Standards Developers Info

Standards Developers' Participation in ANS Development

The American National Standards (ANS) process comprises two distinct phases:

Accreditation of standards developers

Accreditation by ANSI signifies that an organization’s voluntary consensus standards development procedures meet ANSI’s requirements for openness and due process. To become an ANSI-Accredited Standards Developer (ASD), an organization voluntarily submits documentation of its procedures to ANSI for review, and agrees to maintain compliance with ANSI's requirements and oversight (ANSI's oversight relates only to this activity). Accreditation by ANSI is a prerequisite for an organization to submit documents for approval as American National Standards (ANS).

Approval of standards as ANS

ANSI approves a document as an American National Standards (ANS) when the sponsoring ANSI-Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) successfully demonstrates that consensus has been achieved and that the standard's development complied with ANSI’s Essential Requirements and oversight process. ANSI reviews and approves American National Standards on an individual-document basis (except in the case of Audited Designators).

Why should you become an ANSI-Accredited Standards Developer (ASD)?

Accreditation as an ASD provides concrete value and powerful recognition to a standards developer – and to the individual standards that earn the American National Standards (ANS) designation.

The ANS process is intended to minimize conflict and duplication in the market-driven U.S. standardization system, enabling diverse standards developing organizations to efficiently leverage collective work already done and focus on responding efficiently to current standardization needs.
The ANS process provides support, guidance, and benchmarks that can improve the quality and efficacy of a standards developer's processes.
ANSI-Accredited Standards Developers have the right to use the ASD mark and display the ANS mark on their approved American National Standards. These designations are recognized nationally and internationally as indicators of an equitable, open standards development process, enhancing the public profile of a developer and increasing the acceptance and use of its standards.
The ANS designation can quicken market, government, and international acceptance of a product while clarifying how to enhance safety and performance.
ANSI accreditation and the ANS approval process can provide potential legal safeguards by helping avoid antitrust and tort liability issues. Because the ANSI Essential Requirements are based on practices and court rulings that have impacted standards development activities, the ANS process is designed to withstand scrutiny while protecting the rights and interests of all participants.
Participating in the ANS process provides opportunities to engage with standardization experts and exchange insights and best practices; influence U.S. policy related to voluntary consensus standards; become involved in international standardization; and have a voice in issues that affect market access and trade.