Systematic Review
ISO Documents are all subject to systematic review. International Standard (IS), Technical Specification (TS) and Technical Report (TR) have different time periods between the systematic reviews. For an IS it is 5 years and for a TS it is 3 years. For a TR there is not a specified time; the TC should request a review. Reviews are administered by ISO and allow a 20-week review period; all ISO members are invited to respond, and TC 211 members are obliged to. Many national standards bodies seek public input.
The vote has three main options: confirm, amend / revise, or withdraw. TS documents also have the option to vote for them to be converted to IS.
The decision after the vote is often made by a simple majority. However, in some cases a more detailed analysis of the results may indicate that another interpretation may be more appropriate. This is usually discussed by PMG and confirmed by a TC vote.
- When the decision is that it is time to revise a standard, the secretariat will be asked to send out a call for project leaders and experts on the project.
- When the decision is to confirm the standard, the Standard would start another cycle before coming up for a new systematic review. It is an ISO recommendation that a TS is only confirmed once and then it should be either withdrawn or made into a IS.
- When the decision is to withdraw the standard, this is not automatic. ISO starts an 8-week Withdraw Ballot where all the ISO members are asked to confirm the withdrawal of the Standard.
Independent of the Systematic Review any of the published standards can be revised at any time. This is initiated by a resolution in the TC, usually proposed by the PMG or any of the working groups after discussion in the PMG. If a member thinks a revision is needed it is recommended that you contact the PMG convenor for a discussion.
If a Systematic Review ballot shows that the TC have decided to confirm the standard, but there are members that have raised concerns in comments about the standard, and if the comments contain valid arguments they will be forwarded to the PMG convenor to be considered as an agenda item for the next PMG meeting were the comments will be discussed. If the PMG meeting concludes that a revision would be needed based upon the comment received, they will suggest a resolution for the plenary. It is the committee (plenary) vote which decides.
The PMG usually discusses periodic reviews and provides guidance based on reported issues with the standard (e.g. on the Standards Tracker) and a view on related work across the working group programmes. This guidance is published in the meeting report and is not binding on members.
Examples:
- Systematic Review result is unanimously to confirm: no further discussion is necessary; the Secretariat can inform ISO of the committee’s decision
- Systematic Review result is to confirm, but several members have given reasons to support their vote to revise or amend: this will be discussed at PMG and the relevant working group, which may result in a revision or amendment project being proposed for decision by the committee, once a project lead has been found. Note: if this discussion and finding a project lead takes more than six months, the Secretariat in the meantime can inform ISO of the decision to confirm; the TC can start a revision or amendment project at any time. PMG/WG will keep the Secretariat informed.
- Systematic Review result is to confirm, but several members have given reasons to withdraw: discussion at PMG, which may result in a TC ballot to withdraw. Note: if passed, ISO would still hold a further Withdrawal ballot of all ISO members.
- More rarely, Systematic Review result could be a majority to revise, or to withdraw, but without unanimity. In these case PMG would discuss and either recommend that the result stands, or propose that TC votes on a different course of action.
In all cases, if the discussion at PMG is to keep to the decision of the ballot, that shall be minuted and communicated to the Secretariat to inform ISO of the committee’s final decision.
See the recommendations and decisions on the most recent Systematic Reviews here.
Read more about systematic review: https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100413.html
| Contributors |
Chair |
| 2022-07-27 | Added link to Systematic Review page. |
| 2021-11-25 | Added examples link to ISO. |