1 / 34

ASTM International

ASTM International Government Interface & Corporate Outreach Anthony Quinn Director, Public Policy Sarah Petre Manager, Federal and Industry Affairs. ASTM International. About ASTM International Non-governmental, not-for-profit organization Develops voluntary, consensus standards

tynice
Download Presentation

ASTM International

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. ASTM InternationalGovernment Interface & Corporate OutreachAnthony Quinn Director, Public PolicySarah PetreManager, Federal and Industry Affairs

  2. ASTM International • About ASTM International • Non-governmental, not-for-profit organization • Develops voluntary, consensus standards • Provides certification programs on limited basis • Does not provide accreditation services • ASTM’s objectives • Promote public health and safety, and the overall quality of life • Contribute to the reliability of materials, products, systems and services • Facilitate national, regional, and international commerce

  3. Role of Standards • Standards in the Public and Private Sector • Impact global trade, innovation and competition • Guide product design, development, market access • Used by companies, research labs, government agencies • ASTM International Standards • Voluntary consensus standards • Regularly reviewed • Meet World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for international standards

  4. I. Government Interface

  5. ASTM in Washington, DC • Government Affairs • Congress • Federal government agencies • Stakeholder Outreach • Companies • Embassy officials based in Washington • Industry associations • International Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

  6. ASTM in Washington, DC • Connects ASTM’s work and builds awareness among policymakers. • Represents ASTM before Congress, federal agencies, ANSI, other SDOs, and trade associations. • Engages in legislative, regulatory, and trade matters. • Strengthens relationships with ASTM stakeholders

  7. Advancing ASTM’s Mission • Remove barriers to the worldwide acceptance and use of ASTM standards. • Ensure proper recognition of ASTM standards in laws and regulations. • Address government policies that duplicate or conflict with the interests of ASTM. • Identify opportunities for new ASTM activities • Government legislation, regulation, and research initiatives create the need for new standards.

  8. U.S. Standards System • Voluntary and led by the private sector • Requires cooperation among stakeholders • Standards organizations • Industry, consumers, and users • Government representatives • Academia • Meets stakeholders’ needs • Protect safety, health, and environment • Improve industry competitiveness • Facilitate global trade and market access

  9. U.S. Legal and Policy Framework • National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA) • Requires federal government agencies to use standards developed by voluntary consensus standards organization when possible • Encourages federal government agencies to participate in standards development organizations • OMB Circular No. A-119 • Reinforces goals of National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act • Discourages federal agencies from using government-unique standards

  10. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) • “…all Federal agencies and departments shall use technical standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, • using such technical standards as a means to carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies and departments…. • and shall, when such participation is in the public interest…participate with suchbodies in the development of technical standards.”

  11. Other U.S. Laws of Interest • Consumer Product Safety Act • 15,000 different types of consumer products • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act of 1997 • Food safety, drugs, and cosmetic products • Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 • Workplace safety and health

  12. U.S. Government Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards • Procurement and Contracts with the Federal Government • Standards are furnished to ensure that materials and services are obtained in an effective manner and in compliance with the provisions of applicable Federal statutes and executive orders • Regulation that incorporates standard by reference • An agency may adopt a voluntary standard (without changes) by incorporating the standard in a regulation by listing (or referencing) the standard by title. • This approach eliminates the cost to the agency of creating a new standard • Regulation based on existing standard • An agency reviews an existing standard and makes changes to match its goal or need. • Agency conducts rulemaking process to solicit public opinion and stakeholder input • Public Notification and Comments • An agency must publish a notice in the Federal Register when making a new rule or incorporating a standard by reference • When creating a new rule based on an existing standard, an agency may change the proposed rule in response to public comments

  13. Federal Agencies & ASTM Standards • U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) • 6,500 voluntary consensus standards incorporated by reference in federal law • About 3,000 ASTM standards listed in CFR for regulations and procurement • U.S. Federal Register • Public notification of standards adoptions • Instructions for public comments

  14. Congress & ASTM Standards in Law Congress may adopt consensus standards by reference into regulation If law is approved, the standard then becomes a mandatory requirement

  15. Top 10 Regulatory SDOs in US Source: http://standards.gov

  16. Benefits to the U.S. Government • Eliminate/reduce costs of developing standards • Decrease costs of good purchased • Commercial off the shelf procurement • Promotes efficiency and economic competition • Relies on the private sector to meet needs • Access to industry experts and technology • Process is faster and more dynamic

