![](media/image1.png){width="2.4902777777777776in"
height="0.9340277777777778in"}

##### 

**ANSI Procedures for the**

**Development and Coordination of**

**American National Standards**

**January 2002 edition**

**Approved by the ANSI Board of Directors' National Issues Committee
2001**

**Includes editorial changes incorporated March 2002**

Copyright by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 West
43rd Street, New York, New York 10036. This material may be copied
without permission from ANSI only if and to the extent that the text is
not altered in any fashion and ANSI's copyright is clearly noted. Please
visit ANSI Online at www.ansi.org.

Contents

[Foreword v](#__RefHeading___Toc2660594)

[1 Due process and criteria for approval and withdrawal of American
National Standards
1](#due-process-and-criteria-for-approval-and-withdrawal-of-american-national-standards)

[1.1 Applicability 1](#applicability)

[1.2 Due process requirements 1](#due-process-requirements)

[1.2.1 Openness 1](#openness)

[1.2.2 Lack of dominance 1](#lack-of-dominance)

[1.2.3 Balance 1](#balance)

[1.2.4 Interest categories 1](#interest-categories)

[1.2.5 Written procedures 2](#written-procedures)

[1.2.6 Appeals 2](#appeals)

[1.2.7 Notification of standards development
2](#notification-of-standards-development)

[1.2.8 Consideration of views and objections
3](#consideration-of-views-and-objections)

[1.2.9 Procedures for the National Adoption of ISO or IEC Standards
4](#procedures-for-the-national-adoption-of-iso-or-iec-standards)

[1.2.10 Substantive change 6](#substantive-change)

[1.2.11 Commercial terms and conditions
6](#commercial-terms-and-conditions)

[1.2.12 ANSI patent policy - Inclusion of Patents in American National
Standards
6](#ansi-patent-policy---inclusion-of-patents-in-american-national-standards)

[1.2.13 Consideration of standards proposals
7](#consideration-of-standards-proposals)

[1.2.14 Records 7](#records)

[1.3 Criteria for approval and withdrawal of American National Standards
7](#criteria-for-approval-and-withdrawal-of-american-national-standards)

[1.3.1 Approval by the Board of Standards Review
8](#approval-by-the-board-of-standards-review)

[1.3.2 Approval without BSR review 11](#approval-without-bsr-review)

[2 Accreditation of American National Standards Developers
13](#accreditation-of-american-national-standards-developers)

[2.1 General 14](#general)

[2.2 Criteria for accreditation 14](#criteria-for-accreditation)

[2.3 Application 14](#application)

[2.4 Maintenance of accreditation 15](#maintenance-of-accreditation)

[2.5 Withdrawal of accreditation 16](#withdrawal-of-accreditation)

[2.5.1 Change in Secretariat-Consensus Body Relationship within an
ANSI-Accredited Standards Committee (ASC)
16](#change-in-secretariat-consensus-body-relationship-within-an-ansi-accredited-standards-committee-asc)

[3 Planning and Coordinating American National Standards
16](#planning-and-coordinating-american-national-standards)

[3.1 Introduction 16](#introduction)

[3.2 Purpose 17](#purpose)

[3.3 Organization 17](#organization)

[3.4 Project registration 17](#project-registration)

[3.5 Requests for new projects 18](#requests-for-new-projects)

[3.6 Coordination and harmonization 18](#coordination-and-harmonization)

[4 Designation, publication, maintenance, and interpretation of American
National Standards
19](#designation-publication-maintenance-and-interpretation-of-american-national-standards)

[4.1 Designation of American National Standards
19](#designation-of-american-national-standards)

[4.2 Publication 20](#publication)

[4.3 Style of publication 20](#style-of-publication)

[4.4 Maintenance of American National Standards
20](#maintenance-of-american-national-standards)

[4.4.1 Periodic maintenance of American National Standards
20](#periodic-maintenance-of-american-national-standards)

[4.4.2 Continuous maintenance of American National Standards
21](#continuous-maintenance-of-american-national-standards)

[4.4.3 Withdrawal 21](#withdrawal)

[4.5 Interpretations 21](#interpretations)

[5 Appeals 21](#appeals-1)

[5.1 Introduction 21](#introduction-1)

[5.2 Right to appeal 21](#right-to-appeal)

[5.2.1 Appeals at the standards developer level
21](#appeals-at-the-standards-developer-level)

[5.2.2 Appeals at ANSI 22](#appeals-at-ansi)

[5.3 Criteria for appeals mechanism 22](#criteria-for-appeals-mechanism)

[6 Amendments 22](#amendments)

[Annex A - Model procedures for an Accredited Standards Committee
23](#__RefHeading___Toc2660645)

[A.1 General 23](#a.1-general)

[A.2 Organization of the committee
23](#a.2-organization-of-the-committee)

[A.3 Responsibilities 23](#a.3-responsibilities)

[A.3.1 Consensus Body 23](#a.3.1-consensus-body)

[A.3.2 Secretariat 23](#a.3.2-secretariat)

[A.4 Officers 23](#a.4-officers)

[A.5 Membership 24](#a.5-membership)

[A.5.1 Application 24](#a.5.1-application)

[A.5.2 Review of membership 24](#a.5.2-review-of-membership)

[A.5.3 Observers and individual experts
24](#a.5.3-observers-and-individual-experts)

[A.5.4 Interest categories 24](#a.5.4-interest-categories)

[A.5.5 Membership roster 25](#a.5.5-membership-roster)

[A.6 Subgroups created by the consensus body
25](#a.6-subgroups-created-by-the-consensus-body)

[A.6.1 Chairperson and members of subgroups
25](#a.6.1-chairperson-and-members-of-subgroups)

[A.6.2 Approval of standards 25](#a.6.2-approval-of-standards)

[A.7 Meetings 25](#a.7-meetings)

[A.7.1 Open meetings 25](#a.7.1-open-meetings)

[A.7.2 Quorum 26](#a.7.2-quorum)

[A.8 Voting 26](#a.8-voting)

[A.8.1 Vote 26](#a.8.1-vote)

[A.8.2 Actions requiring approval by a majority
26](#a.8.2-actions-requiring-approval-by-a-majority)

[A.8.3 Actions requiring approval by two-thirds of those voting
27](#a.8.3-actions-requiring-approval-by-two-thirds-of-those-voting)

[A.8.4 Authorization of letter ballots
27](#a.8.4-authorization-of-letter-ballots)

[A.8.5 Other review 27](#a.8.5-other-review)

[A.8.6 Disposition of views and objections
27](#a.8.6-disposition-of-views-and-objections)

[A.8.7 Report of final result 28](#a.8.7-report-of-final-result)

[A.9 Submittal of standard 28](#a.9-submittal-of-standard)

[A.10 Termination of ASC 28](#a.10-termination-of-asc)

[A.11 Communications 28](#a.11-communications)

[A.12 Appeals 29](#a.12-appeals)

[A.12.1 Complaint 29](#a.12.1-complaint)

[A.12.2 Response 29](#a.12.2-response)

[A.12.3 Hearing 29](#a.12.3-hearing)

[A.12.4 Appeals panel 29](#a.12.4-appeals-panel)

[A.12.5 Conduct of the hearing 29](#a.12.5-conduct-of-the-hearing)

[A.12.6 Decision 29](#a.12.6-decision)

[A.13 Parliamentary procedures 30](#a.13-parliamentary-procedures)

[Annex B - Procedures for canvass by an accredited standards developer
31](#annex-b---procedures-for-canvass-by-an-accredited-standards-developer)

[B.1 General 31](#b.1-general)

[B.2 Development of canvass list 31](#b.2-development-of-canvass-list)

[B.3 Announcement of canvass initiation
31](#b.3-announcement-of-canvass-initiation)

[B.4 Conduct of canvass 31](#b.4-conduct-of-canvass)

[B.5 Disposition of views and objections
32](#b.5-disposition-of-views-and-objections)

[B.6 Submittal of standard 33](#b.6-submittal-of-standard)

[B.7 Appeals 33](#b.7-appeals)

[B.8 Requests for interpretation of standards
34](#b.8-requests-for-interpretation-of-standards)

[Annex C - Standards advisors 35](#annex-c---standards-advisors)

[Normative, as applicable 35](#normative-as-applicable)

[C.1 General 35](#c.1-general)

[C.2 Appointment of standards advisors
35](#c.2-appointment-of-standards-advisors)

[Annex D - The three methods of consensus development
36](#annex-d---the-three-methods-of-consensus-development)

[D.1 Accredited organization method
36](#d.1-accredited-organization-method)

[D.2 Accredited standards committee method
36](#d.2-accredited-standards-committee-method)

[D.3 Accredited canvass method 36](#d.3-accredited-canvass-method)

[Annex E - Metric policy 37](#annex-e---metric-policy)

[Annex F -- Accredited Standards Committee Agreement
38](#annex-f-accredited-standards-committee-agreement)

[Annex G - Definitions applicable to the ANSI Procedures for the
Development and Coordination of American National Standards
39](#annex-g---definitions-applicable-to-the-ansi-procedures-for-the-development-and-coordination-of-american-national-standards)

[Annex H: Definitions of Levels of Equivalency of National Adoptions of
ISO or IEC Standards
40](#annex-h-definitions-of-levels-of-equivalency-of-national-adoptions-of-iso-or-iec-standards)

[Annex I: Designation, Maintenance, and Publication of a National
Adoption of an ISO or IEC Standard
42](#annex-i-designation-maintenance-and-publication-of-a-national-adoption-of-an-iso-or-iec-standard)

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc2660594 .anchor}Foreword

The voluntary standards system in the United States consists of a large
number of standards developers that write and maintain one or more
national standards. Among them are professional societies, trade
associations, and other organizations. Thousands of individuals,
companies, other organizations (e.g., labor, consumer, and industrial)
and government agencies voluntarily contribute their knowledge, talent,
and effort to standards development.

Many standards developers and participants support the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) as the central body responsible for the
identification of a single, consistent set of voluntary standards called
American National Standards. ANSI approval of these standards is
intended to verify that the principles of openness and due process have
been followed in the approval procedure and that a consensus of those
directly and materially affected by the standards has been achieved.
ANSI coordination is intended to assist the voluntary system to ensure
that national standards needs are identified and met with a set of
standards that are without conflict or unnecessary duplication in their
requirements.

ANSI is the U.S. member of non-treaty international standards
organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) through the
United States National Committee, the Pacific Area Standards Congress
(PASC), and the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT). As such,
ANSI coordinates the activities involved in U.S. participation in these
groups.

The National Policy on Standards for the United States and ANSI's plan
for its implementation, as well as experience gained from the
application of the ANSI Procedures for Management and Coordination of
American National Standards (December 5, 1974, Revised March 31, 1977),
contributed to the development of these procedures that provide
criteria, requirements, and guidelines for coordinating and developing
consensus for American National Standards.

The Procedures for the Development and Coordination of American National
Standards were approved by the ANSI Board of Directors on March 26,
1982. A subsequent revision of the provisions on interpretations of
American National Standards was approved by the Board of Directors on
March 30, 1983. A further revision was approved by the Board of
Directors on September 9, 1987, and provided updated references,
refinement of the canvass procedures, and the addition of new
information pertaining to Standards Planning Panels, Standards Advisors,
draft standards for trial use, substantive changes, and commercial terms
and conditions.

A revision approved by the Board of Directors on September 9, 1993 added
four new Annexes, "Policy on Reaffirmation of American National
Standards", "The Three Methods of Consensus", "Procedures for the
Synchronization of the National and International Standards Review and
Approval Processes" and the "Metric Policy." It also incorporated a
number of clarifications.

As a result of the review by the Blue Ribbon Panel of the American
National Standards Board of Directors, an additional revision was
initiated. This review identified a number of areas, particularly with
respect to the criteria for approval and the appeals process, where
revisions would more accurately and more appropriately reflect the role
of the Institute. The ability to grant authority to qualified accredited
standards developers to apply the American National Standard designation
without ANSI Board of Standards Review approval was also proposed by the
Blue Ribbon Panel. These revisions were approved by the ANSI Board of
Directors on March 22, 1995. The availability of the ability to apply
the ANS designation without BSR review is not intended to replace the
current three methods of accreditation. In addition, standards
developers who have been granted this ability may still submit standards
for approval by the BSR.

Following the March 22, 1995 revision of the procedures, further
revisions were made to the *ANSI Procedures*. In particular, the patent
policy (section 1.2.11) was revised to indicate that the actual terms
and conditions do not have to be filed, and the definition of
"commercial term" (section 1.2.10) was clarified. Also, the criteria for
reaffirmations (section 1.3.1.2) were changed so that a standard
undergoing an update of references may be processed as a reaffirmation
instead of a revision as long as the referenced standards were
themselves reaffirmations and not revisions. Other revisions include
changes to section 1.2.13 concerning record retention, changes to
section B.2.1 concerning the formation of the canvass list, and changes
to section 1.2.7 concerning the notification of right to appeal. The
aforementioned revisions were approved on or before March 1997 by the
ANSI Board of Directors.

Between March 1997 and April 1998 a number of revisions to these
procedures were made as a result of ongoing reengineering at the
Institute. These revisions streamline processes, clarify intent, place
responsibility for actions where it is most appropriate, and are
consistent with the strategic direction of the ANSI Federation. In
particular, the role of the ANSI BSR with regard to Audited Designators
was revised (section 1.3), the PINS policy was revised (section 1.2.6),
clarification that developers are required to notify in writing
objectors of the disposition of the objections and the reasons therefore
(section 1.2.7) was added, the requirement that developers have a metric
policy as a requirement of accreditation was added (section 2.2), the
processes associated with the notification and withdrawal of overage
standards were revised to clarify that accredited standards developers
have the responsibility for monitoring and taking action on approved
American National Standards (section 4.4.1), the appeals process
associated with a request for the withdrawal of an American National
Standard was streamlined (section 4.4.3), the option to request
arbitration with AAA rather than appeal to the ANSI Appeals Board was
eliminated, and two new annexes -- one concerning a recommended
agreement between the secretariat and the committee of an accredited
standards committee, and a second containing the Policy on Voting on
Standards via Letter Ballot - were added. These revisions and additions
were approved on or before April 1998 by the full ANSI Board of
Directors or by the National Issues Committee (NIC) on behalf of the
Board of Directors.

Since the 1998 edition of the ANSI Procedures was issued, a number of
revisions and clarifications that continue to improve and streamline the
American National Standards process were approved by the ExSC and the
NIC. These changes allow a developer more creativity in the design of
their consensus-development process, while ensuring the overall
integrity of the American National Standards process. Some of these
changes include: the introduction of a 45-day public review option for
standards available electronically; a streamlined accreditation process;
the establishment of official definitions for several key terms; the
clarification of the requirements associated with the consideration of
views and objections; easement of designation requirements;
clarification of the records retention policy based on standards
maintenance options; and clarification of standards maintenance and
withdrawal options.

Effective 2001 a new edition of the various revised procedures that
govern the American National Standards process will be issued annually.
Between official issuances of editions, ANSI-accredited standards
developers have the option of implementing NIC-approved revisions as of
the date that they are approved by the NIC.

The 2002 edition of this document incorporates procedural revisions
approved by the ANSI NIC in 2001. This edition includes revisions that
specifically address the National Standards Strategy (NSS). Changes to
the following clauses (and some related sub-clauses) are reflected in
this 2002 edition: 1.2, 1.3, 2, 3.1, 3.4.4, 4, 6, Annex A, Annex B,
Annex H and Annex I. A key new addition is clause 1.2.9 Procedures for
the National Adoption of ISO and IEC Standards. Editorial changes were
incorporated in March 2002.

