Our work

WITO's purpose has two limbs. The first is to develop the frameworks by which trustworthy claims about objects are made and verified. The second is to coordinate mutual recognition between the systems that already perform that verification, so that a claim examined once need not be examined again.

Activities

  1. Frameworks, specifications, and standards

    Developing, publishing, and maintaining governance frameworks, technical specifications, and standards for verifying and managing the lifecycle of credentials concerning objects, in cooperation with existing standards bodies and in areas where existing standards do not yet provide adequate coverage.

  2. Mutual recognition

    Establishing and operating mutual-recognition arrangements among governance frameworks, accreditation bodies, conformity-assessment bodies, and credential issuers, including the recognition criteria, peer-evaluation procedures, and appeals mechanisms that make recognition credible rather than declared.

  3. Accreditation and oversight

    Accrediting the issuers and verifiers participating in WITO's frameworks and supervising their continued compliance.

  4. Convening

    Convening consultation among governments, regulators, standards bodies, industry, civil society, and academia.

  5. Research

    Conducting and publishing research on the integrity, traceability, and verifiability of objects in international commerce.

  6. Capacity building

    Training and knowledge-sharing, with particular attention to participants from developing countries and from regions underrepresented in international standards and governance.

  7. Cooperation and liaison

    Cooperating with intergovernmental organisations, regional cooperation bodies, and other international organisations.