ANSI holds World Standards Week; NSF International honors occasion

Oct. 22, 2014
To raise awareness about the importance of standardization and to promote the role of standards and conformance in meeting the needs of business, industry, government, and consumers worldwide, the American National Standards Institute is hosting World Standards Week.

ANN ARBOR, MI, Oct. 22, 2014 -- In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of standardization and to promote the role of standards and conformance in meeting the needs of business, industry, government, and consumers worldwide, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is hosting World Standards Week (Oct. 20-24).

NSF International, a global independent public health organization that writes standards and tests and certifies products for various industries, is commemorating the week by highlighting the key role standards play in the global economy. Standards, like those developed by NSF, help protect public health and the environment and provide consistent requirements for acceptance in global markets. Likewise, an estimated 80 percent of world merchandise trade today is affected by these regulations that reference or incorporate standards.

"Standards development helps protect public health and consumer safety by providing a uniform means of evaluating the health or environmental impacts of products," said NSF International President & CEO Kevan P. Lawlor who also serves as vice chair of the ANSI Board of Directors. "NSF International continues to develop new standards for emerging markets for food, water, health, and sustainability sectors, furthering NSF's mission of protecting and improving human health."

ANSI President and CEO S. Joe Bhatia added, "Standards and conformity assessment are powerful tools that can be used strategically to fuel innovation and economic growth. World Standards Week is an opportunity for companies large and small, public- and private-sector organizations, and consumers and other stakeholders from across industries to collaborate on the ways that standardization can help them address common issues and increase competitiveness. The best solutions are developed when all interested parties come together and share insights."

Accredited by ANSI and the Standards Council of Canada to develop standards and provide product certification, NSF has developed over 90 voluntary American National Standards during the past 60-plus years. This includes NSF/ANSI standards for consumer products, dietary supplements, water products, commercial and residential food equipment, and more sustainable water contact and chemical products, services and commercial building and interiors products.

As part of the meeting surrounding ANSI's World Standards Week, Lawlor is moderating a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Washington, D.C., on issues regarding standards developing organizations and conformity assessment bodies. This discussion is being held in conjunction with ANSI's Legal Issues Forum, addressing Best Practices for Standards Developers and Conformity Assessment Bodies to Avoid Legal Liability in Tort, Antitrust, and Other Areas of the Law.

NSF/ANSI standards are developed through a public process that ensures balanced input from public health and regulatory officials, industry representatives, and users/consumer representatives. Developing NSF standards would not be possible without the commitment of the 5,500 members on NSF joint committees, task groups, technical committees, and protocol and standards writing groups.

Independent, third-party testing and certification helps organizations access new international export markets, demonstrate commitment to safety and quality, and increase credibility and acceptance among retailers, consumers and regulators. NSF certification includes testing and certifying drinking water treatment products and water filters, commercial food service equipment and a wide array of consumer products such as bottled water, nutritional supplements, private label goods, personal care items, and home appliances.

See also:

"American National Standard released for sustainable drinking water treatment systems"

"NSF expands plastic pipe testing capabilities with new acquisition"


About NSF International

NSF International is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, the organization is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. Operating in more than 155 countries, NSF is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment. For more information, visit nsf.org.

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