American National Standards Institute\
Procedures for the Development and Coordination of\
American National Standards

# Due process and criteria for approval and withdrawal of American National Standards

## 1.1 Applicability

These requirements apply to activities related to the development of
consensus for approval, revision, reaffirmation, and withdrawal of
American National Standards.

## 1.2 Due process requirements

Due process means that any person (organization, company, government
agency, individual, etc.) with a direct and material interest has a
right to participate by: a) expressing a position and its basis, b)
having that position considered, and c) having the right to appeal. Due
process allows for equity and fair play. The following constitute the
minimum acceptable due process requirements for the development of
consensus.

### 1.2.1 Openness 

Participation shall be open to all persons who are directly and
materially affected by the activity in question. There shall be no undue
financial barriers to participation. Voting membership on the consensus
body shall not be conditional upon membership in any organization, nor
unreasonably restricted on the basis of technical qualifications or
other such requirements.

Timely and adequate notice of any action to create, revise, reaffirm, or
withdraw a standard, and the establishment of a new consensus body shall
be provided to all known directly and materially affected interests.
Notice should include a clear and meaningful description of the purpose
of the proposed activity and shall identify a readily available source
for further information. In addition, the affiliation and interest
category of each member of the consensus body shall be made available to
interested parties upon request.

### 1.2.2 Lack of dominance

The standards development process shall not be dominated by any single
interest category, individual or organization. Dominance means a
position or exercise of dominant authority, leadership, or influence by
reason of superior leverage, strength, or representation to the
exclusion of fair and equitable consideration of other viewpoints.

Unless it is claimed in writing (including electronic communications) by
a directly and materially affected party that a single interest
category, individual or organization dominated the standards development
process, no test for dominance is required.

### 1.2.3 Balance

The standards development process should have a balance of interests.
Participants from diverse interest categories shall be sought with the
objective of achieving balance.

Historically the criteria for balance are that a) no single interest
category constitutes more than one‑third of the membership of a
consensus body dealing with safety or b) no single interest category
constitutes a majority of the membership of a consensus body dealing
with product standards.

### 1.2.4 Interest categories

The interest categories appropriate to the development of consensus in
any given standards activity are a function of the nature of the
standards being developed. Interest categories shall be defined and such
definitions shall be available upon request. In defining the interest
categories appropriate to a standards activity, consideration shall be
given to at least the following:

a\) producer;

b\) user;

c\) general interest.

Where appropriate, more detailed subdivisions should be considered.[^1]

Appropriate, representative user views shall be actively sought and
fully considered in standards activities. Whenever possible, user
participants shall be those with the requisite technical knowledge, but
other users may also participate. User participation should come from
both individuals and representatives of organized groups. There are
several user categories.

**1.2.4.1 User‑consumer**

Where the standards activity in question deals with a consumer product,
such as lawn mowers or aerosol sprays, an appropriate consumer
participant's view is considered to be synonymous with that of the
individual user -- a person using goods and services rather than
producing or selling them.

**1.2.4.2 User‑industrial**

Where the standards activity in question deals with an industrial
product, such as steel or insulation used in transformers, an
appropriate user participant is the industrial user of the product.

**1.2.4.3 User‑government**

Where the standards activity in question is likely to result in a
standard that may become the basis for government agency procurement, an
appropriate user participant is the representative of that government
agency.

**1.2.4.4 User‑labor**

Where the standards activity in question deals with subjects of special
interest to the American worker, such as products used in the workplace,
an appropriate user participant is a representative of labor.

### 1.2.5 Written procedures

Written procedures shall govern the methods used for standards
development and shall be available to any interested person.

### 1.2.6 Appeals

The written procedures shall contain an identifiable, realistic, and
readily available appeals mechanism for the impartial handling of
procedural complaints regarding any action or inaction (see clause 5).

### 1.2.7 Notification of standards development 

Notification of standards activity shall be announced in suitable media
as appropriate to demonstrate provision of opportunity for participation
by all directly and materially affected persons. At the initiation of a
project to develop or revise an American National Standard, notification
shall be transmitted to ANSI using the Project Initiation Notification
System (PINS) form, or its equivalent, for listing in Standards Action.
A PINS form may be submitted, but is not required, at the initiation of
a project to reaffirm or withdraw an American National Standard.
Comments received in connection with a PINS announcement shall be
handled in accordance with the appropriate sections of clause 1.2.8
herein.

In addition, proposals for new American National Standards and proposals
to revise, reaffirm, or withdraw approval of existing American National
Standards shall be transmitted to ANSI using the BSR-8 form, or its
equivalent, for listing in *Standards Action* in order to provide an
opportunity for public comment. The comment period shall be one of the
following:

-   A minimum of thirty days if the full text of the revision(s) can be
    published in *Standards Action*;

-   A minimum of forty-five days if the document is available in an
    electronic format, deliverable within one day of a request, and the
    source (e.g., URL or an E-mail address) from which it can be
    obtained by the public is provided to ANSI for announcement in
    *Standards Action;* or

-   A minimum of sixty days, if neither of the aforementioned options is
    applicable.

Such listing may be requested at any stage in the development of the
proposal, at the option of the standards developer, and may be
concurrent with final balloting. However, any substantive change (see
1.2.10) subsequently made in a proposed American National Standard
requires listing of the change in *Standards Action*.

### 1.2.8 Consideration of views and objections 

Prompt consideration shall be given to the written views and objections
of all participants, including those commenting on either the PINS
announcement or public comment listing in *Standards Action*.

> **1.2.8.1 PINS announcement comments**
>
> If a developer receives written comments within 45 days from the
> publication date of a PINS announcement in *Standards Action,* and
> said comments assert that a proposed standard duplicates or conflicts
> with an existing American National Standard (ANS) or a candidate ANS
> that has been announced previously in *Standards Action,* a mandatory
> deliberation of representatives from the relevant stakeholder groups
> shall be held within 90 days from the comment deadline. Such a
> deliberation shall be organized by the developer and the commenter and
> shall be concluded before the developer may submit a draft standard
> for public review. If the deliberation does not take place within the
> 90-day period and the developer can demonstrate that it has made a
> good faith effort to schedule and otherwise organize it, then the
> developer will be excused from compliance with this requirement. The
> purpose of the deliberation is to provide the relevant stakeholders
> with an opportunity to discuss whether there is a compelling need for
> the proposed standards project. The outcome of such a deliberation
> shall be conveyed in writing by the developer and commenter (ideally
> as a joint submission) to the ANSI Board of Standards Review (BSR) for
> consideration should the developer ultimately submit the related
> candidate standard to ANSI for approval. In the case of ANSI Audited
> Designators, the ANSI Audited Designator shall review the results of
> the deliberation prior to designating a standard as an ANS. While the
> outcome is not binding, participants are encouraged to develop a
> consensus on whether and how the standards development project should
> proceed.
>
> **1.2.8.2 Public review and consensus body comments**
>
> In connection with an objection articulated during a public comment
> period, or submitted in connection with a vote, an effort to resolve
> an expressed objection accompanied by comments related to the proposal
> under consideration shall be made, and each such objector shall be
> advised in writing (including electronic communications) of the
> disposition of the objection and the reasons therefor. If resolution
> is not achieved, each such objector shall be informed that an appeals
> process exists within procedures used by the standards developer. In
> addition, except in the case of ANSI Audited Designators, each
> objection resulting from public review or submitted by a member of the
> consensus body, and which is not resolved (see definition[^2]) must be
> reported to the ANSI BSR.
>
> When this process is completed in accordance with the written
> procedures of the standards developer, the standards developer may
> consider any comments received subsequent to the closing of the public
> review and comment period, or shall consider them in the same manner
> as a new proposal.
>
> Timely comments that are not related to the proposal under
> consideration shall be documented and considered in the same manner as
> submittal of a new proposal. The submitter of the comments shall be so
> notified.
>
> Unresolved objections and any substantive change (see 1.2.10) made in
> a proposed American National Standard shall be reported to the
> consensus body in order to afford all members an opportunity to
> respond, reaffirm, or change their vote.

### 1.2.9 Procedures for the National Adoption of ISO or IEC Standards 

ANSI accredited standards developers (developers) should take ISO or IEC
standards into consideration and should, if appropriate, base their
standards on or consider the adoption of an ISO or IEC standard as an
American National Standard (ANS). US TAGs exist for most standards
projects for which the United States has evidenced substantial interest.
These groups may be contacted for information and advice through their
TAG Administrators or Technical Advisors (as relevant), who are on
record at ANSI.

The "ANSI ISO/IEC Standards Sales and Exploitation Rights Policy" shall
be consulted for the terms and conditions concerning which developer may
adopt an ISO or IEC standard as an American National Standard. ISO/IEC
Guide 21 defines certain levels of equivalencies of adoption,[^3]
*i.e.*, identical, modified or not equivalent. Only an identical or
modified version of the ISO or IEC document shall be considered for
adoption as an American National Standard. A developer who chooses to
nationally adopt an ISO or IEC standard shall follow its accredited
procedures for developing American National Standards. A developer who
wishes to have the option of following the expedited procedures set
forth in clause 1.2.9.2 herein when seeking to adopt an ISO or IEC
standard as an identical adoption shall include a provision or
notification to this effect in its accredited procedures.

If a developer wishes to adopt an ISO or IEC guide, report, or document
other than a standard, the developer shall follow its accredited
procedures and may not utilize the expedited procedures detailed in
clause 1.2.9.2.

> **1.2.9.1 Requirements Associated with the Identical or Modified
> Adoption of an ISO or IEC Standard as an American National Standard**
>
> A standards developer wishing to adopt an ISO or IEC standard as an
> American National Standard that constitutes an identical or modified
> adoption as defined in Annex H shall:

a)  comply with the ANSI ISO/IEC Standards Sales and Exploitation Rights
    Policy and submit evidence of compliance (such as a confirmation
    from the ANSI staff responsible for such contractual arrangements)
    as part of the formal submittal of the candidate American National
    Standard for approval;

b)  clearly identify during the ANS development and submittal process
    that it is the intent of the standards project to adopt a specific
    ISO or IEC standard and provide notice in compliance with current
    ANSI requirements, as modified by clause 1.2.9.2.1; and

c)  designate and publish the final approved American National Standard
    in compliance with applicable sections of clause 4 and Annex I
    herein.

**1.2.9.2 Expedited Procedures for the Identical Adoption of an ISO or
IEC standard as an American National Standard**

The expedited procedures contained in this clause may be used only for
the identical adoption of ISO or IEC standards for which the US TAG
voted or will vote in the affirmative. For all other circumstances, the
developer's accredited procedures shall apply.

A developer who wishes to have the option of following the expedited
procedures set forth herein when seeking to adopt an ISO or IEC standard
as an identical adoption shall include a provision or notification to
this effect in its accredited procedures. In addition, the numerical
requirements for consensus set forth in the developer's accredited
procedures apply.

A developer may propose the identical national adoption of an ISO or IEC
standard to its American National Standard consensus body via a "yes" or
"no" vote. The developer that is proposing such an action may do so:

a)  Concurrent with the US TAG vote on an ISO or IEC standard. In this
    case the developer's consensus body has an opportunity to endorse
    the ISO or IEC standard for adoption as an American National
    Standard at or around the same time that the US TAG is approving the
    standard as an ISO or IEC standard.

    or

b)  Any time after an ISO or IEC standard has been approved as such.

The following provisions are applicable to the processes associated with
the national adoption of identical ISO or IEC standards:

> **1.2.9.2.1 Public notice and public review**
>
> Clause 1.2.7 *Notification of standards development* sets forth public
> notice and public review requirements. However, when a developer is
> proposing an identical national adoption of an ISO or IEC standard,
> the following options apply:

a)  Project Initiation Notice (PINS): If a published ISO or IEC standard
    exists or if an ISO or IEC standard is at a point in the ISO or IEC
    process where no additional changes to the document may be made,
    then submittal of a PINS form is not required. If, however, a draft
    ISO or IEC standard is at an earlier phase of development, and
    changes to the document prior to approval as an ISO or IEC standard
    may be made, then a PINS is required. The publication of a PINS for
    the national adoption of an ISO or IEC standard that is still under
    development may encourage interested parties to participate in that
    process.

> b\) Public Review: The public review announcement in *Standards
> Action* shall clearly indicate that the action pending is an identical
> adoption of an ISO or IEC standard. Whenever possible, public review
> of the proposed identical adoption should occur before or concurrent
> with balloting by the consensus body. With respect to international
> approval, the standards developer undertaking the national adoption
> shall provide all public review comments to the US TAG for
> consideration, but is not required to inform the commenters of how the
> TAG disposed of those comments. With respect to the national adoption,
> all comments received shall be provided to the consensus body (if
> other than the TAG) for consideration in determining its position. The
> consensus body is not required to provide detailed responses to the
> comments, however the developer shall inform public review commenters
> regarding whether or not the identical adoption was approved for
> submission to ANSI.
>
> **1.2.9.2.2 Minimum consensus body ballot period**
>
> A developer using these expedited procedures may utilize the minimum
> ballot period established by their accredited procedures for American
> National Standards. Alternatively, the consensus body may vote to
> establish a ballot period that is not less than two weeks. Developers
> accredited to use ANSI's model procedures shall use a minimum ballot
> period of two weeks.
>
> **1.2.9.2.3 Comment resolution**
>
> The developer shall clearly indicate to the consensus body that the
> ballot associated with the national adoption of an ISO or IEC standard
> only takes into consideration the identical adoption of the standard
> as an American National Standard. Thus, there is no opportunity for
> comment resolution. Members of the consensus body shall submit either
> a "yes" or "no" ballot. Any comments, including editorial, technical
> and those highlighting conflicts with current American National
> Standards or other non-U.S. standards shall be provided to the members
> of the consensus body in order to provide them with the opportunity to
> respond, reaffirm, or change their vote within the time limits
> established by the developer's accredited procedures; however, there
> shall be no attempt at resolution of the comments unless identical
> adoption under ANSI expedited procedures is abandoned and the
> consensus body decides to instead consider adoption (with or without
> national deviations) under normal procedures (see 1.2.9.2).
>
> Comments received from either the consensus ballot or the public
> review period shall also be referred to the appropriate US TAG.
>
> **1.2.9.2.4 Notice of Action and Right to Appeal**
>
> Prior to submittal to ANSI of a candidate American National Standard
> as an identical adoption following these expedited procedures, the
> developer shall notify public commenters of the intended final action
> on the standard and that an appeals process exists within the
> accredited procedures used by the standards developer.
>
> **1.2.9.2.5 Approval of an ISO or IEC Standard as an American National
> Standard**
>
> A candidate American National Standard that is submitted as a result
> of the implementation of these expedited procedures shall be processed
> in the same manner as a standard that is submitted without objections.
>
> **1.2.9.2.6 Periodic Review**
>
> An ANS that is an identical adoption of an ISO or IEC standard does
> not have to be reaffirmed according to the schedule referenced in
> clause 4.4.2 herein, but rather may be reaffirmed at the same time
> that the corresponding ISO or IEC standard is reaffirmed by the
> respective organization.
>
> If the ISO or IEC standard has been withdrawn, revised or superceded,
> similar action shall be considered by the adopting developer within
> six months of the international action. If the standards developer no
> longer has the rights under the Sales & Exploitation Rights Policy
> with regard to the ISO or IEC standard, then the related ANS shall be
> withdrawn.

### 1.2.10 Substantive change

A substantive change in a proposed American National Standard is one
that directly and materially affects the use of the standard. Examples
of substantive changes are below:

a\) "shall" to "should" or "should" to "shall";

b\) addition, deletion or revision of requirements, regardless of the
number of changes;

c)  addition of mandatory compliance with referenced standards.

