Voluntary and mandatory standards and Standards development process:
Most standards are voluntary. However, a standard may be mandated by a company, professional society, industry, government or trade agreement. A standard may be called a regulation when it becomes mandatory. This mandate may, or may not, have a legal basis.
When a standard is mandated by a government or an international trade agreement, it normally becomes legally obligatory based on regulations or a law established by the government or the contracts between international bodies. Countries that are considering making standards mandatory should take into account the potential consequences under international agreements on technical barriers to trade.
Typical process for standards development figure
1. CONFIRM THE NEED FOR A STANDARD
2. DETERMINE WHETHER RELEVANT STANDARD (LOCAL OR INTERNATIONAL) EXISTS THAT CAN BE ADOPTED
3. IDENTIFY NECESSARY FUNDING
4. SET UP TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND ENSURE INPUT FROM ALL INTERESTED PARTIES
5. DEVELOP STANDARD
6. INVITE PUBLIC VIEW OF DRAFT STANDARD
7. COMMITTEE VOTE IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS
8. RESOLVE NEGATIVES AND REVISE DRAFT
9. SECOND-LEVEL REVIEW
10. APPROVE STANDARD
11. PUBLISH STANDARD
12. REVIEW AND REVISE STANDARD AT APPROPRIATE INTERVAL
The figure above provides an example of the many steps used by standards development organizations (see www.iso.org for ISO’s six-step process in the development of international standards). In general, good standards have the following attributes:
1. Their development has been overseen by a recognized body, thus ensuring that the process is transparent and not dominated by vested interests.
2. The development process has been open to input from all interested parties and the resulting document based on consensus. Consensus, in a practical sense, means that significant agreement among the stakeholders is reached in the preparation of the standard, including steps taken to resolve all objections. This process implies more than the votes of a majority, but not necessarily unanimity.
3. Good technical standards are based on consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and are aimed at the promotion of optimum community benefits.
4. Standards do not hinder innovations and must be periodically reviewed to remain in tune with technological advances.
Voluntary and mandatory standards and Standards development process:
