Overview
ISO/IEC 6523-2:1998 defines the procedure for registration of organization identification schemes and the administration of International Code Designator (ICD) values that uniquely designate those schemes. The standard sets out roles (Registration Authority, Sponsoring Authority, Issuing Organization), application and evaluation rules, register contents, ICD allocation policy and lifecycle rules for entries.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Formalizes how organization identification schemes are registered to support international information interchange.
- Registration Authority (RA): Responsible for receiving and processing applications, assigning ICD values (allocated sequentially), maintaining the register, and publishing entries. The RA must decide on applications promptly (within 30 days of receipt where applicable).
- Sponsoring Authority (SA): Recognized bodies (ISO technical committees, ISO member bodies, or international liaison organizations) that endorse and submit applications to the RA. SAs must coordinate applications nationally/organizationally and confirm IO responsibilities.
- Issuing Organization (IO): The body that administers a specific identification scheme and supplies required application data.
- Evaluation criteria: RA and SAs apply specific criteria before registration - e.g., endorsement by an SA, sufficiency of information, non-duplication of ICD values, demonstrated need and usage, and IO capability to administer the scheme.
- Register contents: Each entry must include preferred scheme name, purpose/application area, identifier format (character set, length, check character, display rules), whether organization parts are supported, minimum reallocation period, IO and SA contact details, coverage description, and languages used. RA-managed items include the assigned ICD value, issue date and amendment history.
- Lifecycle and deletion: If a scheme ceases to be supported, the entry is marked but retained and the ICD is not reallocated. The register must track transfer or cessation details.
- Availability: The register must be accessible in printed and machine-readable forms, with indexes by ICD value and scheme name; remote access may be provided.
(*Items marked * are protected and may not be amended without registering a new scheme.)
Applications and users
- National standards bodies, ISO committees and liaison organizations (as SAs)
- Organizations that operate or propose organization identification schemes (as IOs)
- System architects, data integrators and application developers who require standardized, globally unique organization identifiers for e‑commerce, directory services, messaging, and federated identity
- Software vendors building identity, directory or interoperability solutions that rely on ICD values to recognize identifier schemes
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/IEC 6523-2, organization identification scheme registration, International Code Designator, ICD values, registration authority, sponsoring authority, issuing organization, register of organization identification schemes.
Open preview (PDF)Information technology — Structure for the identification of organizations and organization parts — Part 2: Registration of organization identification schemes
