Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. (DIN), the German Institute for Standardization, offers stakeholders a platform for the development of standards as a service to industry, the state and society as a whole. A registered non-profit association, DIN is headquartered in Berlin since 1917.

 

DIN's primary task is to work closely with its stakeholders to develop consensus-based standards that meet market requirements. By agreement with the German Federal Government, DIN is the acknowledged national standards body that represents German interests in European and international standards organizations. Ninety percent of the standards work now carried out by DIN is international in nature.

  

Tasks and objectives of DIN

• Ensuring the participation of all stakeholders regardless of their economic position and language skills
• Promoting the free movement of goods through active involvement in international and European standardization
• Holding the secretariats of international committees
• Adopting European and international standards at national level
• Maintaining the uniformity and consistency of the standards collection
• Actively contributing to consensus building
• Taking legal regulations into consideration
• Providing an electronic infrastructure for standards development
• Avoiding duplication of work

 

Mission Statement

DIN's mission statement describes the self-image of the institution and its staff.

 

DIN

• is a world leader in the development of standards and specifications and uses professional project, process and consensus management to guide this work
• is recognized in an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany as the national standards body, representing German interests in European and international standards organizations
• supports and advises German industry, the public sector, scientific and research institutions and society as a whole
• promotes consumer, environmental and general health protection, as well as occupational health and safety
• opens markets and contributes to fair competition and deregulation
• is a private organization registered as a non-profit association

 

DIN and the Federal Government

In 1975 DIN signed an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany in which DIN is recognized as the sole national standards organization for Germany.

 

In 1975 DIN signed an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany in which DIN is obliged to

• consider the public interest in the preparation of standards,
• ensure that the standards can be referenced as documents which describe technical requirements, in legislation, in matters affecting public administration, and in legal relations, and
• contribute to international understanding in the field of standardization.
• and the Federal Government undertakes to recognize DIN as the competent standards organization for Germany and as the national standards body representing Germany in non-governmental international standards organizations, and
• apply DIN standards in its administrative departments, when issuing invitations to tender or placing orders, and to use its influence to ensure that other public authorities placing contracts do the same (where this does not conflict with international obligations).