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Position on Standards and Technical Barriers
November 13, 1997
Contact: Allison Sayler
Te: 202-296-2237, ext. 14
Email: asayler@aaes.org
Standards provide technical definitions and guidelines for designers and manufacturers. They serve as a common language, defining quality and establishing safety criteria. In the United States, consensus standards are developed by private sector standards organizations. These standards are used by industry and frequently adopted by government agencies as a means of satisfying regulatory requirements.
Standards are having a growing impact on global commerce and can either facilitate or impede international trade. The important role of standards in international trade is recognized by the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) adopted at the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations.
The United States Trade Representative and other public and private bodies should promote performance based technical regulations and encourage acceptance of all recognized international standards as meeting the intent of the TBT.
An international standard is a standard which:
- Was developed by a standardization body under
a process that is open to all interested parties
regardless of national origin;
- Has a demonstrated track record of global
acceptance and use by the affected industries
or regulatory bodies of various nations;
- Was developed under a process that provides
due process so that a user can seek clarification
or revision, or appeal to the standards developer;
And
- Is non-discriminatory by providing equal treatment and ability for compliance without favoring one company or nation over another.
International standards must meet the tests of fair and open access to the standards development process and a record of success in meeting international market and safety needs. This requires standards development procedures that provide for technical consensus of affected parties, including engineers, designers, regulators, industry and the public.