### 1.2.11 Commercial terms and conditions 

Provisions involving business relations between buyer and seller such as
guarantees, warranties, and other commercial terms and conditions shall
not be included in an American National Standard. It is not acceptable
to include proper names or trademarks of specific companies or
organizations, acceptable manufacturer lists, service provider lists, or
similar material in the text of a standard or in an annex (or the
equivalent). Where a sole source exists for essential equipment,
materials or services necessary to determine compliance with the
standard, it is permissible to supply the name and address of the source
in a footnote or informative annex as long as the words "or the
equivalent" are added to the reference. In connection with standards
that relate to the determination of whether products or services conform
to one or more standards, the process or criteria for determining
conformity can be standardized as long as the description of the process
or criteria is limited to technical and engineering concerns and does
not include what would otherwise be a commercial term or proper name.

### 1.2.12 ANSI patent policy - Inclusion of Patents in American National Standards

There is no objection in principle to drafting a proposed American
National Standard in terms that include the use of a patented item, if
it is considered that technical reasons justify this approach.

If the Institute receives a notice that a proposed American National
Standard may require the use of a patented invention, the procedures in
1.2.12.1 through 1.2.12.4 shall be followed.

**1.2.12.1 Statement from patent holder**

Prior to approval of such a proposed American National Standard, the
Institute shall receive from the identified party or patent holder (in a
form approved by the Institute) either: assurance in the form of a
general disclaimer to the effect that such party does not hold and does
not currently intend holding any invention the use of which would be
required for compliance with the proposed American National Standard or
assurance that:

a)  a license will be made available without compensation to the
    applicants desiring to utilize the license for the purpose of
    implementing the standard; or

b)  a license will be made available to applicants under reasonable
    terms and conditions that are demonstrably free of any unfair
    discrimination.

**1.2.12.2 Record of statement**

A record of the patent holder's statement shall be placed and retained
in the files of the Institute.

**1.2.12.3 Notice**

When the Institute receives from a patent holder the assurance set forth
in 1.2.12.1 a) or b), the standard shall include a note as follows:

> NOTE -- The user's attention is called to the possibility that
> compliance with this standard may require use of an invention covered
> by patent rights.
>
> By publication of this standard, no position is taken with respect to
> the validity of this claim or of any patent rights in connection
> therewith. The patent holder has, however, filed a statement of
> willingness to grant a license under these rights on reasonable and
> nondiscriminatory terms and conditions to applicants desiring to
> obtain such a license. Details may be obtained from the standards
> developer.

1.2.12.4 Responsibility for identifying patents

The Institute shall not be responsible for identifying all patents for
which a license may be required by an American National Standard or for
conducting inquiries into the legal validity or scope of those patents
that are brought to its attention.

### 1.2.13 Consideration of standards proposals

Prompt consideration shall be given to proposals made for developing new
standards, or revising or withdrawing existing American National
Standards.

A proposed new American National Standard or a proposed revision or
reaffirmation of an American National Standard to be approved by the BSR
shall be submitted to the secretary of the BSR within one (1) year from
the close of the comment period listed in *Standards Action* using the
appropriate form provided by ANSI, unless the standards developer
notifies the secretary of the BSR in writing of good cause for a
different schedule for submittal. Failure to make the submittal within
two (2) years from the close of the comment period listed in *Standards
Action* shall require consideration by the BSR; i.e., withdrawal,
extension for cause, or another listing in *Standards Action.*

### 1.2.14 Records

Records shall be prepared and maintained to provide evidence of
compliance with these procedures. Records concerning new, revised, or
reaffirmed American National Standards maintained under the periodic
maintenance option (see 4.4.1) shall be retained for one complete
standards cycle, or until the standard is revised.

Records concerning actions on American National Standards, or a part(s)
of an American National Standard, maintained under the continuous
maintenance option (see 4.4.2) shall be retained for a minimum of five
(5) years or until approval of the subsequent revision or reaffirmation
of the complete standard.

Records concerning withdrawals of all American National Standards shall
be retained for at least five years from the date of withdrawal.

## 1.3 Criteria for approval and withdrawal of American National Standards

A standard developed by an accredited standards developer may be
approved as an American National Standard in accordance with either
1.3.1 (Approval by the Board of Standards Review), or 1.3.2 (Approval
without BSR review). In either case, the due process and consensus
criteria outlined in clause 1 of these procedures shall apply. In
addition, approval assures the user that each American National Standard
is generally acceptable to the directly and materially affected interest
categories that participated in the development of consensus for the
standard.

"Consensus" means substantial agreement has been reached by directly and
materially affected interest categories. This signifies the concurrence
of more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus
requires that all views and objections be considered, and that an effort
be made toward their resolution.

Consensus is demonstrated, in part, by a vote of the consensus body.
Such a vote shall be conducted and reported in accordance with the rules
set forth below and in compliance with clause 1.2.8 herein.

1.  Accredited Standards Developers (ASDs) shall not change a vote
    unless instructed in writing (including electronic communications)
    to do so by the voter. It is never appropriate for an ASD to inform
    voters that if they are not heard from, their negative vote will be
    considered withdrawn and their vote will be recorded as an
    abstention or an affirmative. All negative votes that are not
    changed at the request of the voter shall be recorded and reported
    to the BSR as outstanding negatives by any ASD who has not been
    granted the authority to designate its standards as American
    National Standards without approval by the BSR.

2.  ASDs shall record and consider all negative votes accompanied by any
    comments that are related to the proposal under consideration. This
    includes negative votes accompanied by comments concerning potential
    conflict or duplication of the draft standard with an existing
    American National Standard and negative votes accompanied by
    comments of a procedural or philosophical nature. These types of
    comments shall not be dismissed due to the fact that they do not
    necessarily provide alternative language or a specific remedy to the
    no vote.

3.  ASDs are not required to consider negative votes accompanied by
    comments not related to the proposal under consideration, or
    negative votes without comments. The ASD shall indicate
    conspicuously on the letter ballot that negative votes must be
    accompanied by comments related to the proposal and that votes
    unaccompanied by such comments will be recorded as "negative without
    comments" without further notice to the voter. If comments not
    related to the proposal are submitted with a negative vote, the
    comments shall be documented and considered in the same manner as
    submittal of a new proposal (see 1.2.13). If clear instruction is
    provided on the ballot, and a negative vote unaccompanied by
    comments related to the proposal is received notwithstanding, the
    vote may be counted as a "negative without comment" for the purposes
    of establishing a quorum and reporting to ANSI. The ASD is not
    required to solicit any comments from the negative voter. The ASD is
    not required to conduct a recirculation ballot of the negative vote.
    The ASD is required to report the no vote as a "negative without
    comment" when making their final submittal to the BSR unless the ASD
    has been granted the authority to designate its standards as
    American National Standards without approval by the BSR.

4.  The ASD shall maintain records of evidence regarding any change of
    an original vote.

5.  Except in regard to votes on membership and officer-related issues,
    each member of a consensus body should vote one of the following
    positions (or the equivalent):

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
(a) Affirmative;

(b) Affirmative, with comment;

(c) Negative, with reasons (the reasons for a negative vote shall be
    given and if possible should include specific wording or actions
    that would resolve the objection);

(d) Abstain, with reasons.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
6.  For votes on membership and officer-related issues, the
    affirmative/negative/abstain method of voting shall be followed.
    Votes with regard to these issues need not be accompanied by reasons
    and need not be resolved or circulated to the consensus body.

### 1.3.1 Approval by the Board of Standards Review

Approval and withdrawal of an American National Standard by the ANSI
Board of Standards Review (BSR) is based on the evidence submitted that
the requirements set forth below have been met. The BSR also acts on the
revision and reaffirmation of an existing American National Standard.

The ANSI Board of Standards Review (BSR) shall review standards
submitted to ANSI with unresolved objections on record. This includes
negative consensus body votes as well as public review comments.
Standards submitted without objections may be administratively approved
by the BSR. The BSR does not have jurisdiction over the standards of
Audited Designators unless an Audited Designator chooses to submit one
or more standards to the BSR for approval.

**1.3.1.1 Criteria for approval**

With respect to any proposal to approve, revise or reaffirm an American
National Standard for which one or more unresolved objections have been
reported, the BSR shall evaluate whether:

a)  the standard was developed in accordance with the procedures upon
    which the developer was granted accreditation, with particular
    attention given to whether due process was followed, consensus was
    achieved, and an effort was made to resolve any objections to the
    standard;

b)  any appeal to the standards developer with respect to the standard
    was completed;

c)  notice of the development process for the standard was provided to
    ANSI in accordance with PINS or its equivalent;

d)  any identified significant conflict with another American National
    Standard was resolved;

e)  other known national standards were examined with regard to
    harmonization and duplication of content and if duplication exists,
    there is a compelling need for the standard;

f)  the proposed American National Standard was provided to the
    administrator(s) of the appropriate U.S. TAG (see 1.2.9);

g)  ANSI's patent policy is met (see 1.2.12), if applicable;

h)  ANSI's policy on commercial terms and conditions is met (see
    1.2.11), if applicable;

i)  the standards developer provided the following or evidence thereof:

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
1)  title and designation of the proposed American National Standard;

2)  indication of the type of action requested (that is, approval of a
    new American National Standard or reaffirmation, revision, or
    withdrawal of an existing American National Standard);

3)  identification of the accredited method used and declaration that
    applicable procedures were followed;

4)  a declaration that the proposed standard is within the scope of the
    previously registered standards activity;

5)  a declaration that no significant conflicts with another American
    National Standard have been identified or that any identified
    significant conflict was addressed in accordance with 1.2.8;

6)  a statement that the proposed American National Standard has been
    provided to the administrator(s) of the appropriate US TAG (see
    1.2.9);

7)  a roster of the consensus body that indicates: the vote of each
    member including abstentions and unreturned ballots, if applicable;
    the interest category of each member; and a summary thereof;

8)  a declaration that all appeal actions related to the approval of the
    proposed standard have been completed;

9)  a declaration that the criteria contained in the ANSI patent policy
    have been met, if applicable;

10) identification of all unresolved negative views and objections, with
    names of the objector(s), and a report of attempts toward
    resolution; and

11) applicable ANSI fees for maintenance of accreditation.

If the BSR determines, based on the weight of the evidence presented,
that the above-stated criteria have been satisfied, the standard shall
be approved as an American National Standard. The BSR shall deny
approval, if, based on the weight of the evidence presented, the BSR
determines that the American National Standard:

a\) is contrary to the public interest;

b\) contains unfair provisions;

c\) is unsuitable for national use;

d\) has a conflict with an existing American National Standard.[^4]

Standards approved as American National Standards shall be designated,
published, and maintained in accordance with clause 4. No substantive
change (see 1.2.10) that has not been afforded due process in accordance
with these procedures may be made in an approved American National
Standard.

The BSR shall not approve standards that duplicate existing American
National Standards unless there is a compelling need (see 3.6).

**1.3.1.2 Criteria for reaffirmation**

The due process and consensus requirements contained in 1.2 apply to
reaffirmations as they do to all approval actions related to American
National Standards. The procedures used for reaffirmation of an American
National Standard by an accredited standards developer shall be
implemented according to the developer's ANSI-approved procedures.
Reaffirmations shall provide an opportunity for public comment.

Reaffirmations shall be accomplished without any substantive change to
the main text of the standard. All non-substantive changes in the main
text of the standard shall be explained, or noted, in a foreword. An
American National Standard undergoing an update of references to
standards necessary to implement the American National Standard shall be
processed as a revision unless the updated reference is only a
reaffirmation of the referenced standard. Any substantive change in such
references requires processing as a revision.

In the case of a proposal for reaffirmation of an existing American
National Standard for which one or more unresolved objections have been
reported, the BSR shall consider evidence that the criteria above have
been met.

The designation of ANSI approval shall clearly indicate if the approval
is a reaffirmation.

**1.3.1.3 Criteria for withdrawal**

####### 1.3.1.3.1 Administrative withdrawal

In accordance with 4.4 of these procedures, an American National
Standard shall be withdrawn five years following approval, if the
standard has not been revised or reaffirmed, unless an extension has
been granted by the ExSC or its designee. An American National Standard
that has not been reaffirmed or revised within the five-year period, and
that has been recommended for withdrawal by the ExSC or its designee,
shall be withdrawn at the close of a 30-day public review notice in
*Standards Action*. American National Standards that have not been
revised or reaffirmed within ten years from the date of their approval
as American National Standards shall be withdrawn and such action shall
be announced in *Standards Action*.

####### 1.3.1.3.2 Withdrawal by Accredited Standards Developer

If an accredited standards developer withdraws its approval of one or
more of its American National Standards, the standards developer shall
notify ANSI immediately and the standard shall be withdrawn as an ANS in
accordance with the standards developer's accredited procedures and
announced in *Standards Action.*

An American National Standard may also be withdrawn at the request of
its accredited standards developer provided that the developer complied
with its own procedures in making this request. Except as provided in
1.3.2, the secretary of the BSR shall review the request for withdrawal
with its supporting information within 20 working days after receipt. If
additional information is required, the secretary shall request such
information from the developer. If sufficient information is provided, a
60-day public review announcement shall be made in *Standards Action*
and at the close of the 60-day period, the standard shall be withdrawn.

Appeals of such actions shall be made to the Board of Standards Review
based on procedural noncompliance.

**1.3.1.3.3 Discontinuance of a standards project**

An accredited standards developer may abandon the processing of a
proposed new or revised American National Standard or portion thereof if
it has followed its accredited procedures. A written justification for
such an action shall be made available upon receipt of any written
request received by the accredited standards developer within 60 days of
the date of the final action.

Appeals of such actions shall be made to the Executive Standards Council
based on procedural noncompliance.

####### 1.3.1.3.4 Withdrawal for Cause

Requests for withdrawal of an ANS for cause shall be approved by the BSR
only upon a sufficient showing that one or more of the following
conditions applies:

a\) a significant conflict with another American National Standard
remains;

b\) ANSI's patent policy was violated;

c\) ANSI's requirements for designation, publication, and maintenance
were violated;

d\) an American National Standard is contrary to the public interest;

e\) an American National Standard contains unfair provisions;

f\) an American National Standard is unsuitable for national use.

Except as provided in 1.3.2.6, an application for withdrawal of an
American National Standard may be submitted to the BSR by any materially
interested party or the ExSC. The application shall be accompanied by a
filing fee. This fee may be waived or reduced upon sufficient evidence
of hardship.

In such cases:

a)  the secretary of the BSR shall refer the request for withdrawal to
    the standards developer for the developer to review and respond
    within 30 calendar days to the requester and the secretary of the
    BSR;

b)  if the standards developer concurs with the proposed withdrawal, the
    procedures given in 1.2.7 and 1.3 shall apply;

c)  if the standards developer does not concur with the proposed
    withdrawal, the standards developer shall inform the requester and
    the secretary of the BSR and include reasons;

d)  the requester shall advise the secretary of the BSR, and the
    developer, within 30 calendar days of their receipt of the
    developer's response, either that the requestor wishes the
    withdrawal process to continue or not

e)  if the requester requests continuance of the withdrawal process, the
    matter shall be referred to the BSR via letter ballot for decision
    on subsequent action.

Extensions of time to submit documentation related to a withdrawal for
cause shall be granted at the discretion of the chairperson of the BSR,
or if the chairperson is unavailable, by the secretary of the BSR.
Extensions shall be requested prior to the deadline date and shall
include a justification therefore.

If the BSR determines, based on the weight of the evidence presented,
that one or more of the above-stated criteria have been satisfied,
approval of the standard as an American National Standard shall be
withdrawn. If the BSR determines, based on the weight of the evidence
presented, that none of the above-stated criteria have been met, then
approval of the standard as an American National Standard shall be
maintained. The decision of the BSR in this regard shall not be appealed
to the BSR, but may be appealed to the ANSI Appeals Board pursuant to
section 11, Appeals Process, of the *ANSI Appeals Board Operating
Procedures*.

