How does a standard become auditable, by an accredited third party, for international recognition?

How does a standard become auditable, by an accredited third party, for international recognition?
The standard, which is ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 etc., is not auditable. Our methods to conform to the standard are auditable.

Are you asking how the standard is made, how it becomes accepted? Here is a link describing the ISO standard development process: http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/stdsdevelopment/whowhenhow/proc/proc.html

Is it the national level accreditation body then that decides to take on a standard for registration purposes?

Take ISO 10012 for example, this is a management system standard but is anyone 3rd party audited to it?

The simple answer to what you are asking is a 4-letter word "SHALL"

What makes a standard auditable is the shall in the standard. Most standards use the word "should". You can't audit a "should" because it is not required, but a "SHALL" is essentially an absolute.

That's the real difference. Everything else is BS

Was the '4 letter word' a gag ?

Also note that the 'auditable' standards contain the word 'requirements' in the title, whereas others normally only say 'guidance' somewhere in the title.

Was the '4 letter word' a gag ?

Also note that the 'auditable' standards contain the word 'requirements' in the title, whereas others normally only say 'guidance' somewhere in the title.

Do you know of a "Requirements" standard that doesn't use "SHALL?"