The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PROTOCOLS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result PROTOCOLS
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The cryptic/wordplay part
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What does PROTOCOLS mean?
PROTOCOLS noun- The minutes, or official record, of a negotiation or transaction; especially a document drawn up officially which forms the legal basis for subsequent agreements based on it.
- An official record of a diplomatic meeting or negotiation; later specifically, a draft document setting out agreements to be signed into force by a subsequent formal treaty.
- An amendment to an official treaty.
- The first leaf of a roll of papyrus, or the official mark typically found on such a page.
- The official formulas which appeared at the beginning or end of certain official documents such as charters, papal bulls etc.
- The original notes of observations made during an experiment; also, the precise method for carrying out or reproducing a given experiment.
- The official rules and guidelines for heads of state and other dignitaries, governing accepted behaviour in relations with other diplomatic representatives or over affairs of state.
- (by extension) An accepted code of conduct; acceptable behaviour in a given situation or group.
- A set of formal rules describing how to transmit or exchange data, especially across a network.
- The set of instructions allowing a licensed medical professional to start, modify, or stop a medical or patient care order.