**1.3.1.4 Final notice**

Notice of the BSR's final action on all standards shall be published in
*Standards Action*.

### 1.3.2 Approval without BSR review

**1.3.2.1 Introduction**

A voluntary consensus standards developer who has been accredited by
ANSI and who has demonstrated a "consistent record of successful
voluntary standards development" may apply to ANSI at any time seeking
the authority to designate its standards as American National Standards
without approval by the BSR.

**1.3.2.2 Application**

The applicant shall provide the information specified in a form
developed by ANSI for this purpose. A notice announcing the application
shall be published in *Standards Action* with a call for comment.
Simultaneously, an initial audit of the applicant shall be scheduled, in
accordance with the *ANSI Auditing Policy and Procedures*. At the
conclusion of these actions, the Executive Standards Council (ExSC)
shall consider the information supplied by the applicant, any comments
and responses received, the audit results, and the initial audit
responses, and will make a decision concerning the disposition of the
application. In making a decision on such an application, the ExSC may
request any additional information reasonably necessary to clarify
issues raised by the application. Thereafter, ANSI shall either approve
the application as submitted, approve the application contingent on
receipt of certain additional assurances, or deny the application. Any
decision to deny the application may thereafter be appealed by the
applicant to the ANSI Appeals Board. When an application has been
finally approved by ANSI, a notice so indicating shall be made in
*Standards Action*.

**1.3.2.3 Criteria for approval**

In determining whether an accredited standards developer has achieved a
"consistent record of successful voluntary standards development," ANSI
shall consider all evidence reasonably bearing on the issue, including
the extent of the notice provided by the applicant concerning its
development activities and the integrity of the other due process
safeguards used by the applicant in conducting its work. A presumption
shall exist that this test has been satisfied where a) the developer has
been involved in voluntary standards development work for at least five
(5) years, b) during that period, the BSR has approved at least ten of
the developer's standards or if ten standards have not been approved,
standard(s) totaling at least 100 pages and c) no standard submitted by
the developer during the five (5)- year period was finally denied
American National Standard status by ANSI due to a failure to adhere to
the principles and procedures upon which the developer's accreditation
was based. The inability of an applicant to make use of this presumption
shall in no way preclude consideration of its application based on all
the relevant evidence.

Upon a final decision to grant an accredited developer's application,
the developer shall enter into a written agreement with ANSI, which
shall include commitments by the developer to meet the requirements
listed below. The agreement shall be for a term of no longer than two
(2) years. Any additional terms included in the agreement may be
modified as circumstances require with the prior approval of ANSI's
President (as long as such additional term(s) do not conflict with any
of ANSI's procedures and policies) and the developer.

The developer shall:

a\) retain membership in ANSI and pay dues to ANSI in accordance with
the policies established by ANSI's Board of Directors;

b\) conduct its activities at all times in conformity with the criteria
upon which it was accredited;

c\) submit to audits of its operations by ANSI to demonstrate compliance
with terms of the delegation and pay the fees associated therewith (see
the *ANSI Auditing Policy and Procedures* for further details on the
audit requirements);

d\) provide information required by ANSI in connection with PINS or its
equivalent, in a timely manner;

e\) provide information required by ANSI in connection with initiating
the ANSI public comment period, in a timely manner;

f\) promptly notify ANSI each time that a standard is designated as an
American National Standard without BSR review;

g\) not designate as an American National Standard any standard if it:

> 1\) is contrary to the public interest;
>
> 2\) contains unfair provisions:
>
> 3\) is unsuitable for national use;

4)  has a conflict with an existing American National Standard.

> If a standard is subsequently determined to have been in conflict with
> an existing American National Standard at the time of approval, the
> American National Standard designation shall be withdrawn;

h\) promptly notify ANSI of any suit or claim made against the developer
arising from a standard designated as an American National Standard
without BSR review, and provide periodic updates sufficient to apprise
ANSI of the status of any such suit or claim;

i\) indemnify ANSI in connection with any suit or claim that may be made
against ANSI arising from a standard designated as an American National
Standard without BSR review,[^5] which indemnity must include a
commitment to advance all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such suit or
claim;[^6]

j\) consider an American National Standard designation for all of its
standards (where permitted by *ANSI Procedures*); and

k\) immediately cease to apply the ANSI designation to any standard
approved after the developer has been notified by ANSI that its
accreditation has been suspended and/or withdrawn.

In addition, the Agreement shall provide for termination by ANSI upon
any material breach of its terms by the developer, following notice and
an opportunity to cure any such breach. The developer shall have the
right to appeal any such decision pursuant to ANSI's appeals procedures.

**1.3.2.4 Renewals**

Successive applications to renew a developer's right to designate its
standards as American National Standards without BSR review may be made
without limitation and shall be reviewed and decided on the same basis
as an initial application, except that in connection with any renewal
ANSI shall consider whether during the preceding period the developer
has properly fulfilled its obligations as set forth above.

**1.3.2.5 Requirements**

With respect to submitting American National Standards to ANSI without
BSR approval, the qualified applicant shall agree to provide the
following:

a)  title and designation of the American National Standard;

b)  indication of the type of action (that is, approval of a new
    American National Standard or reaffirmation, revision, or withdrawal
    of an existing American National Standard);

c)  identification of the accredited method used and declaration that
    applicable procedures were followed;

d)  a declaration that the standard is within the scope of the
    previously registered standards activity;

e)  a declaration that other national standards have been examined with
    regard to harmonization and duplication of content and if
    duplication exists, there is compelling need for the standard;

f)  a declaration that no significant conflicts with another American
    National Standard have been identified or that any identified
    significant conflict with another American National Standard was
    addressed in accordance with 1.2.8;

g)  a statement that the American National Standard has been provided to
    the administrator(s) of the appropriate TAG(s) (see 1.2.9);

h)  a declaration that all appeal actions related to the approval of the
    proposed standard have been completed;

i)  a declaration that the criteria contained in the ANSI patent policy
    have been met, if applicable;

j)  approval date of the American National Standard.

**1.3.2.6 Complaints**

Any complaint, (whether expressed as a complaint, appeal, or request for
withdrawal of ANSI designation) concerning any actions or inactions,
including approval or disapproval of an American National Standard, by
an Audited Designator shall be governed by the provisions of the
*Operating Procedures - ANSI Executive Standards Council*, clause 17
*ExSC consideration of complaints against Audited Designators*.

# 2 Accreditation of American National Standards Developers

## 2.1 General

A standards developer whose procedures meet the requirements of due
process and criteria for approval and withdrawal of American National
Standards in clause 1 may apply to ANSI for accreditation. To be
accredited, the standards developer's procedures and practices for
standards development shall meet the criteria for accreditation in 2.2.
A standards developer may be accredited to use one or more recognized
methods of developing evidence of consensus \-- Accredited Organization
Method, Accredited Standards Committee Method, and Accredited Standards
developer using the Canvass Method.

**2.1.1** Standards developers using the Accredited Organization Method
shall prepare and submit procedures that meet the requirements found in
the *ANSI Procedures for the Development and Coordination of American
National Standards (ANSI Procedures)*. These procedures may be based
upon Annex A.

**2.1.2** Standards developers using the Accredited Standards Committee
Method shall either prepare and submit procedures that meet the
requirements found in the *ANSI Procedures*, or shall adopt the Model
Procedures (see Annex A), and may submit any other documentation in
response to Annex F. The secretariat and the consensus bodies of such
ANSI-Accredited Standards Committees (ASC) shall jointly hold the ANSI
accreditation. Details of how this joint accreditation will be
implemented are at the discretion of the secretariat and the consensus
body.

**2.1.3** Standards developers using the Canvass Method shall use the
canvass procedures provided in Annex B and comply with the requirements
contained in the *ANSI Procedures for the Development and Coordination
of American National Standards*.

## 2.2 Criteria for accreditation 

## 

Accreditation shall be based on compliance with the following criteria:

a\) the operating procedures used for the development of evidence of
consensus for approval, revision, reaffirmation, or withdrawal of
standards as American National Standards shall conform to the due
process requirements of 1.2;

b\) with respect to American National Standards or candidate American
National Standards, the applicant shall agree to:

> 1\) provide continuity of administrative oversight and support of its
> standards activities;
>
> 2\) provide for designation, publication, and maintenance of the
> standard(s) produced (see part 4);
>
> 3\) provide for an appeals mechanism;
>
> 4\) cooperate with ANSI in standards planning and coordination
> activities of mutual interest;

5\) advise ANSI of the initiation and scope of new standards activities
and revisions of existing standards expected to result in candidate
American National Standards;

> 6\) submit to ANSI for public comment the requisite information
> concerning activities related to new candidate American National
> Standards and the revision, reaffirmation, or withdrawal of American
> National Standards;
>
> 7\) consider applicable international standards (see 1.2.9); and
>
> 8\) pay to ANSI all relevant fees.

c\) as appropriate to the extent to which the applicant is involved with
standardization, the applicant shall consider participation in
international standards activities through ANSI;

d\) with respect to submitting proposed American National Standards to
ANSI for BSR approval, the applicant shall agree to comply with clause
1.3.1.1 of these procedures;

e\) the applicant shall advise ANSI of its policies regarding the use of
international system of units (SI) in standards, record retention,
patents and interpretation of American National Standards.

## 

## 2.3 Application

Application to ANSI for accreditation shall be in writing and shall
include copies of the pertinent standards developing procedures and
other documentation demonstrating compliance with the criteria specified
in 2.2. In the case of an application for accreditation as a committee,
the applicant shall be defined as and is considered to be jointly the
secretariat and the consensus body.

If more than one set of standards developing procedures is used by an
applicant, each procedure requires separate review for accreditation.
The applicant shall submit its scope for informational purposes only, a
description of its present program of standards activities, including,
as applicable, the scopes of standards committees, and a list of
candidate American National Standards (see clause 3). Also included
shall be a statement from the applicant that details their coordination
efforts to date and confirms their agreement to attempt to coordinate
their standards activities with other ANSI-accredited standards
developers and with ANSI.

A notice announcing the application for accreditation shall be published
in *Standards Action* with a call for comment. Copies of the pertinent
standards developing procedures shall be available from the applicant,
upon request.

Following the comment period, the ExSC shall consider the information
supplied by the applicant and any comments and responses received,
including reports on coordination from the appropriate ExSC designee if
any, standards advisors, and the BSR. If comments are submitted that
challenge support for an applicant's accreditation, the applicant shall
supply evidence of such support for consideration by the commenter and
the ExSC. The ExSC shall determine whether accreditation should be
approved. The applicant must meet all of the criteria in 2.2 before
accreditation can be granted. If, during the course of the accreditation
process, the developer makes a change to their originally submitted
scope or to their originally submitted operating procedures, an
additional announcement shall be published in Standards Action. If,
however, the developer makes changes to the originally submitted
operating procedures at the specific direction of the ExSC or their
designee in order to bring their procedures into compliance with the
*ANSI Procedures*, an informational announcement shall be placed in
*Standards Action* without additional public review. Accreditation will
not be granted to an applicant whose procedures do not satisfy the
requirements set forth herein. In the event that accreditation is not
granted, the ExSC shall advise the applicant of the reasons, and the
applicant shall have the opportunity to reapply. Upon accreditation, the
applicant shall be notified and a notice shall appear in *Standards
Action*.

## 2.4 Maintenance of accreditation

The ANSI Audit Director, under the supervision of the ExSC, shall
arrange for audits of accredited standards developers at selected
intervals or, at the request of the ExSC, due to special circumstances
(BSR request, appeals action, etc.) to confirm adherence to the criteria
for accreditation and to confirm that the procedures and practices of
the accredited standards developer continue to be consistent with those
which formed the basis for accreditation. The ANSI Audit Director shall
report the audit findings to the ExSC who in turn shall take appropriate
action in accordance with the *ANSI Auditing Policy and Procedures.*

Accredited standards developers granted authority to designate their
standards as American National Standards without BSR approval shall
submit to a regular audit in accordance with 1.3.2.

When ANSI issues revised or additional criteria for accreditation, the
accredited standards developer shall comply with them within a
reasonable time period designated by the ExSC in order to maintain
accreditation.

Whenever any revision is made to a standards developer's procedures on
record at ANSI, the ExSC shall be notified and provided with a detailed
description of the changes. If the changes are considered by the ExSC to
be non‑substantive, the standards developer will be notified and, upon
such notification, may begin to operate under the revised procedures. If
the changes are considered by the ExSC to be substantive, notice of
these changes shall appear in *Standards Action* with a call for
comment. Copies of the revised procedures shall be made available by the
applicant to any party, upon request. If a developer submits their
procedures in an electronic format and authorizes ANSI to post them on
ANSI Online for purposes of public review, then the associated call for
comment period in ANSI's *Standards Action* shall be 30 days and shall
be announced as such.

If the standards developer decides to implement revised \> procedures \>
prior to the final approval of the ExSC, they \> may do so provided that
a) records concerning the \> implementation are \> maintained and
available for use by the ANSI Audit Program; b) the \> developer \>
certifies that the changes are in compliance with the *ANSI \>
Procedures\>* ; \> and c) \> the developer accepts responsibility for
all actions \> taken with regard to a candidate American National
Standard, including \> resubmittal, if the ExSC does not approve a
particular procedural provision.

Following the comment period, the ExSC shall consider the comments
received, the latest status reports, the latest audit of the accredited
standards developer, and any available additional information to
determine whether to continue the accreditation. Notice of continuance
shall be sent to the accredited standards developer and shall appear in
*Standards Action*.

When the ExSC requests an accredited standards developer to revise its
approved procedures to bring them into compliance with the *ANSI
Procedures for the Development and Coordination of American National
Standards*, the ExSC shall decide on a case-by-case basis whether
reaccreditation, including public review, is also required.

## 2.5 Withdrawal of accreditation

As a result of an appeal, or the notification to the ExSC by either the
secretariat or the consensus body of an ANSI-accredited standards
committee of its decision to terminate the jointly-held accreditation
(except as provided in clause 2.5.1 below), the ExSC may withdraw
accreditation and the approval of the developer's American National
Standards without advance notice.

In addition, the ExSC may advise and request any accredited standards
developer to take corrective action if the conditions upon which
accreditation was granted are not maintained. If such action is not
taken within the time period designated, the ExSC shall provide at least
a thirty day notice to the standards developer stating that, unless
specified conditions are corrected, its accreditation and the approval
of all American National Standards under all affected accreditations
shall be withdrawn. Unless the necessary corrective actions are taken
within the specified period, the ExSC shall withdraw the accreditation
and approval of all American National Standards sponsored by the
developer. The standards developer shall be notified of withdrawal of
accreditation and a notice shall appear in *Standards Action*.

### 2.5.1 Change in Secretariat-Consensus Body Relationship within an ANSI-Accredited Standards Committee (ASC)

In the case of an ANSI-accredited standards committee, the secretariat
and the consensus body shall jointly hold the accreditation. If a change
in the entity that serves as the secretariat is sought by both the
consensus body and the secretariat and the new secretariat agrees to use
the ASC's existing procedures, then the following shall apply:

(a) The secretariat shall prepare and circulate a ballot for consensus
    body approval of the new secretariat.

(b) Upon closure of the ballot, a copy of the voting results shall be
    transmitted to the consensus body pursuant to the accredited
    procedures.

-   If a two-thirds affirmative vote of the total voting membership of
    the consensus body is not achieved, and the secretariat and/or the
    consensus body do not wish to continue their joint relationship,
    then the ExSC shall be so notified in writing. The accreditation of
    the ASC shall be withdrawn by the ExSC as a result in accordance
    with clause 2.5 herein.

-   If a two-thirds affirmative vote of the total voting membership of
    the consensus body is achieved, then the following procedures shall
    apply.

c\) A notice shall be sent to the Secretary of the ExSC notifying it of
the change in secretariat, the reasons therefore, a copy of the voting
results that indicate the consensus body's acceptance of the proposed
change and a certification that the new secretariat shall operate in
accordance with the currently accredited procedures.

d\) The Secretary of the ExSC shall place an announcement of the
transfer of the responsibility to the new secretariat in *Standards
Action* to solicit public comment. The comment period shall be 30 days.

e\) The ExSC shall consider any comments received during the public
comment period. If no comments are received, then an informative
announcement confirming the change of secretariat shall be made in
*Standards Action*. If comments are received, the ExSC shall require
that the consensus body and the proposed secretariat respond adequately
to such comments prior to final approval by the ExSC.

# 3 Planning and Coordinating American National Standards

## 3.1 Introduction

ANSI's planning and coordinating activities depend on the cooperation
and participation of standards developers and affected interests.
Various methods are used to plan and coordinate voluntary standards
activities. A considerable amount of planning and coordinating activity
routinely takes place at the standards development level by the
standards writing committees or their subgroups.

Where several standards developers and other interests are involved in
major new, or nationally critical, areas of standardization, ANSI acts
to assist the concerned interests to identify national standards needs
and to generate joint plans for providing American National Standards to
meet those needs. ANSI's planning and coordinating activities include
identifying and assessing resources available for the development of
needed standards; establishing priorities; generating voluntary,
coordinated plans for standards development; minimizing duplication;
avoiding the promulgation of conflicting American National Standards;
and assuring opportunity for participation by all directly and
materially affected interests. (Refer also to clauses 1.2.7 and 1.2.8.)

## 3.2 Purpose

Planning and coordinating activities are intended to support the
development of a single consistent set of American National Standards
(appropriately aligned with international standards) in order to
competently and economically address the needs for national standards on
a timely basis under generally recognized principles of due process.

## 3.3 Organization

Overall responsibility for ANSI's national and international planning
and coordinating functions is assigned by the Board of Directors to the
Executive Standards Council (ExSC). The ExSC delegates specific
activities as opportunity and needs arise, appointing designees or
standards advisors, as appropriate.

3.3.1 Standards planning panels

Standards planning panels are ad hoc groups formed by the ExSC to
address the needs and coordination of standards in areas not covered by
standards boards or where several standards boards have an interest.

3.3.2 ExSC committees

The Executive Standards Council may establish committees as needed, to
address specific and immediate planning and coordinating issues. The
scope, membership, functions, and reporting mechanism of ExSC committees
shall be defined by the ExSC.

3.3.3 Standards advisors

The Executive Standards Council may appoint Standards advisors in
standardization fields not covered by ExSC committees (see annex C).

## 3.4 Project registration

Project registration is designed to provide a central data bank of
information relative to voluntary national standards, both during
development and after approval and publication. It is useful for
providing direct information to all interested parties and is a key
element in planning and coordination.

3.4.1 Data input

The ExSC, after consultation with standards developers, shall establish
a mechanism to enable standards developers to provide ANSI with
information with respect to their standards activities and standards
publications. Such information shall be added to a data bank of
standards information.

3.4.2 Data availability

Information from the data bank on standards and standardization projects
shall be available to users for a scheduled fee to compensate for
administrative costs.

3.4.3 Notification of standards activities

To ensure that all interested parties are made aware of new activities,
ANSI will announce new standards development projects in *Standards
Action*.

3.4.4 Draft American National Standards for trial use

Draft standards intended for subsequent submittal to ANSI for approval
as American National Standards may be published by accredited standards
developers for trial use and comment in trade or technical journals, or
as separate publications for a period of up to three years. The
availability of such draft standards shall be registered with ANSI and
announced in ANSI's *Standards Action*, other appropriate media and, if
practical, may be listed in ANSI's catalog.

Accredited Standards Developers that intend to utilize draft standards
for trial use are required to establish procedures for use in connection
with their promulgation. Such procedures shall specify how and by whom
the decision to promulgate a draft standard for trial use shall be made.
Such procedures shall afford materially affected interests the
opportunity to challenge the decision to register a draft standard for
trial use with ANSI. A copy of such procedures shall be received by
ANSI, reviewed and approved by the Executive Standards Council (ExSC) or
its designee, and placed on file prior to the submission and
announcement of any draft standards for trial use. Draft standards for
trial use shall not be issued to address a need for an emergency
standard. In addition, draft standards for trial use must be in
compliance with the ANSI Patent Policy.

Materially affected interests wishing to initiate a challenge at ANSI to
a decision by an Accredited Standards Developer to register with ANSI a
draft standard for trial use shall first exhaust all methods of
challenge at the Accredited Standards Developer's level prior to
submitting an appeal to the ANSI ExSC. The only basis on which such an
appeal shall be filed is the alleged failure of the Accredited Standards
Developer to follow either its own procedures or any other relevant ANSI
requirements. The burden of proof shall be on the appellant. An
announcement regarding the appeal will appear in *Standards Action.*

The following statement, or equivalent, shall be included on the front
cover of the draft standard for trial use:

"Publication of this draft standard for trial use and comment has been
approved by (insert name of accredited standards developer).
Distribution of this draft standard for comment shall not continue
beyond ( ) months from the date of publication. It is expected that
following this ( ) month period, this draft standard, revised as
necessary, will be submitted to the American National Standards
Institute for approval as an American National Standard. A public review
in accordance with established ANSI procedures is required at the end of
the trial use period and before a draft standard for trial use may be
submitted to ANSI for approval as an American National Standard. This
draft standard is not an American National Standard. Suggestions for
revision should be directed to \...."

Use of the ANSI logo or trademark is prohibited on any document that has
not been approved as an American National Standard including a draft
standard for trial use. If an ANSI-accredited developer complies with
these procedures in connection with a draft standard for trial use, it
may be referred to as a *Draft American National Standard for Trial
Use.* ANSI reserves the right to deny announcement of the availability
of a draft standard for trial use that is intended to be submitted for
approval as an American National Standard for legal reasons upon advice
of its counsel.

## 3.5 Requests for new projects

Any direct and materially affected person may request ANSI to consider
the need for development of a national consensus standard or a group of
standards. Such requests shall be communicated to an appropriate
standards developer and announced in *Standards Action*. As appropriate,
ANSI shall take action to consider the request and any comment received
to identify:

a\) views on the need for the standard(s);

b\) organizations(s) already engaged in developing the standard(s);

c\) one or more accredited standards developers interested in developing
the standard(s);

d\) other directly and materially affected interests.

If warranted by the findings, ANSI shall request an appropriate
accredited standards developer to develop the needed standard(s). All
such actions shall be announced in *Standards Action*.

## 3.6 Coordination and harmonization

Coordination usually can be accomplished by standards developers through
the implementation of one or more of the following:

a)  clear delineation of scope, purpose, and intended application of
    each standard;

b)  public notice of standardization activities;

c)  joint and cooperative activities of the individual organizations,
    including liaison representation;

d)  organization of an independent but representative body acceptable to
    the involved parties to coordinate standards needs and projects and
    to develop standards as required;

e)  liaison between national standards developers and the organization
    responsible for the U.S. position on corresponding international
    standards;

f)  use of the ANSI project registration system.

To achieve a consistent set of American National Standards and to
represent the United States in non‑treaty international standards
activities, it is necessary for ANSI to harmonize ongoing standards
activity, minimize duplication, and avoid the promulgation of
conflicting American National Standards.

The ExSC and/or its designee shall be alert to duplication of national
standards activities. The ExSC or its designee shall notify standards
developers of any identified potential or existing duplication of
standards developing activities and request the standards developers
involved to coordinate their activities and report the results.

Potential or existing conflicts identified or brought to the attention
of the ExSC or its designee shall be investigated and harmonization
initiated, if warranted. This process usually consists of:

a)  appointing an ad hoc group to investigate and report whether
    harmonization is necessary. The ad hoc group reports on the purpose
    and application of the standards as well as the structure and issues
    that led to the conflict;

b)  inviting the organizations involved to develop a harmonization plan,
    if it is determined that harmonization is necessary. The plan may
    include liaisons, joint committees, ad hoc groups, or other
    activities;

c)  publishing the results of harmonization efforts in *Standards
    Action* or elsewhere, as appropriate.

# Designation, publication, maintenance, and interpretation of American National Standards

## 4.1 Designation of American National Standards

A standard that is approved as an American National Standard shall have
its cover or title page marked with an approval logo[^7] furnished by
ANSI or the words "an American National Standard." In addition, American
National Standards shall be marked in such a way as to identify the
version of the standard or shall be identified by a unique alphanumeric
designation in accordance with the guidelines contained herein.

The ANSI approval logo and the words "an American National Standard"
shall not be used to identify any standard that has not received ANSI
approval or been approved by an accredited standards developer who has
been granted authority to designate its standards as American National
Standards.

Portions of the document that were not approved through the full
consensus process and therefore are not part of the American National
Standard (such as forewords, prefaces, annexes, appendices,
interpretations, etc.) shall be clearly identified at the beginning of
each such clause, or such information shall be overprinted on the cover
page. These portions of the document shall be marked with the following,
or similar, explanatory language:

> "The information contained in this annex (*or other portion of a
> document)* is not part of this American National Standard (ANS) and
> has not been processed in accordance with ANSI's requirements for an
> ANS. As such, this annex *(or other portion of a document)* may
> contain material that has not been subjected to public review or a
> consensus process. In addition, it does not contain requirements
> necessary for conformance to the standard."

American National Standards shall be identified by a unique alphanumeric
designation in accordance with the following guidelines:

a)  a designation assigned by the standards developer and adopted by
    ANSI for all new, revised, and reaffirmed standards. For example:
    ANSI/IEEE 123-2001 or for an addendum in the same year, ANSI/IEEE
    123.a-2001;

b)  the committee designation shall be used on standards developed by an
    Accredited Standards Committee (ASC). For example: ANSI X3.1‑2001;

c)  multiple designations should be avoided. If a standard has multiple
    designations, an attempt shall be made by those concerned to arrive
    at a single designation.

## 4.2 Publication

American National Standards shall be published and made available as
soon as possible, but no later than six months after approval as an
American National Standard. The standards developer shall publish the
standard or shall grant the right of publication to ANSI.

If an American National Standard is not published within six months
following its approval, the standards developer may request an extension
of this deadline from the ExSC or its designee. Such a request shall be
in writing, shall supply the reason for the delay, and shall indicate a
firm final date for publication. At its discretion, the ExSC or its
designee may grant an additional period of time for publication.

The ExSC or its designee shall publish a notice in *Standards Action* of
intent to withdraw approval if the standards developer a) fails to
publish the standard or fails to grant ANSI the right to publish within
six months after its approval as an American National Standard and does
not request an extension of the deadline despite follow‑up or b) fails
to meet the extended deadline.

## 4.3 Style of publication

When the standards developer does not have its own style of publication
it is recommended that the standard be prepared in accordance with the
*ANSI Style Manual for Preparation of Proposed American National
Standards*.

## 4.4 Maintenance of American National Standards

American National Standards shall be kept current and relevant by means
of timely revision or reaffirmation. Obsolete standards shall be
withdrawn. Standards developers are permitted two options -- periodic
maintenance or continuous maintenance -- as outlined below.

### 4.4.1 Periodic maintenance of American National Standards

Periodic maintenance is defined as the maintenance of a standard by
review of the entire document and action to revise or reaffirm it on a
schedule not to exceed five years from the date of its approval as an
American National Standard.

Within four years after approval of an American National Standard the
standards developer shall initiate the necessary action to reaffirm,
revise, or withdraw the American National Standard.

**4.4.1.1** In the event that an American National Standard is not
reaffirmed, revised, or withdrawn within five years after its approval,
the standards developer may request an extension of time to reaffirm or
revise the standard, or shall withdraw the standard. The extension of
time shall be submitted to ANSI within thirty days following five years
after the approval date of the American National Standard. Requests for
extensions shall demonstrate that work is under way that will lead to
revision, reaffirmation, or withdrawal. The extension may be granted by
the ExSC or its designee.

If the extension is granted and the American National Standard is not
reaffirmed, revised, or withdrawn within the extension period, the
standards developer may request a second extension. A request for a
second extension shall be authorized by a majority vote of the standard
committee or canvass list concerned. Second requests for extensions
shall indicate the length of the extension required and shall provide
the program and schedule of work. The ExSC or its designee shall review
such requests and may grant the extension.

No extension of time beyond ten years from the date of approval shall be
granted for action on a standard.

**4.4.1.2** In the event that an American National Standard approved by
a standards developer who has been granted authority to designate its
standards as American National Standards is not reaffirmed, revised, or
withdrawn within five years after its approval, the standards developer
shall follow its own procedures to ensure that work is proceeding and
shall notify the Institute and provide the estimated time of completion.
In no case shall a standard maintain the American National Standards
designation beyond ten years from the date of approval.

### 4.4.2 Continuous maintenance of American National Standards

Continuous maintenance is defined as the maintenance of a standard by
consideration of recommended changes to any part of it according to a
documented schedule for consideration and action by the consensus body.

The standard shall be maintained by an accredited standards developer. A
documented program for periodic publication of revisions shall be
established by the standards developer. Processing of these revisions
shall be in accordance with these procedures. The published standard
shall include a clear statement of the intent to consider requests for
change and information on the submittal of such requests. Procedures
shall be established for timely, documented consensus action on each
request for change and no portion of the standard shall be excluded from
the revision process. In the event that no revisions are issued for a
period of four years, action to reaffirm or withdraw the standard shall
be taken in accordance with 4.4.1 and 4.4.3.

### 4.4.3 Withdrawal

If any extension is denied, the ExSC or its designee shall inform the
standards developer of the reasons for the denial. If the standards
developer fails to comply with 4.4.1, the ExSC or its designee shall
recommend withdrawal of approval of the American National Standard to
the Board of Standards Review.

If the standards developer publishes any revision of an American
National Standard and does not submit the revision for approval as an
American National Standard, the BSR shall consider withdrawal of ANSI
approval of the existing American National Standard.

Notice of intent to withdraw ANSI approval shall be published in
*Standards Action* and shall include the reason for withdrawal.

## 4.5 Interpretations

Official interpretations of American National Standards shall be made
only by the accredited standards developer responsible for maintenance
of that standard. ANSI shall not issue, nor shall any person have the
authority to issue, an interpretation of an American National Standard
in the name of the American National Standards Institute. Requests for
interpretations addressed to ANSI shall be referred to the responsible
standards developer.

# 5 Appeals

## 5.1 Introduction

The provision for appeals is important for the protection of directly
and materially affected interests and of standards developers (see 1.2)
and is required as a part of due process (see 1.2.6). This clause gives
general criteria regarding the right to appeal, to whom appeals are
made, what may be appealed, and the appeals mechanism.

## 5.2 Right to appeal

### 5.2.1 Appeals at the standards developer level

Persons who have directly and materially affected interests and who have
been or will be adversely affected by any procedural action or inaction
by a standards developer with regard to the development of a proposed
American National Standard or the revision, reaffirmation, or withdrawal
of an existing American National Standard, have the right to appeal. The
burden of proof to show adverse effect shall be on the appellant.
Appeals of actions shall be made within reasonable time limits; appeals
of inactions may be made at any time. ANSI will not normally hear an
appeal of an action or inaction by a standards developer relative to the
development of an American National Standard until the appeals
procedures provided by the standards developer have been completed.
Appeals shall be directed to the standards developer responsible for the
action or inaction in accordance with the appeals procedure of the
standards developer.

