization publication

9.5 Intellectual property rights (IPR)

Bibliography

BS 0:2021

A standard for standards. Principles of standardization

Current, Under Review

Published:

30 Nov 2021