1. 1 Overview of ANSI and the U.S. Standards System

2. 2008 © ANSI Slide 2 Importance of Standards “The international language of commerce is Standards” Source: Donald L. Evans, Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, From Standards & Competitiveness: Coordinating for Results

3. 2008 © ANSI Slide 3 WTO/TBT Definitions* Standard - Document that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method. Technical Regulations – Document which lays down product characteristics or their related processes and production methods, including the applicable administrative provisions, with which compliance is mandatory. Conformity Assessment (Conformance) – Any procedure used, directly or indirectly, to determine that relevant requirements in technical regulations or standards are fulfilled. (e.g., testing, certification) *World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement, Annex 1 http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/17-tbt_e.htm

4. 2008 © ANSI Slide 4 The ANSI Federation

5. 2008 © ANSI Slide 5 What is ANSI? ANSI is the “Umbrella Organization” for and coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment systems. Duties and responsibilities include: Develop and promote U.S. policies and positions Accredit SDOs and approve American National Standards (ANS) Accredit certifiers of products, personnel and management systems Provide standards and compliance solutions domestically and internationally

6. 2008 © ANSI Slide 6 A Private- and Public-Sector Partnership Since 1918 ANSI is not a government agency or a standards developer Academia Individuals Government Manufacturing Trade Associations A Federation of members representing... Professional Societies Service Organizations Standards Developers Consumer and Labor Interests and many more What is ANSI?

7. 2008 © ANSI Slide 7 ANSI: A Private-Sector Organization ANSI is an independent not-for-profit (501(c)3) organization. ANSI does not receive government oversight or subsidization. Advantages: Public and private sectors are coequal partners Impartiality Market relevance

8. 2008 © ANSI Slide 8 ANSI serves as the official U.S. member and sets policy for U.S. participation in several international and regional organizations, including:  International Organization for Standardization (ISO)  International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)  Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) ANSI communicates U.S. positions on standards and conformity assessment with its peer organizations around the world. (e.g. Standardization Administration of China, etc.) ANSI members also engage with foreign counterparts, advocating for the positions of their individual organizations and engaging in sector and issue-specific cooperation. ANSI supports these efforts. ANSI International Interaction

9. 2008 © ANSI Slide 9 The U.S. Standards System

10. 2008 © ANSI Slide 10 ANSI’s Member-Driven Policy Development Approach in the U.S. Approach in many other countries Standards Users (e.g. regulators, companies, etc.) National Standards Body (e.g. ANSI, SAC) Standards Developers (Including Consortia) ANSI’s strength comes through effective representation of member interests Other National Standards Bodies receive authority and funding through legal mandate

11. 2008 © ANSI Slide 11 The U.S. System: Comparisons Compared with many other countries, the U.S. system… Emphasizes private-sector solutions to ensure quality and protect Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Places a higher degree of confidence in private-sector conformity assessment activities for regulatory and non-regulatory functions Provides a stronger voice and greater authority to standards users and individual stakeholders Relies on a strong judicial system, brand-name recognition, open media and corporate social responsibility Is highly decentralized

12. 2008 © ANSI Slide 12 The U.S. System: Benefits Speed and flexibility – solutions are delivered to market and implemented quickly Participation – able to accommodate input from a wide spectrum of stakeholders Efficiency – prevents unnecessary or costly regulation and allows multiple approaches to ensure health, safety, and quality The U.S. approach facilitates economic development and innovation

13. 2008 © ANSI Slide 13 U.S. Regulatory Reliance on Voluntary Standards U.S. regulators use voluntary standards to offset the need for additional regulations or to enhance existing regulations. When regulations are necessary, U.S. regulators are required by law to use voluntary standards whenever possible. When appropriate voluntary standards do not exist, regulators work in partnership with private-sector SDOs to develop suitable standards.

14. 2008 © ANSI Slide 14 The U.S. System: A Toolbox Rather than mandating a “one-size fits all” solution, the U.S. system allows players to find the tools and solutions that best fit their needs. Approaches, philosophies and positions often vary across industry sectors. Such variations are seen as beneficial and are promoted in the “U.S. Standards Strategy.”

15. 2008 © ANSI Slide 15 Standards Used in the U.S.: Different tools for different market needs National Participation Treaty Organizations Non-Treaty Organizations Direct Participation Nationally Accepted Internationally Accepted Consortia Examples ISO, IEC, ITU, CODEX, etc. Features Formality in process One country, one vote Examples ASTM International, ASME, SAE, etc. Features Direct link between technical experts and SDOs Examples SNIA, W3C, IGRS, etc. Features Wide range of processes and procedures allows flexibility

16. 2008 © ANSI Slide 16 Standards Used in the U.S.: National Participation Treaty Organizations: U.S. government agencies serve as national bodies. For example:  CODEX (U.S. Department of Agriculture)  ITU (U.S. Department of State)  OECD (U.S. Department of State) Non-Treaty Organizations: ANSI Serves as national body and coordinates broad spectrum of private-sector input:  International Organization for Standardization (ISO)  International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

17. 2008 © ANSI Slide 17 Standards Used in the U.S.: Different tools for different market needs National Participation Treaty Organizations Non-Treaty Organizations Direct Participation Nationally Accepted Internationally Accepted Consortia Examples ISO, IEC, ITU, CODEX, etc. Features Formality in process through “one country, one vote” system Examples ASTM International, ASME, SAE, etc. Features Direct link between technical experts and SDOs Examples IGRS, SNIA, W3C, etc. Features Wide range of processes and procedures allows flexibility

18. 2008 © ANSI Slide 18 Standards Used in the U.S.: Accredited/Approved Standards ANSI is responsible for accrediting SDOs and approving standards as “American National Standards.” National and international SDOs voluntarily choose to receive ANSI accreditation/approval (the U.S. has no legal requirement) Accreditation and approval do not guarantee U.S. market acceptance; individual users have complete freedom to choose which standards best suit their needs. ANSI accreditation and approval processes do not evaluate a standard’s technical merit, but only evaluate the process by which a standard was developed.

