Western Hemisphere Standards Related Activities
The Global Standards and Information Group under the Standards Services Division participates in many standards related activities in the Western Hemisphere. The main goal is to coordinate many of the activities related to standardization that are taking place due to global and regional economic changes.
The following are Western Hemisphere Standards-related Activities with Global Standards Program staff participation: ISO Committee on Developing Country Matters (DEVCO) DEVCO is the ISO Committee on developing country matters. Its purpose is to:
- identify the needs and requirements of the developing countries in the fields of standardization and related areas (i.e.quality control, metrology and certification, etc.)
- recommend measures to assist the developing countries in meeting these needs and requirements
- provide a forum for the discussion of all aspects of standardization and related activities in developing countries, as well as among developing countries
- advise the General Assembly on the above matters
NIST is responsible for helping ANSI to develop and organize a U.S. DEVCO Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The TAG coordinates the U.S. position with respect to DEVCO work and provides for participation in the DEVCO Committee. The DEVCO Committee provides all countries the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of standardization systems and policies and possible solutions to problems that may develop in this area.
Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) The Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT), founded more than 35 years ago, is an association of the National Standards Bodies of the countries of the Americas, with twenty-six active members and five non-voting members. The Commission aims "to promote the development of technical standardization and related activities in its members' countries". NIST works closely with ANSI in COPANT activities. COPANT was recently restructured to strengthen its efforts and make them more effective. New Statutes and Rules of Procedures were approved and a Board of Directors was created. In addition, three standing committees on technical, political and information management issues support the work of COPANT. The Board of Directors and the three committees will be working towards the implementation of the COPANT strategic plan. COPANT technical work is carried out by twelve technical committees, focusing on standards that respond to regional needs.
InterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) The Interamerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) is a regional agreement among accreditation bodies in the Americas, which was created with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 1996. IAAC currently has 19 full members and 7 associate members. One of IAAC's main goals is the development of Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) among bodies of the Western Hemisphere that accredit any of the following entities: quality management system registrars, environmental management system registrars, testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, product certification and/or personnel. U.S. signatories to the IAAC MoU are the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). As an ANSI member, NIST provides technical support to the U.S. delegation and to IAAC efforts in general. IAAC conducts its work through the following five working groups:
- Working Group 1 (WG1) -- Guidance and General Documentation.
- Working Group 2 (WG2) -- Technical Assistance and Training.
- Working Group 3 (WG3) -- Multilateral Arrangements.
- Working Group 4 (WG4) -- Public Relations and Promotional Activities.
- Working Group 5 (WG5) -- Calibration and Testing Activities.
Standards Experts in International Posts and Technical Support There are currently two Standards Experts located in the Western Hemisphere region, serving on limited appointments with the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service. One is located at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the other is at the U.S. Embassy in Sao Paolo. The standards expert residing in Mexico City also supports efforts in Central America and the Caribbean, while the standards expert in Brasilia works with all the countries in South America, especially the MERCOSUR countries of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The Western Hemisphere standards experts serve as in-country experts and liaison for all standards-related matters, handling a wide variety of issues in support of trade and monitoring standards and conformity assessment activities in the region. They work with governments and standards-developing organizations, trade associations, and industry technical experts of Western Hemisphere countries on standards and related issues in order to promote acceptance of U.S. standards practices, positions and product certifications procedures. The experts also support the NIST Standards in Trade Workshops by identifying candidates and issues, and providing technical support.
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