Government Interface & Corporate Outreach

1. Government Interface & Corporate Outreach September 2013 ASTM Virtual Officers Training Workshop Anthony Quinn & Sarah Petre

2. U.S. Standards System • Voluntary and led by the private sector • Requires cooperation among stakeholders • Standards organizations • Industry, consumers, and users • Government representatives • Academia • Meets stakeholders’ needs • Protect safety, health, and environment • Improve industry competitiveness • Facilitate global trade and market access

3. ASTM International • About ASTM International • Non-governmental, not-for-profit and international organization • Develops voluntary, consensus standards • Provides certification programs on limited basis • Does not provide accreditation services • ASTM’s objectives • Promotes public health and safety, and the overall quality of life • Contributes to the reliability of materials, products, systems and services • Facilitates national, regional, and international commerce

4. WTO Principles for Standards ASTM International principles: • Transparency • Openness • Impartiality and consensus • Effectiveness and relevance • Coherence • Consideration of developing nations’ views and concerns WTO principles: • Transparency • Openness • Impartiality and consensus • Effectiveness and relevance • Coherence • Consideration of developing nations’ views and concerns

5. I. Government Interface

6. ASTM in Washington, DC • Connects ASTM’s work and builds awareness among policymakers. • Represents ASTM before Congress, Federal agencies, ANSI, other SDOs, and trade associations. • Engages in legislative, regulatory, and trade matters. • Ensure proper recognition of ASTM standards in laws and regulations. • Strengthens relationships with ASTM stakeholders, including private companies, embassy officials based in Washington, DC, industry associations, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

7. U.S. Legal and Policy Framework • National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA) • Requires federal government agencies to use standards developed by voluntary consensus standards organization when possible • Encourages federal government agencies to participate in standards development organizations • OMB Circular No. A-119 • Reinforces goals of National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act • Discourages federal agencies from using government-unique standards

8. Other U.S. Laws of Interest • Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act • 15,000 different types of consumer products • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act of 1997 • Food safety, drugs, and cosmetic products • Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 • Workplace safety and health

9. U.S. Government Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards • All ASTM standards are voluntary unless they are used by the federal government in the following ways: • Procurement and Contracts with the Federal Government • Standards are furnished to ensure that materials and services are obtained in an effective manner and in compliance with the provisions of applicable Federal statutes and executive orders • Regulation that incorporates standard by reference • An agency may adopt a voluntary standard (without changes) by incorporating the standard in a regulation by listing (or referencing) the standard by title. • This approach eliminates the cost to the agency of creating a new standard • Regulation based on existing standard • An agency reviews an existing standard and makes changes to match its goal or need. • Agency conducts rulemaking process to solicit public opinion and stakeholder input • Statute references standard

10. Federal Agencies & ASTM Standards • U.S. Federal Register • Provides public notification of standards adoptions and instructions for public comments • U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) • Over 10,000 references to voluntary consensus standards in federal law • Over 2,250 references to ASTM standards listed in CFR for regulations and procurement

11. Top 10 Regulatory SDOs in US Source: http://standards.gov

12. Benefits to the U.S. Government • Eliminate/reduce costs of developing standards • Decrease costs of good purchased • Commercial off the shelf procurement • Promotes efficiency and economic competition • Relies on the private sector to meet needs • Access to industry experts and technology • Process is faster and more dynamic

13. U.S. Government Participation in ASTM • U.S. Government is a partner and key stakeholder • Active U.S. Government participation in 93% of ASTM committees • Broad range of federal agencies represented on ASTM committees • Over 1400 representatives from the U.S. Government participate in ASTM committees

14. U.S. Government Participation in ASTM

15. Facts and Challenges • Standards are not always a top priority • Constant educational process • Agencies must use lengthy rulemaking process to update or revise references • Roles and attitudes vary across federal agencies • At the U.S. state-level, no NTTAA-like policy exists ASTM Strategy • Communicate • Understand agency needs, concerns and goals, and how ASTM fits into their agenda • Seek advice from agency reps and other committees • No one size-fits-all approach • Be flexible to meet the needs of agencies

16. ASTM Initiatives with U.S. Government • Educate about the U.S. system standardization, current relevant policies, and the value of ASTM standards • Ensure proper reference to current ASTM standards • Regular review of the Code of Federal Regulations and Congressional Record • Coordinate technical committee communications to policymakers • Understand agencies’ procurement and regulatory standards needs • Review of Regulatory Plan and Agenda • Encourage government liaison with and participation in committee activities

17. II. Corporate Outreach

18. ASTMObjective • “Promote a greater corporate awareness regarding the importance of standards and the value of ASTM.” • ASTM 2006 objectives approved by the Board.

19. Challenges • Executives lack standards knowledge • Casual knowledge of international standardization • View it as technical issue instead of trade barrier • Preconceived notions and misinformation • Confusion about what makes an ‘international standard’ • Often make quick standards decisions • Easiest or cheapest rather than strategic

20. ASTMEngages Decision-makers • Raise awareness of standards and ASTM • Identify opportunities for collaboration on policy (regulatory and trade) issues of mutual interest • Seek industry feedback on activities and challenges • including the removal of global barriers to the acceptance and use of ASTM standards • Ensure ASTM is meeting stakeholder needs • ASTM Board and Staff completed meetings with industry, trade associations, consumer groups, and other stakeholders around the world • Washington, Stockholm, New York City, Moscow, Mexico City, Brussels, Beijing, London, Tokyo

21. BenefitstoIndustry • Minimize safety hazards • Manage liability while reducing risk • Satisfy regulations and laws • Facilitate global trade • Reduce internal company specifications

22. ASTMStandards Impact the Global Economy • Standards facilitate trade and boost GDP • The U.S. Commerce Department estimates that standards-related issues impacted 80% of world commodity trade. • ASTM standards impact the global economy • 7,000 ASTM standards are used in regulation or adopted as national standards around the world.

23. HelpingIndustry Meet Global Challenges • ASTM’s MOUs with 80 developing countries and 3 with regional bodies • MOUs facilitate the use of ASTM standards directly into the national portfolios and technical regulations • ASTM standards open doors and open markets • The ability to export products made and tested to ASTM standards

24. III.QuestionsandDiscussion

25. ContactInformation Anthony Quinn Director, International Trade and Public Policy aquinn@astm.org, 202 223-8484 Sarah Petre Manager, Federal and Industry Affairs spetre@astm.org, 202-223-8399 1850 M Street, NW, Suite 1030 Washington, DC 20036 USA