Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
British Standards
open-in-new
<p>British Standards (BS) are the standards produced by the <a href="/facts/BSI_Group/VljYYY4o">BSI Group</a> which is incorporated under a <a href="/facts/Royal_charter/9R9nIJDR">royal charter</a> and which is formally designated as the <a href="/facts/Standards_organization/8o7wGeYg">national standards body</a> (NSB) for the UK. The BSI Group produces British Standards under the authority of the charter, which lays down as one of the BSI's objectives to: </p> <blockquote><p>Set up standards of quality for goods and services, and prepare and promote the general adoption of British Standards and schedules in connection therewith and from time to time to revise, alter and amend such standards and schedules as experience and circumstances require.</p>— BSI Royal Charter, Faller and Graham</blockquote> <p>Formally, as stated in a 2002 <a href="/facts/Memorandum_of_understanding/eyjDh7Nq">memorandum of understanding</a> between the BSI and the <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom_Government/3zLlUWbx">United Kingdom Government</a>, British Standards are defined as: </p> <blockquote><p>"British Standards" means formal consensus standards as set out in BS 0-1 paragraph 3.2 and based upon the principles of standardisation recognised <i>inter alia</i> in European standardisation policy.</p>— <i>Memorandum of Understanding Between the United Kingdom Government and the British Standards Institution in Respect of its Activities as the United Kingdom's National Standards Body</i>, United Kingdom Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills </blockquote> <p>Products and services which BSI certifies as having met the requirements of specific standards within designated schemes are awarded the <a href="/facts/Kitemark/ocl0PAcR">Kitemark</a>. </p>