scope:

This International Standard defines code values used to enable the classification of merchants into specific categories based on the type of business, trade or services supplied. Values are specified only for those merchant categories that are generally expected to originate retail financial transactions. This International Standard also establishes the procedures for a Registration and Maintenance Management Group (RMMG), which considers requests for new code values, and a Maintenance Agency (MA), which provides the administrative procedures required to maintain an up-to-date list of codes. It is not within the scope of this International Standard to mandate the use of merchant category codes in any given situation.