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(International Organization for Standardization) -- The world’s leading international standards organizations have adopted a harmonized approach to address the inclusion of patented technology in standards. The International Electrotechnical Commission, International Organization for…
(The American National Standards Institute; Washington, D.C.) -- From air quality to children’s toys and from alternative sources of energy to security and privacy on the Internet, standards and conformity assessment programs have become the tools that bolster social progress and…
(ANSI, New York) -- Global manufacturers are facing mounting pressure from the expansion of domestic and foreign chemical controls and regulations such as REACH, RoHS, WEEE and GHS. According to the United States Mission to the European Union, REACH alone is expected to disrupt tens of…
(American National Standards Institute, Washington, D.C.) -- A project underway at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory is truly out of this world. Teams from NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—the research arm of the U.S.…
Think Europe’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) was tough? Meet China RoHS. Phase One of China RoHS takes effect March 1, and while it has an intent similar to the European Union’s (EU) RoHS, the approach is different. Like RoHS in Europe, China RoHS (officially known as Management…
(International Organization for Standardization-Geneva) -- A newly published document in the ISO 22000 series gives the requirements for the bodies that carry out auditing and certification of food safety management systems (FSMS). ISO technical specification ISO/TS 22003:2007 provides…
(International Organization for Standardization, Geneva) -- ISO has just launched a CD-ROM containing a collection of 24 ISO/IEC standards and one amendment on radio frequency identification (RFID). A wireless technology enabling communication between interrogating devices and embedded…
Standardization was presented as a way of minimizing threats from global challenges such as climate change at the World Economic Forum, held Jan. 24–28 in Davos, Switzerland. More than 1,000 economic and industry leaders attended the event, at which a “shifting power equation” was noted…
The Independent Association of Accredited Registrars recently approved RABQSA International Inc.—an accredited personnel and training certification body—as its newest member. The IAAR is an association of accredited management system registrars that operate in North America to promote the…
The American National Standards Institute’s Homeland Security Standards Panel met recently to discuss ways in which standards could help boost emergency preparedness in the public and private sectors. The meeting was the final in a series that examined standards suggestions based on…
San Francisco will be the site of a week-long meeting of the International Accreditation Forum’s technical and executive committees. Held at the Hilton San Francisco, March 24–30, the event will be hosted by the ANSI-RAB National Accreditation Board (ANAB). The IAF’s technical…
The International Organization for Standardization recently selected the members of a jury that will choose winners of a new award for the teaching of standardization in higher education. The ISO Award for Higher Education in Standardization selection committee is: George Arnold, ISO…
Certification bodies around the world have until Sept. 15, 2008 to implement ISO/IEC 17021:2006, the new standard designed to increase confidence in management system certification. The International Accreditation Forum set the deadline in consultation with the International Organization…
A new year means new members for the American National Standards Institute’s board of directors. ANSI’s board recently announced several new members, along with the reappointment of Robert W. Noth, manager of engineering standards for Deere & Co., for a second one-year term as…
The International Organization of Standardization recently created the ISO Award for Higher Education in Standardization, which will be presented for the first time at the ISO General Assembly in Geneva in September.
The award is designed to support institutions that have developed and implemented…
A private standards-developing organization recently published the first known consensus-based standard defining a common technical language for nanotechnology. ASTM International’s ASTM E2456-06, “Standard terminology relating to nanotechnology,” establishes terminology for such…
A new standard from the International Organization for Standardization is expected to increase the market for natural gas-powered vehicles by making on-board storage of the fuel safer. ISO 19078:2006, “Gas cylinders—Inspection of the cylinder installation, and requalification of high-…
The United Nations Global Compact Office recently agreed to cooperate with the International Organization for Standardization’s effort to develop ISO 26000, which pertains to social responsibility. ISO has emphasized that ISO 26000 will complement existing public and private sector…
Sam Y. Zamrik, a technical consultant and professor emeritus of engineering mechanics at the Pennsylvania State University, was recently named president-elect of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. ASME develops codes and standards for the engineering and technology industries.…
Nearly 70,000 people attended the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) Telecom World conference last week in Hong Kong to discuss international standardization of telecommunications technologies, among other things. The leading global organization for information and…
NSF International Strategic Registrations Ltd. (NSF-ISR) was recently accredited to AS9110 by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB). The registrar reports it is the first in North America to receive ANAB approval to offer AS9110 registration. The standard incorporates ISO 9001…
RABQSA International Inc. recently announced the formation of an accreditation scheme for auditors that conduct audits using standards that pertain to heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses. The Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) auditor certification scheme was developed by RABQSA’s…
The Automotive Industry Action Group will host a conference on the development of interoperability standards for the automotive industry. The National Institute of Standards and Technology estimates that the automotive industry wastes $5 billion annually due to a lack of interoperability…
The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSIP) recently recommended the adoption of three interoperability specifications to the American Health Information Community. HITSIP is a multistakeholder group that develops data standards for American health care companies. The…
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers recently announced a new standard relating to the skills required of pipeline workers. "ASME B31Q: Pipeline Personnel Qualification Standard" details the tasks typically performed by pipeline workers, and can be used to qualify pipeline…
