Article 8 | Stakeholder Collaboration

(1)   Purpose: This Article establishes the framework for forming agendas in committee sessions and ensuring meaningful stakeholder participation throughout the standardisation process, without duplicating the stakeholder identification process detailed in Article 6.

(2)   Agenda Formation: The agenda for each committee session shall be developed based on:

(a)   the specific objectives of the standardisation phase;

(b)   input from the Advisory Council, as outlined in Article 6(5)(a);

(c)   recommendations from stakeholders, where applicable;

(d)   emerging issues or challenges identified during prior sessions.

(3)   The Committees may:

(a)   adopt a flexible agenda to accommodate new topics raised by stakeholders during the session;

(b)   prioritize agenda items based on their relevance to the technical, commercial, legal, or ethical imperatives outlined in Schedule 1.

(4)   Stakeholder Participation in Committee Sessions:

(a)   Stakeholders identified under Article 6 may participate in committee sessions at various stages of the standardisation process, as per their relevance to the agenda items.

(b)   Stakeholders may be invited to:

(i)    present their perspectives on specific agenda items;

(ii)   provide technical or policy insights relevant to ongoing discussions;

(iii)  contribute to decision-making processes when appropriate.

(c)   The Committees shall ensure that:

(i)    stakeholder participation is balanced and representative of diverse viewpoints;

(ii)   key stakeholders are notified of upcoming sessions with sufficient time to prepare contributions;

(iii)  participation is aligned with the stakeholder engagement strategies outlined in Article 6.

(5)   The Secretariat shall maintain records of stakeholder participation during committee sessions, including:

(a)   attendance records;

(b)   contributions made by stakeholders during discussions;

(c)   any formal recommendations or feedback provided by stakeholders.

(6)   Participation history shall be documented at key stages of the standardisation process, including:

(a)   Initial Consultation Phase: To record early-stage contributions and feedback.

(b)   Mid-Process Review: To document ongoing engagement and any shifts in stakeholder perspectives.

(c)   Final Adoption Phase: To ensure all relevant stakeholders had an opportunity to contribute before final decisions are made.

(7)   Continuous Stakeholder Engagement: Stakeholders may continue to engage with committees throughout the standardisation timeline as per Article 5, with participation being initiated through:

(a)   formal expressions of interest,

(b)   invitations from the committees,

(c)   recommendations from other stakeholders or the Secretariat.

(8)   The Committees may adjust participation limits based on:

(a)   available capacity,

(b)   relevance to specific agenda items,

(c)   strategic importance of stakeholder input.