Each information standard must have demonstrated that it meets the following criteria by providing evidence in order to be approved. The criteria are applied rigorously with each stage of the development process:

• Is within the legal and Information Governance framework of the DH and NHS/social care.
• National (England) in scope.
• Fit for purpose.
• Of overall benefit to health and social care particularly for health IT.
• Capable of being implemented in organisations and health IT systems (where appropriate). 
• Supports interoperability between machines (functional) and people (semantic).
• Compatible with existing standards, professional practice and DH policy.
• Clinically and organisationally safe.
• Does not impose an unanticipated cost burden on organisations.
• Approved by a Sponsor who commits that:        
• An approved business case or justification exists for the business change proposed by the standard. 
• The prospective information standard has a defined purpose and scope. 
• There is sufficient funding and resources allocated to complete the development, implementation and maintenance of the standard within health and social care.