An international nongovernmental organization chartered by the United Nations in 1947, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The mission of ISO is “to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity.” The scope of ISO’s work covers all fields of business, industry and commerce except electrical and electronic engineering. The members of ISO are the designated national standards bodies of each country. (The United States is represented by ANSI.) See also: ISO