ISO highlights condom standards on world AIDS day

ERJ staff report (DS)

Geneva -- Today, 1 December, is World AIDS Day, and ISO has taken the oportunity to highlight the importance of developing and implementing International Standards for condoms to ensure their effective performance.

ISO's work on condoms is carried out by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 157 on non-systemic contraceptives and STI barrier prophylactics. The standards it develops aim to ensure that condoms fit the penis properly, are free from holes, have adequate physical strength so as not to break during use, are correctly packaged for protection during storage and are correctly labeled.

A key standard is ISO 4074:2002, Natural rubber latex condoms - Requirements and test methods, which provides the basis for much of the world's trade in condoms. ISO 4074 is widely used by procurement agencies and HIV prevention and family planning agencies, and is referenced extensively by the World Health Organisation in its purchasing specifications for condoms.

“Over the past decade, manufacturers of latex condoms have continued to make product improvements based on research and development findings, and on changes in ISO 4074, which is used in buyer's purchasing specifications,” explains Dr. Eng Long Ong, Chair of ISO/TC 157, in an article on the subject published in ISO Focus magazine.

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Press release from ISO organisation