Representing Code Lists

In government work, it is frequently necessary to use standard codes.
When displaying a document using such codes, it would be useful to
have a standard format for representing any such list. For example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ISO5218-1977 xmlns="http://example.com/namespace">
	<Value Code="1">male</Value>
	<Value Code="2">female</Value>
	<Value Code="9">not specified</Value>
</ISO5218-1977>

or perhaps:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<List Codelist="ISO5218-1977" xmlns="http://example.com/namespace">
	<Value Code="1">male</Value>
	<Value Code="2">female</Value>
	<Value Code="9">not specified</Value>
</List>

I see such lists being made publicly available (subject to any IPR
issues). I don't know of any attempts to standardise such a format. Is
there any activity in this direction? If not, I shall try to start one
through the OASIS e-Government TC. In which case, which format is
preferred? Or another one?

Regards

Paul Spencer