Right at the hub of all IEC activities, the Central Office plays a particularly important part in the smooth progress of work through the support it gives to Technical committees and sub-committees, as well as to the National Committees.

The Central Office supervises proper application of the Statutes, Rules of Procedure and Directives and implements Council and Council Board decisions under the supervision of the Executive Committee. By means of its modern electronic data-processing and telecommunications equipment, the staff of Central Office ensure project management, transmission of working documents and the publication of final texts of standards. It takes part in the organization of the (annual) General Meeting as well as grouped or individual meetings of TCs and SCs, convened on invitation by National Committees.

On-line information sources, such as electronic publishing and a site on the World Wide Web, help the IEC meet demands from governments, industry and the general public.