[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR10.0]

[Page 119-120]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 10--PROCEDURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUNTARY PRODUCT STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 10.0  General.

    (a) Introduction. The Department of Commerce (hereinafter referred 
to as the ``Department'') recognizes the importance, the advantages, and 
the benefits of voluntary standards and standardization activities. Such 
standards may cover, but are not limited to, terms, classes, sizes 
(including quantities of packaged consumer commodities), dimensions, 
capacities, quality levels, performance criteria, inspection 
requirements, marking requirements, testing equipment, test procedures 
and installation procedures. Economic growth is promoted through:
    (1) Reduction of manufacturing costs, inventory costs, and 
distribution costs;
    (2) Better understanding among manufacturers, producers, or 
packagers (hereinafter referred to as producers), distributors, users, 
and consumers; and
    (3) Simplification of the purchase, installation, and use of the 
product being standardized.
    (b) Requirements for Department of Commerce sponsorship. The 
Department may sponsor the development of a voluntary Product Standard 
if, upon receipt of a request, the Department determines that:
    (1) The proposed standard is likely to have substantial public 
impact;
    (2) The proposed standard reflects the broad interest of an industry 
group or an organization concerned with the manufacture, production, 
packaging, distribution, testing, consumption, or use of the product, or 
the interest of a Federal or State agency;
    (3) The proposed standard would not duplicate a standard published 
by, or actively being developed or revised by, a private standards-
writing organization to such an extent that it would

[[Page 120]]

contain similar requirements and test methods for identical types of 
products, unless such duplication was deemed by the Department to be in 
the public interest;
    (4) Lack of government sponsorship would result in significant 
public disadvantage for legal reasons or reasons of domestic and 
international trade;
    (5) The proposed standard is not appropriate for development and 
maintenance by a private standards-writing organization; and
    (6) The proposed standard will be funded by a proponent organization 
or government agency to cover costs for administrative and technical 
support services provided by the Department.
    (c) Role of the Department. The Department assists in the 
establishment of a Voluntary Product Standard as follows:
    (1) Acts as an unbiased coordinator in the development of the 
standard;
    (2) Provides editorial assistance in the preparation of the 
standard;
    (3) Supplies such assistance and review as is required to assure the 
technical soundness of the standard;
    (4) Seeks satisfactory adjustment of valid points of disagreement;
    (5) Determines the compliance with the criteria established in these 
procedures for such voluntary standards;
    (6) Provides secretarial functions for each committee appointed by 
the Department under these procedures;
    (7) Publishes the standard as a public document;
    (8) Administers the funds for administrative and technical support 
services; and
    (9) Seeks listing for standards developed under these procedures as 
American National Standards through the American National Standards 
Institute, when deemed appropriate by the Department.
    (d) Role of producers, distributors, users, and consumers. 
Producers, distributors, users, consumers, and other interested groups 
may contribute to the development of a Voluntary Product Standard as 
follows:
    (1) Initiate and participate in the development of the standard;
    (2) Provide technical or other relevant counsel, as appropriate, 
relating to the standard;
    (3) Promote the use of, and support for, the standard; and
    (4) Assist in keeping the standard current with respect to advancing 
technology and marketing practices.
    (e) Role of the National Institute of Standards & Technology. The 
National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) administers these 
procedures for the Department. Any communications concerning these 
procedures (e.g., questions, clarifications, appeals) should be 
addressed to the Office of Product Standards Policy, National Institute 
of Standards & Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899.

[51 FR 22497, June 20, 1986, as amended at 55 FR 38315, Sept. 18, 1990]