### 

### 5.2.2 Appeals at ANSI

Persons who have directly and materially affected interests and who have
been or will be adversely affected by any procedural action or inaction
by ANSI or by any ANSI-accredited standards-related process have the
right to appeal. Appeals of actions shall be made within reasonable time
limits; appeals of inactions may be made at any time. Such appeals shall
be directed to ANSI in accordance with the procedures of the appropriate
ANSI board or council (e.g., Board of Standards Review, Executive
Standards Council).

## 5.3 Criteria for appeals mechanism

The following general criteria shall apply to any appeals mechanism
provided pursuant to these procedures:

a)  appeals shall be addressed promptly and a decision made
    expeditiously;

b)  the right of the involved parties to present their cases shall not
    be denied;

c)  appeals procedures shall provide for participation by all parties
    concerned without imposing an undue burden on them;

d)  consideration of appeals shall be fair and unbiased and shall fully
    address the concerns expressed;

e)  records of appeals shall be kept and made available to the involved
    parties.

# 6 Amendments

Recommendations of the Executive Standards Council to the Board of
Directors to amend these procedures requires a two‑thirds vote of
approval by letter ballot of the Council following a call for comment in
*Standards Action*.

The Board of Directors may, in accordance with the ANSI Bylaws, make
changes in these procedures at any time after consultation with, or upon
recommendation of, the Executive Standards Council.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc2660645 .anchor}Annex A - Model procedures for an
Accredited Standards Committee

**Normative for those Accredited Standards Committees that adopted Annex
A as their procedures**

## A.1 General

These procedures meet the requirements for due process and development
of consensus for approval of American National Standards as given in
Clause 1 of the *ANSI Procedures* *for the Development and Coordination
of American National Standards.*

## A.2 Organization of the committee

The Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) shall consist of its consensus
body and secretariat. The ASC shall have a title, scope, and an interest
classification system for its members. The membership shall be
sufficiently diverse to ensure reasonable balance without dominance by a
single interest category in accordance with Clause 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and
1.2.4 of the *ANSI Procedures*.

## A.3 Responsibilities

### A.3.1 Consensus Body

The consensus body shall be responsible for:

a)  Proposing American National Standards within the scope of the ASC;

b)  Voting on approval of proposed American National Standards within
    the scope of the ASC;

c\) Maintaining the standards developed by the ASC in accordance with
Clause 4.4 of the *ANSI Procedures*;

d\) Adopting ASC policy and procedures for interpretations of the
standard(s) developed by the consensus body (see A.11.3 herein);

e\) Responding to requests for interpretations of the standard(s)
developed by the consensus body (see A.11.3 herein);

f\) Adopting ASC procedures and revisions thereof;

g\) Other matters requiring consensus body action as provided in these
procedures

### A.3.2 Secretariat

The secretariat shall be responsible for:

a\) Applying for ASC accreditation by ANSI and maintaining accreditation
in accordance with ANSI requirements, including submission of the
consensus body roster;

b\) Overseeing the consensus body's compliance with these procedures;

c\) Maintaining a roster of the consensus body and a list of standards
for which the consensus body is responsible;

d\) Providing a secretary to perform administrative work, including
secretarial services; preparation of meeting notices and the handling of
meeting arrangements; preparation and distribution of meeting agendas,
minutes, ballots, and draft standards; and maintenance of adequate
records;

e\) Submitting candidate standards approved by the consensus body, with
supporting documentation, for ANSI review and approval as American
National Standards;

f\) Performing other administrative functions as required by these
procedures ;

g\) The administrative secretariat shall provide a written agreement to
ANSI defining explicit division of these responsibilities if composed of
more than one organization (i.e., co-secretariats).

## A.4 Officers

There shall be a chair and a vice-chair appointed by the secretariat
from the individual members or representatives of the consensus body,
subject to approval by majority vote of the consensus body. Each will
serve until a successor is selected and ready to serve. The vice-chair
shall carry out the chair's duties if the chair is temporarily unable to
do so. The secretary shall be appointed by the secretariat.

## A.5 Membership

Members of the consensus body shall consist of organizations, companies,
government agencies, individuals, etc., having a direct and material
interest in the activities of the ASC. The selection and addition of
members, along with their interest category, shall be subject to
approval by a majority vote of the consensus body after the application
has been processed in accordance with A.5.1. The termination of members
shall be subject to approval by majority vote of the consensus body
after a review of the membership in accordance with A.5.2.

### A.5.1 Application

A request for membership on the consensus body shall be addressed to the
secretariat and shall indicate the applicant's direct and material
interest in the ASC's work, qualifications and willingness to
participate actively. In addition***,*** if the applicant is an
organization, company, or government agency, it shall identify a
representative (and an alternate, if desired).

####### A.5.1.1 Recommendation

In recommending appropriate action to the consensus body on applications
for membership, the secretariat shall consider the:

a\) Need for active participation by each interest;

b\) Potential for dominance by a single interest category;

c\) Extent of interest expressed by the applicant and the applicant's
willingness to participate actively;

d\) The representative identified by the applicant organization,
company, or government agency.

####### A.5.1.2 Diverse interests

If distinct divisions of an organization demonstrate independent
interests and authority to make independent decisions in the area of the
activity of the ASC, each is permitted to apply for membership.

####### A.5.1.3 Combined interest

When appropriate, the secretariat may recommend that the applicant seek
representation through an organization that is already a member and
represents the same or similar interest.

### A.5.2 Review of membership

The secretariat shall review the consensus body membership list annually
with respect to the criteria of Clause A.5. Members are expected to
fulfill obligations of active participation. Where a member is found in
habitual default of these obligations, the secretariat shall direct the
matter to the consensus body for appropriate action, which may include
termination of membership.

### A.5.3 Observers and individual experts

Individuals and organizations having an interest in the ASC's work may
request listing as observers. The consensus body may also select
individual experts to assist it. Individual experts shall serve for a
renewable term of one year and shall be subject to approval by vote of
the consensus body. Observers and individual experts shall be advised of
the ASC's activities, may attend meetings, and may submit comments for
consideration, but shall have no vote.

### A.5.4 Interest categories

All appropriate interests that are directly and materially affected by
the standards activity of the ASC shall have the opportunity for fair
and equitable participation without dominance by any single interest.
Each member shall propose its own interest category as appropriate and
in accordance with the consensus body's established categories. (See
clauses 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and 1.2.4 of the *ANSI Procedures*).

The interest categories shall be established or revised by a vote of the
consensus body. The rationale for the selection of categories shall be
included in the consensus body ballot and submitted to ANSI as part of
the accreditation requirements.

### A.5.5 Membership roster

The secretariat shall maintain a current and accurate consensus body
roster and shall distribute it to the members and their consensus body
representatives at least annually, and otherwise on request. The roster
shall include the following:

a\) Title of the ASC and its designation;

b\) Scope of the ASC;

c\) Secretariat: name of organization, name of secretary, and
address(es);

d\) Officers: chair and vice-chair;

e\) Members: name of organization or agency, its representative and
alternate (as applicable), addresses, and business affiliations; or
name, address, and business affiliation of individual member(s);

f\) Interest category of each member;

g\) Tally of interest categories: total of voting members and subtotals
for each interest category;

h\) For each subgroup: title, chair, and names and addresses of all
members.

## A.6 Subgroups created by the consensus body

When one or more subgroups (subcommittees, working groups, technical
subcommittees, writing groups, etc.) are formed to expedite the work of
the consensus body, their formation (and later disbandment) requires
approval by a majority vote of the consensus body and appropriate public
notice. The scope and duties delegated to the subgroup shall be approved
at the time it is formed, and subsequent changes in scope or duties
shall also require approval by the consensus body. The charge to the
subgroup shall clearly state whether:

a\) The subgroup is responsible for the definitive content of one or
more standards and for responding to views and objections thereon. Such
subgroups shall maintain a membership roster in accordance with A.5.5
(a) through A.5.5 (g) and shall comply with the provisions in A.5.4,
A.7.1, and Clause A.8 as applied to voting on the standard(s); or

b\) The subgroup is responsible for assisting the consensus body (e.g.
drafting all or a portion of a standard, drafting responses to comments,
drafting positions on international standards, or other purely advisory
functions).

### A.6.1 Chairperson and members of subgroups

The chair and members of a subgroup shall be appointed by the chair of
the consensus body and confirmed by the consensus body. The scope,
duties, and membership of all subgroups shall be reviewed by the
consensus body annually. The officers and members of a subgroup need not
be members of the consensus body.

### A.6.2 Approval of standards

Draft standards and any substantive change (see Clause 1.2.10 of the
*ANSI Procedures*) in the content of a standard proposed by a subgroup
shall be referred to the consensus body for approval.

## A.7 Meetings

Consensus body meetings shall be held, as decided upon by the consensus
body, the chair, the secretariat, or by petition of five or more
members, to conduct business, such as making assignments, receiving
reports of work, considering draft standards, resolving differences
among subgroups, and considering views and objections from any source.
Meetings of subgroups may be held as decided upon by the members or
chair of the subgroup.

### A.7.1 Open meetings

Meetings of the consensus body and all subordinate bodies shall be open
to all members and others having a direct and material interest. At
least four weeks' notice of regularly scheduled meetings of the
consensus body shall be given by the secretariat in ANSI's *Standards
Action*; or in other media designed to reach directly and materially
affected interests; or in both. The notice shall describe the purpose of
the meeting and shall identify a readily available source for further
information. An agenda shall be available and shall be distributed in
advance of the meeting to members and to others expressing interest. The
secretariat may maintain a mailing list of other interests.

### A.7.2 Quorum

A majority of the members of the consensus body shall constitute a
quorum for conducting business at a meeting. If a quorum is not present,
actions shall only be taken subject to subsequent confirmation by letter
ballot or vote at a future meeting.

## A.8 Voting

### A.8.1 Vote

Except in regard to votes on membership and officer-related issues, each
member shall vote one of the following positions:

a\) Affirmative;

b\) Affirmative, with comment;

c\) Negative, with reasons (the reasons for a negative vote shall be
given and if possible should include specific wording or actions that
would resolve the objection);

d\) Abstain, with reasons.

For votes on membership and officer-related issues, the yes/no/abstain
method of voting shall be followed.

####### A.8.1.1 Vote of alternate

An alternate's vote is counted only if the principal representative
fails to vote.

####### A.8.1.2 Single vote

Generally, no representative shall have more than one vote. However, if
two or more organizations appoint the same individual to represent each
of them, that individual may cast a separate vote for each organization
represented. The organizations shall confirm in writing to the
secretariat that they are aware of and will accept the results.
Additionally, representation of more than one organization by the same
individual shall require approval by a majority of the consensus body,
excluding the vote of that individual.

####### A.8.1.3 Voting period

The voting period for letter ballots shall end six weeks from the date
of issue or as soon as all ballots are returned, whichever comes
earlier. An extension may be granted at the chair's option, when
warranted.

A follow-up letter requesting immediate return of the ballot shall be
sent, as appropriate, to members and alternate members whose votes have
not been received within ten working days before the ballot closes.

### A.8.2 Actions requiring approval by a majority

The following actions require approval by a majority of the membership
of the consensus body either at a meeting or by letter ballot:

a\) Confirmation of officers appointed by the secretariat;

b\) Formation of a subgroup, including its procedures, scope, and
duties;

c)  Disbandment of subgroups;

d)  Addition of new consensus body members and designation of their
    interest categories;

e)  Approval of withdrawal of an existing standard.

### A.8.3 Actions requiring approval by two-thirds of those voting

The following actions require a letter ballot or an equivalent formal
recorded vote with approval by at least a majority of the membership and
at least two-thirds of those voting, excluding abstentions:

a\) Adoption of ASC procedures, interest categories, or revisions
thereof;

b\) Approval of a new standard or reaffirmation of an existing one;

c\) Approval of revision or addendum to part or all of a standard;

d\) Approval for submission to ANSI of change of ASC scope.

### A.8.4 Authorization of letter ballots

A letter ballot shall be authorized by any of the following:

a\) Majority vote of those present at a consensus body meeting;

b\) The chair;

c\) The executive committee (if one exists);

d\) The secretariat;

e\) Petition of five or more members of the consensus body.

### A.8.5 Other review

Proposals for new American National Standards or reaffirmation,
revision, or withdrawal of existing American National Standards shall be
transmitted to ANSI for listing in *Standards Action* for comment.

The secretariat shall determine whether listing of proposed standards
actions shall be concurrent with the final consensus body letter ballot
and whether announcement in other suitable media is appropriate. The
secretariat shall transmit a copy of the proposed new, revised, or
reaffirmed standard to the administrator(s) of the appropriate USA
Technical Advisory Group(s) at the same time.

Views and objections resulting from the above shall be dealt with in
accordance with A.8.6. Any substantive change (see clause 1.2.10 of the
*ANSI Procedures*) made in the proposed American National Standard shall
be relisted in accordance with A.8.6.

### A.8.6 Disposition of views and objections

When the balloting has been closed, the secretary shall forward the
ballot tally to the chair of the consensus body or, if appropriate, of
the subgroup; the chair shall determine whether the expressed views and
objections shall be considered by correspondence or at a meeting.

Prompt consideration shall be given to the written views and objections
of all participants, including those commenting on either the PINS
announcement or public comment listing in *Standards Action*.

> **A.8.6.1 PINS announcement comments**
>
> If a developer receives written comments within 45 days from the
> publication date of a PINS announcement in *Standards Action,* and
> said comments assert that a proposed standard duplicates or conflicts
> with an existing American National Standard (ANS) or a candidate ANS
> that has been announced previously in *Standards Action,* a mandatory
> deliberation of representatives from the relevant stakeholder groups
> shall be held within 90 days from the comment deadline. Such a
> deliberation shall be organized by the developer and the commenter and
> shall be concluded before the developer may submit a draft standard
> for public review. If the deliberation does not take place within the
> 90-day period and the developer can demonstrate that it has made a
> good faith effort to schedule and otherwise organize it, then the
> developer will be excused from compliance with this requirement. The
> purpose of the deliberation is to provide the relevant stakeholders
> with an opportunity to discuss whether there is a compelling need for
> the proposed standards project. The outcome of such a deliberation
> shall be conveyed in writing by the developer and commenter (ideally
> as a joint submission) to the Board of Standards Review (BSR) for
> consideration should the developer ultimately submit the related
> candidate standard to ANSI for approval. In the case of Audited
> Designators, the Audited Designator shall review the results of the
> deliberation prior to designating a standard as an ANS. While the
> outcome is not binding, participants are encouraged to develop a
> consensus on whether and how the standards development project should
> proceed.
>
> **A.8.6.2. Public review and consensus body comments**
>
> In connection with an objection articulated during a public comment
> period, or submitted in connection with a vote, an effort to resolve
> all expressed objections shall be made, and each objector shall be
> advised in writing (including electronic communications) of the
> disposition of the objection and the reasons therefor. If resolution
> is not achieved, the objector shall be informed that an appeals
> process exists within procedures used by the standards developer. In
> addition, except in the case of Audited Designators, each objection
> resulting from public review or submitted by a member of the consensus
> body, and which is not resolved (see definition[^8]) must be reported
> to the BSR.

When this process is completed in accordance with the written procedures
of the standards developer, the standards developer may consider any
comments received subsequent to the closing of the public review and
comment period, or shall consider them at the next review.

Unresolved objections and any substantive change (see 1.2.10) made in a
proposed American National Standard shall be reported to the consensus
body in order to afford all members an opportunity to respond, reaffirm,
or change their vote within four weeks.

### A.8.7 Report of final result

The final result of the voting shall be reported, by interest
categories, to the consensus body.

