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Spain rises several places in the world's top ten main ISO certifications

14/09/2020

  • Spanish companies are among the top ten entities in the world to have the most important certifications, including quality, environmental management, anti-bribery, information and food security, energy management and IT service quality, among others.
  • The report, a global benchmark prepared each year by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), highlights how certification allows greater agility in transactions, reduces costs and strengthens confidence in business relations and towards consumers.

14 September 2020. Once again Spain ranks among the top ten countries in the world as regards to classification of the main certifications and has climbed the rankings for practically all of them. This is reflected in the latest 2019 report of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). AENORSpain's benchmark certification body has played a significant role in placing our country in these outstanding rankings.

The report ISO Survey of Certifications, which is the world's reference for management system certifications in accordance with international ISO standards, relfected a general increase of 3.8% over 2018. According to the report, in 2019 there were nearly 2 million certified organisations worldwide and 100,000 in Spain. This demonstrates that companies and institutions see certification as an effective tool to improve their competitive edge, which contributes to generating confidence.

Spanish companies rank in the top ten for the main certifications:  

  • ISO 9001 Quality Management. Spain is ranked fifth in the world and third in Europe with nearly 60,000 certified work centres in accordance with this standard. ISO 9001 is the most widespread quality management tool in the world, with more than one million organizations effectively implementing it. Among other advantages, this certification improves processes and eliminates the costs incurred on a lack of quality (including direct monetary costs) by focusing on continuous improvement.
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management. Spanish companies are ranked fourth in the world and second in Europe with more than 26,000 work centres certified. There are almost half a million work centres worldwide certified in accordance with the environmental management standard, which helps to prevent environmental damage by using the necessary means to avoid, reduce or control it.
  • ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety. Spain has increased by three levels in the world rankings and two in the European by number of certificates with almost 1,200, while the same positions are maintained as in 2018 by number of certified centres. This certification demonstrates that companies and institutions have implemented Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems that help them prevent work-related risks.
  • ISO 27001 Information Security. Spain has climbed three slots in the world rankings by number of certificates (7th) and one by number of certified centres (6th) with nearly 2,500 recognitions. This certificate helps to protect and reinforce the information systems in organisations, implementing appropriate controls to ensure the IT system's privacy, integrity and accessibility.
  • ISO 22000 Food Safety. Spain is ranked eighth in the world and fifth in Europe, after going up two places and one respectively, with nearly 900 centres certified in accordance with this standard. This standard sets out the requirements to ensure food safety in all types of organisations in the supply chain, regardless of their size or complexity. ISO 22000 is the only standard that applies to the entire food chain.
  • Quality management systems for medical devices ISO 13485. Spain continues to be ranked fifth in Europe and drops one place in the world as regards the number of certified centres and certifications. In Spain, almost 500 centres are accredited under this standard, the aim of which is to train organisations to provide safe and effective medical devices, as well as to meet customer expectations and regulatory authorities' requirements.
  • ISO 50001 Energy Management. Spain climbs one position to gain the ranking of third in the world and in Europe as regards the number of certified centres certified, which stands at over 3,000 centres. This certificate helps to manage and reduce energy consumption in companies, positively reducing related financial costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing this standard leads to companies saving up to 30% of energy costs.
  • ISO 20000-1 Quality of Information Technology (IT) Services. With more than 200 certifications awarded, Spain maintains the ranking of third in the world and first in Europe as regards the number of certified centres. Whereas in terms of the number of certificates, it is the second country in the world and the first in Europe. This accreditation certifies that companies have implemented a Quality Management System in their IT Services, optimising service efficiency and reducing costs, in an effort to boost continuous improvement.
  • ISO 28000 Supply chain security management system. Spain is experiencing the largest rise in world rankings after climbing nine positions, which places us as the eighth country in the world and third in Europe with nearly 200 certified centres. As international trade expands, companies are using this certification to reduce the risks in their supply chain and apply the necessary controls with the support of management tools.
  • ISO 22301 Business Continuity. Spain has gone up two levels and is ranked eighth in the world and second in Europe as regards the number of centres certified in accordance with the ISO 22301 standard. This certificate certifies that organisations have implemented and apply a series of controls and measures to handle the general risks faced by the continuity of an organization's business, taking into account global risk management and analysis of the effect of critical processes on the business.
  • ISO 37001 Anti-bribery Management Systems. Spain drops down one place and is ranked fourth in the world and third in Europe as regards the number of centres certified in accordance with the ISO 37001 standard. This certificate helps organisations detect, prevent and properly manage potential criminal conduct involving bribery by proving compliance with legislation and other voluntary commitments.
  • ISO 39001 Road traffic safety management. Spain, after gaining three places last year, drops down one position and is ranked second country in the world as regards the number of certified centres, which stands at almost 500. This certification helps companies improve operational safety and reduce accidents.