Note that this does not mean unanimity - standards seldom satisfy all interests equally. But they are developed using a process that ensures that all views are heard and considered, and that conflicts are resolved where possible, so that the final product represents a general agreement among all concerned parties. Standards must be impartial , and not be used to restrict commerce. They are, after all, agreements among competitors, who must be careful not to write specifications that would squeeze another company's product out of the market, or require product approvals available only to certain companies. Standards and certification activities fall under close scrutiny by the US Justice Department, as well as international trade agreements.
All standards establish a baseline of performance .
They are seldom the leading edge of technology, but rather a set of essential performance characteristics. Among safety product standards, the most familiar name is ANSI , which stands for the American National Standards Institute. But while it's the most familiar, ANSI's role is often misunderstood. ANSI is a federation formed by standards writers and users, that manages the voluntary standards system in the United States. ANSI is not a government agency, although it works closely with the government, and is the official United States voice in international standards bodies.