  17. U.S. Government Participation in ASTM • U.S. Government is a partner and key stakeholder • Active U.S. Government participation in 93% of ASTM committees • Broad range of federal agencies represented on ASTM committees • 1400 units of U.S. Government participation in ASTM • Government participants serve in leadership roles on ASTM Board of Directors

  18. U.S. Government Participation in ASTM

  19. ASTM Initiatives with U.S. Government • Ensure reference to current standards • Regular review of the Code of Federal Regulations and Congressional Record • Coordinate technical committee communications to policymakers • Understand procurement and regulatory standards needs • Review of Regulatory Plan and Agenda • Encourage government liaison with and participation in committee activities

  20. Facts and Challenges • Standards are not always a top priority • Constant educational process • Agencies must use lengthy rulemaking process to update or revise references • Roles and attitudes vary across federal agencies • At the U.S. state-level, no NTTAA-like policy exists

  21. ASTM Strategy • Understand agency needs, concerns and goals, and how ASTM fits into their agenda. • Communicate • Seek advice from agency reps and other committees • No one size-fits-all approach • Be flexible to meet the needs of agencies

  22. II. Corporate Outreach

  23. ASTM Objective • “Promote a greater corporate awareness regarding the importance of standards and the value of ASTM.” • ASTM 2006 objectives approved by the Board.

  24. ASTM Engages Decision-makers • Raise awareness of standards and ASTM • Identify opportunities for collaboration on policy (regulatory and trade) issues of mutual interest • Seek industry feedback on activities and challenges • including the removal of global barriers to the acceptance and use of ASTM standards • Ensure ASTM is meeting stakeholder needs

  25. Challenges • Executives lack standards knowledge • Casual knowledge of international standardization • View it as technical issue instead of trade barrier • Preconceived notions and misinformation • Confusion about what makes an ‘international standard’ • Often make quick standards decisions • Easiest or cheapest rather than strategic

  26. Benefits to Industry • Minimize safety hazards • Manage liability while reducing risk • Satisfy regulations and laws • Facilitate global trade • Cost savings by procuring readily available equipment at lower costs • Reduce internal company specifications

  27. ASTM Standards Impact the Global Economy • Standards facilitate trade and boost GDP • The U.S. Commerce Department estimates that standards-related issues impacted 80% of world commodity trade. • In 2000, a German study found the direct economic benefit of standardization was 1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). • ASTM standards impact the global economy • 84 countries from every region of the world reference ASTM standards in laws or codes • Over 400 ASTM standards references in European legislation since 2001

  28. Helping Industry Meet Global Challenges • ASTM’s MOUs with 76 developing countries • MOUs facilitate the use of ASTM standards directly into the national portfolios and technical regulations • ASTM standards open doors and open markets • Easier to export products made and tested to ASTM standards • Technology transfer improves infrastructure for sourcing

  29. MOU Agreements by Region

  30. ASTM Message to Industry • ASTM standards meet World Trade Organization (WTO) criteria for “international standards” • No WTO list of international bodies • WTO recognizes multiple approaches to international standardization • ASTM supports industry needs to choose the best standard, regardless of the source • ASTM makes it easy to participate in international standards development • Technology drives efficiency

  31. WTO Principles for Standards • ASTM International principles: • Transparency • Openness • Impartiality and consensus • Effectiveness and relevance • Coherence • Consideration of developing nations’ views and concerns • WTO principles: • Transparency • Openness • Impartiality and consensus • Effectiveness and relevance • Coherence • Consideration of developing nations’ views and concerns

  32. ASTM Corporate Outreach • ASTM is connecting to the business and manufacturing community • ASTM Board and Staff completed meetings with industry, trade associations, consumer groups, and other stakeholders around the world • Washington, Stockholm, New York City, Moscow, Mexico City, Brussels, Beijing

  33. III. Questions and Discussion

  34. Contact Information • Anthony Quinn, Director, International Trade and Public Policy aquinn@astm.org, 202 223-8484 • Sarah Petre, Manager, Federal and Industry Affairs spetre@astm.org, 202-223-8399 1850 M Street, NW, Suite 1030 Washington, DC 20036 USA

More Related