ANSI Requests Comments on SAC's ""Association Standardization—Part 1: Guidelines for Good Practice""

Document Provides Key Guidance for Reform of China's Standardization System

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requests stakeholder comments on the draft guidance document "Association Standardization-Part 1: Guidelines for Good Practice," published by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC). The promotion of association standards is a key component of China's plan for deepening standardization reform. ANSI members interested in contributing to ANSI's submission should use the linked form and provide their comments to [email protected] no later than Wednesday, November 18.

Earlier in 2015, China's State Council released a plan for deepening the reform of China's standardization system [see related articles here, here, here, and here]. In support of this effort, ANSI's vice president of international policy Joseph Tretler engaged in extensive discussions with SAC on the rollout of standardization reform in China during a trip to Beijing this September.

While association standards are a relatively new category of standards in China, the guidelines, which ANSI has been closely monitoring, will play an important role in shaping their growing influence under the reformed system.

ANSI will use the ANSI Essential Requirements and accreditation of U.S.-based standards developing organizations as the basis for its feedback and encourages members to submit their comments to ANSI for consideration while developing its submission. ANSI also encourages members to submit comments through their own organizations, or to send comments and feedback to ANSI for information, rather than inclusion in its submission.

The original announcement can be found here. All comments are due to the points of contact listed on the announcement by November 28.

Stakeholders can access the copy of the draft guidelines, a background document, and a comment form. The Chinese versions of these documents were included in the original announcement. The documents are not ANSI reference translations, but were obtained by sources locally in China and reviewed by ANSI for content.

ANSI members interested in contributing to ANSI's submission should use the attached form and direct their comments to or questions to [email protected] no later than Wednesday, November 18. The final version of ANSI's comments will be circulated following submission.