U.S. Standards Community Celebrates World Standards Day 2016

Mr. Thomas was awarded for his numerous contributions to standards development and his proactive support of the United States standardization system throughout his 40-year career. As ASTM International president, Mr. Thomas frequently advocates openness and transparency in international standardization and is a staunch proponent of the multiple-path approach to voluntary standards development. Mr. Thomas has also appeared before the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) to discuss how U.S.-domiciled standards development organizations have embraced the TBT Agreement's Code of Good Practice. For more on his contributions and background, see previous ANSI coverage.

Winners of the 2016 World Standards Day Paper Competition were also announced.

Celebrated annually each fall, World Standards Day pays tribute to the thousands of volunteers around the world who participate in standardization activities and helps to raise awareness of the role that standards play in addressing national and global priorities. The global celebration is coordinated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

"World Standards Day celebrations like ours take place all over the world, and the U.S. Celebration is made possible through the efforts of many organizations," said S. Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO. "It is a partnership between those who develop standards and compliance systems, and those who use them. I am proud to be part of a standards community that is diverse, dedicated, and motivated to find solutions and create a better tomorrow."

More information about the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day 2016 is available at www.wsd-us.org. See the photo album of the event.