Business leaders, academics, and government officials, among others, will gather in Washington, DC, on Thursday, October 23, 2014, for the annual U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day (WSD). The event, organized around the theme of Standards Level the Playing Field, will focus on how standards stimulate trade and overcome artificial trade barriers, helping to make companies, industries, and economies more competitive. Globally relevant standards make it easier for many companies - particularly small and medium enterprises - to get their products certified and on the shelves in countries around the world, allowing them to take part in global value chains, benefit from technology transfer, and compete on a more equal footing. Similarly, nations that incorporate international standards into their policies and regulations can allow their citizens access to a wider selection of high-quality goods, while also providing protection against dangerous or faulty products and services. In today's multipolar world, where commerce is increasingly international and the growing economic weight of emerging economies is shifting the balance of power, international standards are essential to safeguarding consumer health and safety and stimulating national and international diversification.
The event, which will take place at the Fairmont Washington in Washington, DC, will include the presentation of the 2014 Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award to this year's recipient, Jimmy W. Sealy. The award, which was named after the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce, honors an individual who has effectively promoted standardization as a key tool in the elimination of global trade barriers. The winners of the 2014 World Standards Day Paper Competition will also be announced.
Since the initial celebration in 1970, World Standards Day is now recognized in nations around the globe. U.S. activities are organized annually by a planning committee consisting of representatives from the standards and conformity assessment community. The event is co-chaired each year by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) will serve as the event's 2014 administrating organization.
For more information or to register, please visit www.wsd-us.org. Advance registration is required.