## A.9 Submittal of standard

Upon completion of the procedures for voting, disposition of views and
objections, and appeals, the proposed standard shall be submitted to
ANSI by the secretariat.

The information supplied to ANSI by the secretariat shall include all
relevant material required by ANSI as outlined in clause 2.2 of the
*ANSI Procedures*. If the secretariat does not submit the proposal to
ANSI within a reasonable period of time, any member(s) of the consensus
body may make the submittal.

## A.10 Termination of ASC

A proposal to terminate an Accredited Standards Committee may be made by
a directly and materially affected interest. The proposal shall be
submitted in writing to the ASC and to ANSI and shall include at least
the following:

a\) Reasons why the ASC should be terminated;

b\) The name(s) of the organization(s) that will assume responsibility
for maintenance of any existing American National Standard(s) that
is(are) the responsibility of the consensus body.

If it appears, after review by ANSI and discussion among the proponent
of the action, the secretariat, and the ExSC or its designee, that the
desired objectives can best be reached by termination, the proposal and
supporting documentation shall be submitted to the committee with a
letter ballot to terminate the committee and transfer responsibility, as
appropriate, for the affected standards. The proposal for termination of
the ASC shall be announced for comment in *Standards Action*.

## A.11 Communications

Correspondence of ASC officers should be on "ASC correspondence"
letterhead.

####### A.11.1 Formal internal communication

If correspondence between subcommittees or between working groups of
different subcommittees involves issues or decisions (i.e., non-routine
matters) affecting other subcommittees, copies shall be sent to all
affected subcommittee chairs, the secretariat, and the consensus body
officers.

####### A.11.2 External communication

Inquiries relating to the ASC should be directed to the secretariat, and
members should so inform individuals who raise such questions. All
replies to inquiries shall be made through the secretariat.

####### A.11.3 Requests for interpretation of standards

Written inquiries requesting interpretation of the ASC's approved
American National Standards shall be responded to in accordance with the
policy of the ASC (see A.3.1(d)). Revisions to the standard resulting
from requests for interpretations shall be processed in accordance with
these procedures.

## A.12 Appeals

Persons who have directly and materially affected interests and who have
been or may be adversely affected by a procedural action or inaction of
the consensus body or the secretariat shall have the right to appeal.

### A.12.1 Complaint

The appellant shall file a written complaint with the secretariat within
thirty days after the date of notification of action or at any time with
respect to inaction. The complaint shall state the nature of the
objection(s) including any adverse effects, the clause(s) of these
procedures or the standard that is at issue, actions or inactions that
are at issue, and the specific remedial action(s) that would satisfy the
appellant's concerns. Previous efforts to resolve the objection(s) and
the outcome of each shall be noted.

### A.12.2 Response

Within thirty days after receipt of the complaint, the respondent (chair
or secretariat representative) shall respond in writing to the
appellant, specifically addressing each allegation of fact in the
complaint to the extent of the respondent's knowledge.

### A.12.3 Hearing

If the appellant and the respondent are unable to resolve the written
complaint informally in a manner consistent with these procedures, the
secretariat shall schedule a hearing with an appeals panel on a date
agreeable to all participants, giving at least ten working days notice.

### A.12.4 Appeals panel

The appeals panel shall consist of three individuals who have not been
directly involved in the matter in dispute, and who will not be
materially or directly affected by any decision made or to be made in
the dispute. At least two members shall be acceptable to the appellant
and at least two shall be acceptable to the respondent. If the parties
to the appeal cannot agree on an appeals panel within six weeks, the
matter shall be referred to the Executive Standards Council or its
designee, which shall appoint the members of the appeals panel.

### A.12.5 Conduct of the hearing

The appellant has the burden of demonstrating adverse effects, improper
actions or inactions, and the efficacy of the requested remedial action.
The respondent has the burden of demonstrating that the consensus body
and the secretariat took all actions in compliance with these procedures
and that the requested remedial action would be ineffective or
detrimental. Each party may adduce other pertinent arguments, and
members of the appeals panel may address questions to individuals.
*Robert's Rules of Order* (latest edition) shall apply to questions of
parliamentary procedure for the hearing not covered herein.

### 

### A.12.6 Decision

The appeals panel shall render its decision in writing within thirty
days, stating findings of fact and conclusions, with reasons therefor,
based on a preponderance of the evidence presented to the appeals panel.
Consideration shall be given to the following positions, among others,
in formulating the decision:

a\) Finding for the appellant, remanding the action to the consensus
body or the secretariat with a specific statement of the issues and
facts in regard to which fair and equitable action was not taken;

b\) Finding for the respondent, with a specific statement of the facts
that demonstrate fair and equitable treatment of the appellant and the
appellant's objections;

c\) Finding that new, substantive evidence has been introduced, and
remanding the entire action to the consensus body or the secretariat for
appropriate reconsideration.

**A.12.7 Further appeal**

If the appellant gives notice that further appeal to ANSI is intended, a
full record of the complaint, response, hearing, and decision shall be
submitted by the secretariat to ANSI.

## A.13 Parliamentary procedures

On questions of parliamentary procedure not covered in these procedures,
*Robert's Rules of Order* (latest edition) may be used to expedite due
process.

# Annex B - Procedures for canvass by an accredited standards developer

## Normative, for developers accredited using the Canvass Method

## B.1 General

These procedures constitute the canvass method of developing evidence of
consensus for the approval, reaffirmation, revision, or withdrawal of
American National Standards. A standards developer who adopts these
procedures may apply for accreditation as a standards developer under
the canvass method. In addition to complying with the requirements for
accreditation, the standards developer shall prepare and submit
procedures that meet the requirements found in the *ANSI Procedures* and
shall comply with these procedures.

## B.2 Development of canvass list

**B.2.1** The standards developer shall develop a list of potential
canvassees consisting of those organizations, companies, government
agencies, standards developers, individuals, etc., known to be, or who
have indicated that they are, directly and materially affected by the
standard. The standards developer shall meet the requirements in 1.2.2
regarding lack of dominance. No individual shall represent more than one
canvassee.

**B.2.2** In order to determine if potential canvassees are interested
in participating, the standards developer shall conduct a pre-canvass
interest survey, in which the standards developer informs the potential
canvassees in writing about the use of the canvass method for developing
evidence of consensus, and, if the potential canvassees are interested
in participating, obtains an appropriate interest category
classification. The standards developer's letter shall contain the
title, designation, scope, description of the standard along with the
history of its development, purpose and intended application of the
standard, and an explanation of the ANSI function. The time for response
shall be at least 30 days from the date of the standards developer's
letter and shall be so noted in the letter. After having inquired
whether the potential canvassees are interested, the standards developer
shall send ANSI a copy of the letter, the list of potential canvassees
contacted, and the proposed canvass list. All those who have agreed to
participate shall be included on the canvass list, together with their
agreed-upon interest categories in accordance with 1.2.2 and 1.2.3. In
addition, the affiliation[^9] and interest category of each member of
the consensus body shall be made available to interested parties upon
request.

Once an interest survey has been completed for a standard, it need not
be repeated for subsequent balloting of the document. In addition, the
standards developer may conduct a single interest survey for a group or
category of standards. A canvassee who has indicated a desire to be on
the standards developer's canvass list for a particular category or
categories of standards shall receive the draft document(s), letter
ballot(s), and all appropriate information pertaining to B.4.2 and B.5.

## 

## B.3 Announcement of canvass initiation

Upon receipt of the standards developer's list of potential canvassees,
ANSI shall announce the initiation of the canvass in *Standards Action*
to elicit additional canvassees. This announcement shall include a
statement that the canvass list is available upon request from the
developer, or alternately, a URL address where an electronic version of
the canvass list is posted.

The review period shall be thirty days from the date of publication. Any
resulting proposals for addition to the canvass list shall be referred
directly to the standards developer.

## B.4 Conduct of canvass

**B.4.1** The standards developer may begin to conduct the canvass at
any time after submittal of the list of potential canvassees to ANSI,
but canvassees subsequently added to the canvass list shall have the
same amount of time to respond as do the other canvassees.

**B.4.2** The standards developer shall transmit, at minimum, the
following information to all canvassees and other interested parties so
requesting unless the developer has previously supplied this
information:

a)  the purpose and intended application of the standard;

b)  a brief history and explanation of how the standard was developed;

c)  an explanation of ANSI's function and the use of the canvass method
    in the voluntary consensus standards system;

d)  a copy of the canvass list, consisting of the name, affiliation, and
    category of interest of each canvassee;

e)  a copy of the complete proposed American National Standard or the
    relevant portion under consideration when the canvassee has
    previously received the complete standard;

f)  official letter ballot(s) to all canvassees.

Upon request, the standards developer shall provide to the canvassee a
reasonable number of copies of the document being considered, to allow
for a speedy determination of position by the canvassee. Should the
document contain material that is not to be considered for approval as
an American National Standard, such as an introduction or annex, a clear
statement shall be included indicating those portions of the standard
that are to be considered for approval by ANSI.

The ballot form used by the standards developer shall provide
opportunity for the canvassee to indicate its position (i.e., approval,
objection (with reasons), abstention (with comment), or
nonparticipation, with the advice that, in order to receive
consideration, objections must be accompanied by supporting written
reasons and, where possible, proposals for a solution to the problem
raised. At least one follow-up shall be sent to canvassees not
responding. The canvass ballot may be closed at the end of sixty days,
or sooner if all canvassees have responded. An extension of up to sixty
days shall be granted upon request from any canvassee giving a
legitimate reason.

Those not on the canvass list who have a direct and material interest in
the standard have an opportunity to participate in the review of the
standard during the public review process, announced in *Standards
Action*.

**B.4.3** Approval of a new standard, revision or reaffirmation of an
existing standard, or an addendum to part or all of an existing standard
shall require approval by at least a majority of the canvass list and at
least two-thirds of those voting, excluding abstentions.

**B.4.4** Proposals for new American National Standards and proposals to
revise, reaffirm, or withdraw existing American National Standards shall
also be transmitted to ANSI for listing in *Standards Action* for
comment. The standards developer shall determine whether such listing
shall be concurrent with the canvass and whether announcement of the
proposed action in other suitable media is appropriate. The standards
developer shall transmit a copy of the proposed new, revised, or
reaffirmed standard to the administrator(s) of the appropriate USA
Technical Advisory Group(s) at the same time.

**B.4.5** Views and objections resulting from the canvass (B.4.2 and
B.4.3) shall be dealt with in accordance with clause B.5.

## 

## B.5 Disposition of views and objections 

Prompt consideration shall be given to the written views and objections
of all participants, including those commenting on either the PINS
announcement or public comment listing in *Standards Action*.

> **B.5.1 PINS announcement comments**
>
> If a developer receives written comments within 45 days from the
> publication date of a PINS announcement in *Standards Action,* and
> said comments assert that a proposed standard duplicates or conflicts
> with an existing American National Standard (ANS) or a candidate ANS
> that has been announced previously in *Standards Action,* a mandatory
> deliberation of representatives from the relevant stakeholder groups
> shall be held within 90 days from the comment deadline. Such a
> deliberation shall be organized by the developer and the commenter and
> shall be concluded before the developer may submit a draft standard
> for public review. If the deliberation does not take place within the
> 90-day period and the developer can demonstrate that it has made a
> good faith effort to schedule and otherwise organize it, then the
> developer will be excused from compliance with this requirement. The
> purpose of the deliberation is to provide the relevant stakeholders
> with an opportunity to discuss whether there is a compelling need for
> the proposed standards project. The outcome of such a deliberation
> shall be conveyed in writing by the developer and commenter (ideally
> as a joint submission) to the Board of Standards Review (BSR) for
> consideration should the developer ultimately submit the related
> candidate standard to ANSI for approval. In the case of Audited
> Designators, the Audited Designator shall review the results of the
> deliberation prior to designating a standard as an ANS. While the
> outcome is not binding, participants are encouraged to develop a
> consensus on whether and how the standards development project should
> proceed.
>
> **B.5.2. Public review and consensus body comments**
>
> In connection with an objection articulated during a public comment
> period, or submitted in connection with a vote, an effort to resolve
> all expressed objections shall be made, and each objector shall be
> advised in writing (including electronic communications) of the
> disposition of the objection and the reasons therefor. If resolution
> is not achieved, the objector shall be informed that an appeals
> process exists within procedures used by the standards developer. In
> addition, except in the case of Audited Designators, each objection
> resulting from public review or submitted by a member of the consensus
> body, and which is not resolved (see definition^8^) must be reported
> to the BSR.

When this process is completed in accordance with the written procedures
of the standards developer, the standards developer may consider any
comments received subsequent to the closing of the public review and
comment period, or shall consider them at the next review.

Unresolved objections and any substantive change (see 1.2.10) made in a
proposed American National Standard shall be reported to the consensus
body in order to afford all members an opportunity to respond, reaffirm,
or change their vote within four weeks. Substantive changes made in a
proposed American National Standard shall be listed in *Standards
Action* in accordance with 1.2.7.

## 

## B.6 Submittal of standard

Upon completion of the procedures for canvass, for disposition of views
and objections, and for appeals, the proposed standard may be submitted
to ANSI for approval.

The information to be supplied to ANSI shall include:

a)  title and designation of the proposed American National Standard;

b)  indication of the type of action requested (that is, approval of a
    new American National Standard or reaffirmation, revision, or
    withdrawal of an existing American National Standard);

c)  a declaration that the canvass procedures were followed;

d)  a declaration that the proposed standard is within the scope of
    previously registered standards activity;

e)  a declaration that there are no identified significant conflicts
    with another known American National Standard;

f)  a declaration that other known national standards have been examined
    with regard to harmonization and duplication of content;

g)  a statement that the proposed American National Standard has been
    provided to the administrator(s) of the appropriate USA Technical
    Advisory Group(s);

h)  a declaration that all appeal actions related to the approval of the
    proposed standard have been completed;

i)  a summary of the solicitations and the final positions of the
    participants in each interest category;

j)  identification of all unresolved views and objections,
    identification of the objectors, and a report of attempts toward
    resolution;

k)  the canvass list;

l)  documentation of the disposition of all suggested additions to the
    canvass list.

## 

## B.7 Appeals

Persons who have directly and materially affected interests, and who
have been or will be adversely affected by a standard being canvassed or
by the lack thereof, shall have the right to appeal any procedural
actions or inactions of the standards developer.

The standards developer shall submit its written appeals mechanism to
ANSI in applying for and continuance of its accreditation. The standards
developer may choose to adopt clause A.12 of these procedures in its
entirety in order to provide for the equitable process of appeals, and
shall so inform the Executive Standards Council.

The standards developer shall provide or arrange for an impartial
appeals body composed of at least three individuals knowledgeable as to
the policy or other concerns related to the appeal. Such individuals
must not have demonstrably real or apparent conflicts of interest with
the subject of the appeal or the person filing the appeal.

The appeal must be filed in writing with the standards developer and a
copy sent to ANSI. A summary of the nature of the appeal, and the
decision and rationale thereof, shall be reported to the canvass list
and ANSI.

## 

## B.8 Requests for interpretation of standards

Written inquiries requesting interpretation of the standards developer's
approved American National Standards shall be responded to in accordance
with the policy of the standards developer. Revisions to the standard
resulting from requests for interpretations shall be processed in
accordance with these procedures.

# Annex C - Standards advisors

## Normative, as applicable

## C.1 General

The ExSC may appoint individuals or groups to serve as standards
advisors, each of whom would have competence in one or more technical
areas of standards development, application and coordination. Standards
advisors will be called on to advise the ExSC, other ANSI boards or
councils, and ANSI staff with regard to matters of coordination,
harmonization, standards needs, etc. Advisors shall not be responsible
for making decisions in standards issues, but shall serve, rather, as
information sources.

