(ISO: Geneva) -- The way is now open for the publication of ISO 26000, which gives guidance on social responsibility, as an international standard by the end of year.

The multistakeholder ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility (ISO/WG SR), which includes experts and observers from 99 ISO-member countries, and 42 public and private sector organizations, approved the draft ISO 26000 for processing as a final draft international standard (FDIS) at its eighth plenary meeting on May 17 in Copenhagen.

The document is now being edited to take account of the consensus reached at the Copenhagen meeting, prior to which 2,482 written comments had been received for processing. ISO 26000 will be released for a two-month FDIS vote by ISO-member countries in August and September, followed by publication as a fully fledged ISO international standard by November.

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