What is the key difference between a regulation and a standard?

The key distinction lies in the nature of enforcement and origin between regulations and standards. Regulations are established by governmental or regulatory bodies and must be followed; they include specific rules that organizations must comply with, and failure to comply can lead to penalties or legal consequences. This enforcement aspect ensures that regulations maintain a level of uniformity and compliance across industries or sectors.

On the other hand, standards are generally developed by organizations or consensus bodies to provide guidelines or best practices. They are not legally enforceable and often serve as frameworks within which organizations can operate to achieve certain quality metrics or operational efficiencies. While adherence to standards may be beneficial for best practices, compliance with them is usually not compulsory unless they are referenced in regulations.

This distinction helps underline the structured nature of regulations compared to the more flexible and often voluntary nature of standards, clarifying the roles that each play in governance and operational guidelines.