## 

## C.2 Appointment of standards advisors

Standards advisors are appointed by the ExSC on the basis of individual
or collective qualifications including experience, technical competence,
impartiality, diplomatic abilities, knowledge of the voluntary consensus
system, etc. Standards advisors shall be appointed for a term to be
determined by the ExSC.

# Annex D - The three methods of consensus development

**Informative**

Three methods have been accepted by ANSI to determine the existence of
consensus. The three methods of consensus ensure openness and due
process consistent with the *ANSI Procedures* and are deemed to be
equivalent in their final results. The general aspects of each method
are described below.

## 

## D.1 Accredited organization method

The organization method is most often used by associations and societies
that have, among other activities, an interest in developing standards.
Although participation on the consensus body is open to all interested
parties, members of the consensus body often participate as members in
the association or society. The organization method is the only method
of consensus development in which the standards developer must develop
its own operating procedures. These procedures must meet the general
requirements of 2.2 of the *ANSI Procedures*. By choosing to use this
method, flexibility is provided, allowing the standards developer to
utilize a system that accommodates its particular structure and
practices.

## 

## D.2 Accredited standards committee method

Accredited standards committees are standing committees of directly and
materially affected interests created for the purpose of developing a
document and establishing consensus in support of this document for
submittal to ANSI. The committee method is most often used when a
standard affects a broad range of diverse interests or where multiple
associations or societies with similar interests exist. The committee
serves as a forum where many different interests, without a common
membership in an organization or society, can be represented. Accredited
standards committees are administered by a secretariat, an organization
that takes the responsibility for providing administrative oversight of
the committee's activities and ensuring compliance with the pertinent
operating procedures. An accredited standard committee may adopt the
procedures provided in annex A of the *ANSI Procedures*, or may develop
its own operating procedures consistent with the requirements of 2.2 of
these procedures.

## 

## D.3 Accredited canvass method

A standards developer using the canvass method identifies, to the extent
possible, those who are directly and materially affected by the activity
in question and conducts a letter ballot or "canvass" of those interests
to determine consensus on a document. Additional interest in
participating on a canvass is sought through an announcement in
*Standards Action*. Although canvass developers provide ANSI with
internal procedures used in the development of the draft American
National Standard, the due process used to determine consensus begins
after the draft standard has been developed. Standards developers using
the canvass method must use the procedures provided in annex B of the
*ANSI Procedure*s.

# Annex E - Metric policy

####### Normative

Units of the International System of Units (SI), the modernized metric
system, are the preferred units of measurement in American National
Standards.

# Annex F -- Accredited Standards Committee Agreement

####### Informative

It is suggested that the responsibilities of an Accredited Standards
Committee (ASC), which are listed below, be addressed by the secretariat
and the consensus body through an approved agreement either incorporated
as ASC policies and procedures, or as a separate written agreement.

a)  The nature of the accreditation and under what circumstances the
    secretariat and the consensus body can separate. If they separate,
    include the status of the accreditation.

b)  The specifics of any co-secretariat arrangements.

c)  The procedures by which an ASC is terminated.

d)  Responsibility for revisions to the ASC procedures, title and scope.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
1.  Responsibility for and decisions regarding the publishing of the
    standards, revisions, and addenda (see clauses 4.2 and 4.3 of the
    *ANSI Procedures*);

f\) Who holds the copyright on contributions, drafts and approved
American National Standards, and determines any royalty or exploitation
rights arrangements or licensing arrangements.

g\) Whether the Secretariat or consensus body will or will not, and to
what extent, provide indemnification in connection with potential
liabilities arising out of their standards development process and any
approved American National Standards resulting therefrom.

h\) Who determines the scheduling of consensus body meetings (i.e.,
frequency and location) and the review/revision cycle of American
National Standards.

i\) How the ASC's activities will be funded.

j\) The conditions under which an ASC accepts proprietary standards for
consensus approval (i.e. copyright, maintenance, funding, etc.).

k\) Dispute resolution (i.e., utilize a neutral mediator or forum, such
as ANSI; meetings between the secretariat and members of the consensus
body; etc.).

This agreement also may include other matters relevant to the efficient
operation of the ASC, which are not explicitly covered in these
procedures.

# Annex G - Definitions applicable to the ANSI Procedures for the Development and Coordination of American National Standards

####### Normative

Consensus body: The group that approves the content of a standard, and
whose vote demonstrates evidence of consensus.

Resolved: A negative vote cast by a member of the consensus body or a
comment submitted as a result of public review where the negative voter
agrees to change his/her vote or the negative commenter accepts the
proposed resolution of his/her comment.

Unresolved: Either (a) a negative vote submitted by a consensus body
member or (b) written comments, submitted by a person during public
review expressing disagreement with some or all of the proposed
standard, that have not been satisfied and/or withdrawn after having
been addressed according to the developer's approved procedures and ANSI
requirements.

# Annex H: Definitions of Levels of Equivalency of National Adoptions of ISO or IEC Standards

**Normative, as applicable**

The definitions contained in this annex are excerpted from *ISO/IEC
Guide 21 -- Adoption of ISO or IEC Standards as regional or national
standards*. This annex is normative in connection with actions related
to the national adoption of ISO or IEC standards. Any changes in
document layout (e.g., in relation to pagination, font type and font
size etc.) especially in an electronic environment, have no impact on
the degree of equivalence.

**H.1 Identical (IDT)**

The regional or national standard is identical to the ISO or IEC
standard under the following conditions:

a)  the regional or national standard is identical in technical content,
    structure and wording (or is an identical translation), or

b)  the regional or national standard is identical in technical content,
    although it may contain the following minimal editorial changes:

> \- substitution of decimal point for a decimal comma;
>
> \- correction of any misprints (e.g., spelling errors) or pagination
> changes;
>
> \- deletion of text in one or several languages from a multilingual
> ISO or IEC standard;
>
> \- inclusion of any technical corrigenda or amendments issued to the
> ISO or IEC standard;
>
> \- changes to the title to be consistent with an existing regional or
> national series;
>
> \- substitution of "this regional/national standard" for "this ISO or
> IEC Standard";
>
> \- inclusion of any regional or national informative material (e.g.,
> informative annexes that do not alter, add to or delete from the
> provisions of the ISO or IEC standard); examples of informative
> material are advice to users, training guidance or suggested forms or
> reports;
>
> \- deletion of informative preliminary material from the ISO or IEC
> standard;
>
> \- changes in wording, i.e., use of synonyms to reflect common
> language use in the region or country adopting the ISO or IEC
> standard, such as the use of "elevators" for "lifts" in certain
> countries;
>
> \- addition, for informative purposes, of recalculated values of
> quantity units where a different measurement system is used in an
> adopting country.

The "vice versa principle" is fulfilled.[^10]

**H.2 Modified (MOD)**

The regional or national standard is modified in relation to the ISO or
IEC standard under the following conditions. Technical deviations are
permitted provided they are clearly identified and explained. The
regional or national standard reflects the structure of the ISO or IEC
Standard. Changes to the structure are only permitted if an easy
comparison of the content and structure of the two standards continues
to be possible.

For transparency and traceability, it is strongly recommended that a
national standard adopts only one single ISO or IEC standard. Under
certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to adopt several ISO or IEC
standards within one national standard. However, this is only
practicable for the user if an easy comparison of the content is
provided in a list identifying and explaining the changes. Modified
standards may also include the changes permitted under identical
correspondence.

The "vice versa principle" is not fulfilled.

A modified standard can include such cases as the following:

a)  "The regional or national standard contains less." The regional or
    national standard only applies a subset of the available choices in
    the ISO or IEC Standard, has less stringent requirements, etc.

b)  "The regional or national standard contains more." The regional or
    national standard adds aspects or types, has more stringent
    requirements, includes additional tests, etc.

c)  "The regional or national standard alters a part of the ISO or IEC
    Standard." Part of the content is identical, but both the regional
    or national standard and the ISO or IEC Standard contain some
    differing requirements.

d)  "The regional or national standard provides an alternative choice."
    The regional or national standard provides a provision of equal
    status, which may be used as an alternative to that given in the ISO
    or IEC Standard.

(Note: See Annex A of the ISO Guide for examples of lists of technical
deviations and their explanation.)

A regional or national standard can include an ISO or IEC Standard in
its totality and can contain additional technical provisions, which are
not part of the ISO or IEC Standard. In this case, the degree of
correspondence to the ISO or IEC Standard is either "modified" or "not
equivalent", depending on whether or not the differences are clearly
indicated and technical deviations are listed and explained, although
the part composed of the included ISO or IEC Standard may not have been
subject to any modifications.

**H.3 Not Equivalent (NEQ)**

The regional or national standard is not equivalent to the ISO or IEC
Standard in technical content and structure and the changes have not
been clearly identified. This also can include the case where only a
minority in number or significance of the ISO or IEC provisions remains
in the regional or national standard. This degree of correspondence does
not constitute an adoption.

# Annex I: Designation, Maintenance, and Publication of a National Adoption of an ISO or IEC Standard

**Normative, as applicable**

I.1 Designation and Publication

This section addresses methods for informing users that a standard is a
national adoption of an ISO or IEC Standard and provides recommendations
associated with numbering identical adoptions. Much of the text in this
annex is excerpted from *ISO/IEC Guide 21 -- Adoption of ISO or IEC
Standards as regional or national standards.*

Note that if changes are made to an ISO or IEC standard during the
course of the development of consensus for its approval as an American
National Standard and those changes are not reflected in the final ISO
or IEC version of the standard, the resulting standard shall not bear
the ISO or IEC standard designation. In such case, the standard will be
considered a national/harmonized standard and is not an identical
adoption. It shall be processed in accordance with the developer's
procedures once the appropriate copyright permission is received from
ANSI for use of the ISO or IEC material.

I.2 Methods of adoption notice [^11](or Public Notification of the
National Adoption of an ISO or IEC Standard as an American National
Standard)

The adoption of an ISO or IEC standard shall ensure that the
identification of the ISO or IEC standard is clearly stated. There are
several methods for the adoption of ISO or IEC Standards:

-   Endorsement method: only applicable to identical adoptions. Upon
    approval as an American National Standard an announcement in
    Standards Action shall be made. The standard adopted shall reference
    the ISO or IEC designation.

-   Cover sheet method: applicable to identical and modified adoptions
    only. Upon approval as an American National Standard an announcement
    in Standards Action shall be made. The ISO or IEC standard
    (including any amendments and/or technical corrigenda) may be
    published with a regional or national cover sheet. The cover sheet
    should have a national reference number and the ISO or IEC standard
    will become part of the national standards system. Each cover sheet
    should only refer to one ISO or IEC standard (including any
    amendments and/or technical corrigenda). Adhesive labels, stamps or
    other indications applied to the ISO or IEC standards are considered
    to be equivalent to cover sheets. Since the use of stamps or labels
    provides limited space for information, instructions or notes, these
    should not be used as if they are cover sheets unless the national
    standard is identical to the ISO or IEC standard. The cover sheet
    should contain information and instructions regarding the standard
    as well as information relating to editorial changes. If necessary,
    a reference to an annex listing any technical deviations and reasons
    for them with reference to the ISO or IEC standard should be
    included.

-   Republication: there are three methods of republication: reprinting,
    translation (with or without reprint of the original), and
    redrafting.

For adoption by the Cover Sheet method or by Republication, the degree
of correspondence to the ISO or IEC standard shall be stated in a
prominent position such as on the cover sheet and shall include the ISO
or IEC reference number and year, and international title if different
from the national title. (Examples: titles the same -- Identical to ISO
11111: 2000; title different -- Modified adoption of ISO 11111: 2000,
Widgets.)

With particular reference to the development of electronic versions of
standards, standards bodies may find new methods of adoption which are
not covered in the ISO/IEC Guide 21:1999 (E), or may combine the
existing ones. In this case the method used will not be listed here.
However, the recommendations regarding choice and indication of
correspondence will still remain applicable.

For further information concerning adoption methods described above and
for methods of indicating technical deviations and editorial changes,
please consult ISO/IEC Guide 21:1999(E).

####### I.3 Designating national standards that are identical adoptions of ISO or IEC Standards

These guidelines supplement clauses 4.1 and 4.2 of the ANSI Procedures
for the Development and Coordination of American National Standards.
When a national standard is identical to an ISO or IEC standard, this
should be evident to the reader immediately on the cover and title page.
The recommended method of identification for identical adoptions
consists of including the ISO or IEC standard reference number (letters
and number) in combination with or in association with the national
designation. Depending on the method chosen, in order to improve
transparency, the year of publication of the ISO or IEC Standard and/or
that of the national standard should be added to the number wherever
possible. Examples of acceptable methods of numbering follow:

a\) Single-line numbering: The national letters may be separated from
the ISO or IEC reference number (letters and number) by a space:

ANSI ISO 1234:1999

b\) Two-line dual numbering: The national letters followed by the ISO or
IEC reference number on a separate line or on one line using a slash to
separate them:

ANSI ABC 331:1999

ISO 1234:1998

or

ANSI ABC 331:1999/ISO 1234:1998

**I.4 Maintenance of national adoptions**

When adopting an ISO or IEC standard, all existing amendments and
technical corrigenda to the ISO or IEC standard shall be included in the
national standard. Amendments and technical corrigenda published after
the adoption of an ISO or IEC standard should be considered for adoption
as soon as possible. Adoption of amendments shall follow the same
procedure as for the adoption of the original standard (see 1.2.9).
Technical corrigenda (i.e., errata) may be published following the
standards developer's usual procedures.

[^1]: Further subdivisions that may be used to categorize directly and
    materially affected persons consist of, but are not limited to, the
    following:

    a\) Consumer; b) Directly affected public; c) Distributor and
    retailer; d) Industrial/commercial; e) Insurance; f) Labor; g)
    Manufacturer; h) Professional society; I) Regulatory agency; j)
    Testing laboratory; k) Trade association.

[^2]: Resolved: A negative vote cast by a member of the consensus body
    or a comment submitted as a result of public review where the
    negative voter agrees to change his/her vote or the negative
    commenter accepts the proposed resolution of his/her comment.

[^3]: See Annex H for definitions of the degrees of adoptions.

[^4]: As used here, the term "conflict" refers to a situation where,
    viewed from the perspective of an implementer, the terms of one
    standard are inconsistent with the terms of another standard such
    that implementation of one standard necessarily would preclude
    proper implementation of the other standard in accordance with its
    terms.

[^5]: The sufficiency of the indemnity will be evaluated on a
    case-by-case basis in light of the assets of the applicant. ANSI
    reserves the right to deny approval to any applicant should ANSI
    determine an offer of indemnity to be insufficient.

[^6]: It is understood that, absent a conflict of interest, the
    developer may designate its own attorneys as the attorneys for ANSI
    as well.

[^7]: An "Approved American National Standard" mark is available from
    ANSI.

[^8]: Resolved: A negative vote cast by a member of the consensus body
    or a comment submitted as a result of public review where the
    negative voter agrees to change his/her vote or the negative
    commenter accepts the proposed resolution of his/her comment.

[^9]: ^1^ Affiliation refers to the entity that the consensus body
    member represents (which may or may not be that person's employer).
    If the consensus body member is serving in an individual capacity,
    then the name of the individual, that person's employer and interest
    category should be available. Contact information is not required.

[^10]: Vice versa principle: principle whereby anything that is
    acceptable under the terms of the ISO or IEC Standard is acceptable
    under the regional or national standard and vice versa, and thus
    compliance with the ISO or IEC Standard also means compliance with
    the regional or national standard.

[^11]: See Annex C of ISO/IEC Guide 21:1999 (E).