Are you sure they are dropping ISO 9000, or are they "dropping" ISO 9000:1994 (old version) for ISO 9000:2000 (new version)?
From what I know, the ISO 9000:1994 requirements expire Dec 15th, 2003. After that, a company has to be certified ISO 9000:2000.
As for the "negative cost value", I think any company that wants to do business in EU will have a hard time getting their foot in the door without ISO certification.
Ray Reynolds
Senior Designer
Read: faq731-376
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."