According to the latest study, The ISO Survey 2023, of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), whose representative in Spain is the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), Spain ranks in the top 10 globally in the implementation of ISO technical standards in areas such as quality management, environmental management, energy, occupational health and safety, information technology, and others.
The figures show that Spain ranks sixth, behind Germany, India, Japan, China and Italy, in adopting ISO 9001, the most widespread quality management tool in the world. According to information provided by the National Accreditation Body (ENAC), 62,218 Spanish workplaces have implemented this Standard. ENAC, together with UNE and the Spanish Metrology Centre (CEM), form the three key pillars of Spain’s quality infrastructure.
With regard to the ISO 14001 Standard on environmental management, Spain ranks fourth worldwide (31,722 work centres). Both this standard and the previous one are being reviewed to adapt to the new needs of organizations, technological advancements, and the evolving challenges of society, as part of the periodic review of standards.
Spanish companies are internalizing the energy transition into their corporate culture, placing our country in third place in the adoption of the ISO 50001 Standard (4,969 centres), only behind France and Germany. To help them in this process, UNE offers its report, “Support of Standardization for Energy Efficiency and Savings".
Spain is fourth in the world in terms of occupational health and safety as per ISO 45001, and in terms of information technology, as per ISO/IEC 20000-1; fifth in road traffic safety management systems (ISO 39001); sixth in business continuity (ISO 22301); and seventh in information security management systems (ISO/IEC 27001) and anti-bribery (ISO 37001).
Spain, through the Spanish standardization body, is actively involved in the development of global standards that help companies successfully overcome their major challenges in ESG (environmental, social and governance) objectives, the dual ecological and digital transition, exports and international trade.
Another relevant figure on the global leadership of Spanish standardization: ninety percent of ISO's standards committees have Spanish experts among their ranks, and Javier García, UNE's Director General, is the Vice-President of ISO, which benefits the competitiveness of Spanish economic sectors and the Spain brand.
