The Standard Development Guidelines used by Good Environmental Choice Australia have been established for the purpose of developing standards in a consistent, independent, consultative, uniform manner. The Standard  Development Guidelines represent the reference point for establishing product categories and the environmental performance criteria of each category. The Standards Development Committee is comprised of technical, industry, environment and professional members which oversee the Standards Division of Good Environmental Choice Australia.

These Guidelines are intended in particular to make explicit the points of reference assumed by the Standards Development Division in fulfilling their responsibilities in the establishment of product or service categories and ecological criteria. Further, the Guidelines provide a framework to organize and conduct their activities with regard to the establishment of product groups and ecological criteria, through a systematic, transparent and objective approach, including the necessary consultation with a diverse range of Australian stakeholders.

The Standards Development Division,  in consultation with environmental, community, government and industry groups identifies a list of priority product groups (known as the proposed standards list) for possible preliminary consideration. This list is not restrictive, is periodically reviewed and forms the basis of the work program for the Division.

As resources permit, the Standards Development Committee identifies candidates from the scientific, environmental and industry community and internal staff willing to establish a product category, and develops environmental performance criteria. This Working Group may source and use existing standards both locally or overseas, published scientific research and environmental performance reviews, Life Cycle Assessment studies or may undertake new research work for the particular product category.

The Working Group, under the direction of the Standards Development Division, is responsible for maintaining the necessary documentation flow, research into the issues surrounding the environmental performance of products in that category and for ensuring that the standard reflects the principles of  the Good Environmental Choice Program.

The working procedures also ensure that any interested parties have access to work published at different stages of the development process and are able to submit their point of view early on in the work schedule.

When a  draft standard is available, it is circulated to the  Standards Development Committee and the Board of Directors of Good Environmental Choice Australia. After approval, it is released for a period of not less than 90 days widespread public comment to  State and Federal Governments, industry associations, academic and research forums, environmental organisations and the general public. At the end of the period of public comment, the Standards Development Division may decide the following :

• To proceed with the establishment of the product group and publishing a final standard,
• OR - to postpone the decision until a later date due to responses of the consultation process. 
• OR - not to proceed with the development of the product group standard.

If a vote of the Standards Development Committee determines that the standard be adopted, the Committee recommends to the Board of Directors that the standard be formally registered on the Environmental Labelling Standards Register and assessments against the standard may commence.

When a new standard is passed, all members who have participated in the process are advised and a copy of the standard is made available. The standard is also made available to the membership of the association and is published on the GECA  website, and may also be circulated in a number of ways to raise the interest of the public, industry and consumer groups.

Government, Industry, Environmental, and Community organisations may raise objections to any criteria in the standard at any time during the development phase or after the standard has been established. Such objections may be considered by the Committee and may lead to an amendment of the standard.  If there is serious disagreement by a major stakeholder for a standard on scientific grounds which cannot be resolved by the Committee, the Chair of the Good Environmental Choice Board of Directors may compose a working group of scientific experts to address items of concern and to make a definitive recommendation on the standard.