19. 2008 © ANSI Slide 19 WTO/TBT Principles for the Development of International Standards* Transparency Openness Impartiality and Consensus Effectiveness Coherence Development Dimension *World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement Second Triennial Review, Annex 4 http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/G/TBT/9.doc

20. 2008 © ANSI Slide 20 Accredited/Approved Standards: ANSI Essential Requirements Openness Transparency Consensus Due Process Balance

21. ANSI Accredited Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) 3-A AGMA ASC X9ASA ACCA AH&LAAIHAAIAA ASSE BHMA AWWAAWSAWEA BICSIBOMABIFMA CSA HPS DISADASMAEIMA HFESHIIESNA IIAR NCMA ISEAISAISANTA NCSLNCPDPNECA NASPO SIA NSFNIRMAOLA SSFISIASMA TMSSPITCATOY-TIA AMCA AISC ARIATISAA AITCAISIALI ATA CCPA ACMIASISAIIM CSAACAPACLSI EASA ITSDF EIAESTAEIA IEEEIESTIIE IWCA NEMA IPCISAJCSEE NFPANGANGCMA OPCC SPRI OEOSCOPEIPMMI SBSSAESCTE TAPSTCIATPIUSDA AAMA ANS AAMVAABMAABYC ANLAAPIASNT AMT CFPMI NPESAAMIACDE CAPCPACAGI EOS/ ESD INMM FCIFMGTEEMC 12AMAIAFIAAMC KCMA NISO LIAMSSMHI NIMS NIST/ ITL NPPC PSA SMPTE PCAPWMAPMI SVIASAAMISES USPROULUAMA ABMA ASQ ACCACIADA ASAEASBASCE AHAM CGA ARMAASTMAIM CAM-ICEACSPA GICC IAPMO GEIAGEIHPVA ICPAICCITI MBC NSC NACENAHBRCNAAMM NSAANADCANERC RPTIA SDI RSTCRVIARESNA SJISSCITIA UCCVITAWQAWDMA AFPAAGA ASHRAEASME AGRSSALI CEMACTI HIBCCHL7 NETAI3A NBBPVINBFAA NAESBNALFA RIARMA TCATACI WCMAWMMA

22. 2008 © ANSI Slide 22 Standards Used in the U.S.: Different tools for different market needs National Participation Treaty Organizations Non-Treaty Organizations Direct Participation Nationally Accepted Internationally Accepted Consortia Examples ISO, IEC, ITU, CODEX, etc. Features Formality in process through “one country, one vote” system Examples ASTM International, ASME, SAE, etc. Features Direct link between technical experts and SDOs Examples SNIA, W3C, IGRS, etc. Features Wide range of processes and procedures allows flexibility

23. 2008 © ANSI Slide 23 Standards Used in the U.S.: Consortia Standards Consortia consist of groups of like-minded participants who place a priority on developing standards quickly enough to meet market demands or to harmonize or differentiate specifications within an industry. Hundreds of consortia organizations operate in the global economy. Many have global membership, including both U.S. and Chinese companies. Consortia usually have a narrow focus, with some only developing a single specification. However, some consortia are very broad and develop a large number of standards (examples: W3C, OASIS, etc.) Companies often rely on consortia standards in areas where the technology changes rapidly.

24. 2008 © ANSI Slide 24 *Documentary Standards, excluding “national participation models” Coordinates U.S. System and policy development Coordinates USG use & participation Participates in U.S. policy development Provides technical input for standards development Independently runs standards development activities* Legal metrology ANSI √ Standards Developers (Including Consortia) √√ Companies √√ Government Agencies (regulators and procurement) √√ NIST √√√√ The U.S. Standards System: Who’s Who

25. 2008 © ANSI Slide 25 The U.S. Standards System Private-Sector Activities Carried out independent of the ANSI Structure Standards Developers Trade Associations Companies Consumers NGOsAcademics Others Government U.S. Policies and Positions Government Agencies are members of ANSI and of SDOs. Agencies participate directly in voluntary standards development and policy setting and use voluntary standards when it supports their missions Government Regulators CPSC, EPA. FCC, USDA, etc. Procurement Agencies DOD, NASA, USDA, etc. NIST NIST coordinate s Federal activities in voluntary standards

26. 2008 © ANSI Slide 26 U.S. Standards System “The Drivers” Companies, Government Agencies and other Standards Users “The Vehicle” Standards Developers (Including Consortia) “The Road” ANSI

27. 2008 © ANSI Slide 27 Questions or Comments?

28. 2008 © ANSI Slide 28 Annex 1: Common Acronyms

29. 2008 © ANSI Slide 29 Common Acronyms used in the U.S. ANS- American National Standard ANSI – American National Standards Institute EHS – Environment, Health and Safety IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission ISO – International Standard Organization ITU – International Telecommunications Union NGO – Non-Governmental Organization PASC – Pacific Area Standards Congress S&C – Standards and Conformance SAC – Standardization Administration of China SCATR – Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Technical Regulations SDO – Standards Developing Organization TBT – Technical Barriers to Trade (Agreement under WTO) WTO – World Trade Organization