Quality Policy Principles: Sustainability

Why is sustainability important?

  • An analysis of the finances of QI institutions worldwide indicates that many, if not most, governments retain the responsibility for funding fundamental aspects of the QI system, namely standards, metrology and accreditation. Although governments are obliged to fund the QI institutions that form part of their own departments or statutory organizations, they also frequently provide funding for other QI-related activities through specific agreements between the state and designated institutions. These fundamental activities are considered as public good activities, given that they are intended to benefit all the citizens of the country and not a particular, well-segmented grouping. In some cases, governments also retain the responsibility for funding international liaison activities and the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining international recognition for their QI institutions.
  • It is important that the QP enables the government to clearly articulate its commitment to long-term funding of the QI activities that cannot be funded by others, to provide the necessary assurance and associated stability that such organizations require to establish and maintain national, regional and international trust in these activities under its mandate. In the case of those QI institutions that are encouraged to earn income from some of the services they provide, the QP should clarify that the government may specifically identify funding for certain activities that are in the wider public interest.