The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) held its first high-level symposium in November under the name “Simplifying for Success”. At this meeting held in Paris, Javier García participated in his role as Vice President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The OECD has launched the Simplifying for Success (S4S) project with the aim of exploring current initiatives for reducing and simplifying regulatory burdens, reflecting on past actions and current challenges. In doing so, it seeks to support governments’ efforts to implement simple, smart, and streamlined regulations that accelerate people’s prosperity and business progress.
During his remarks, Javier explained that the standards developed by international organizations such as ISO are market-driven and provide regulators with the technical content needed to implement policies and optimize public resources in developing robust regulations that are easier for companies to implement.
He also highlighted how the principles of standardization — openness, transparency, and the participation of all types of stakeholders — give regulators confidence that their responsibility and the public interest are protected.
He noted that standardization is an excellent example of public–private collaboration; it is the balanced platform where regulators and businesses understand each other. It is up to governments to support this alliance and more effectively reduce regulatory complexity and costs while still protecting the public interest.
In this regard, the OECD has published the report Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks Through Standards, Measurements and Assurance – Improving the Use of Quality Infrastructure in Policy Making.
This report highlights the role that both governments and Quality Infrastructure organizations play in ensuring that products and services are safe and reliable for consumers.
Those governments that develop public policies based on standards, ensure accurate measurements, verify that products and services comply with those standards, and monitor the market, strengthen consumer protection, generate confidence and dynamism in their economy, and facilitate international trade.
Likewise, the report advocates for coordination and aligned work among regulators and the entities responsible for standardization, metrology, and accreditation so that together they can develop smarter, simpler, and more effective regulations in any sector, thereby helping organizations face challenges such as the environmental transition or digitization.
