The Comisión Guatemalteca de Normas (COGUANOR), attached to the Ministry of Economy, was created by Decree No. 1523 of the National Congress in 1962. However, a new Decree No. 78-2005 restricts the main function of COGUANOR to the development of voluntary standards.

Under the new legislation, the Council of COGUANOR has been dissolved and replaced by the National Standardization Council, in which the following main sectors are represented: Guatemalan Chamber of Industry, Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce, Guatemalan Chamber of Construction, Chamber of Agriculture, Association of Non Traditional Product Exporters, Forum of Rectors of Guatemalan Universities, Assembly of Presidents of the Professional College. According to the topics of standardization involved, the following are also represented: Ministry of Agriculture, Cattle Raising and Food; Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance; Ministry of Energy and Mines; Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources.

The aims of COGUANOR are to conduct and coordinate the national standardization policy and activities in all fields (food, petroleum products, medicine, building materials, etc.).

COGUANOR has been a member of ISO since 1997 and is an active member of COPANT, OIML and of the IEC Affiliate Country Programme. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ASTM International.