PART 10-PROCEDURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUNTARY PRODUCT STANDARDS

Sec.

10.0

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

product standard.

Publication of standard.

Reference to a standard.

10.9 Revision or amendment of a standard. 10.10 Withdrawal of a published standard. 10.11 Effect of procedures.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 10 issued under the Act of March 3, 1901, ch. 872, sec. 2, 31 Stat. 1449; as amended by the Act of July 22, 1950, ch. 486, sec. 1, 64 Stat. 371 (15 U.S.C. 272); Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, Part VI.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 10 appear at 30 F.R. 15288, Dec. 10, 1965.

(a) Introduction. (1) The participation by the Federal Government in the development of voluntary standards for products, processes, and materials is recognized as a service to the public. Activity in this area is defined in Part VI of the Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946 and Department Order No. 90, revised January 30, 1964. Such standards may cover terms, classes, sizes (including body sizes for wearing apparel), dimensions, capacities, quality levels, performance criteria, testing equipment, and test procedures.

(2) The Department of Commerce recognizes the importance, the advantages, and the benefits of standardization activities. Economic growth is promoted through the reduction of production costs and of inventory and distribution costs and the simplification of installation and use.

(b) Requirements for Department of Commerce participation. The Department of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as "The Department") will participate in the development of a voluntary standard when the standard is deemed appropriate, in that it—

(1) Is not contrary to the public interest,

(2) Has national effect or implication, (3) Has apparent industry-wide interest or endorsement, and

(4) Is not such that it can be processed according to needs or desires of the industry by a nationally recognized private standardizing body.

(c) Role of the Department. The Department, in responding to a specific request from industry, assists in the establishment of a voluntary standard through the following:

(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) Sees that the standard is representative of the views of producers, distributors, users, and consumers.

(5) Seeks satisfactory adjustment of valid points of disagreement.

(6) Publishes the standard.

(7) Establishes a hallmark which may be used on or for products that meet the requirements set forth in the standard.

(d) Role of industry. One or more segments of an industry contribute to the development of a voluntary standard as follows:

(1) Initiate and participate in the development of a standard.

(2) Provide technical counsel on a standard.

(3) Promote the use of, and support for, the standard.

§ 10.1 Initiating development of new standard.

(a) Any group of manufacturers, distributors, consumers, users, or testing laboratories, or any State or Federal agency concerned with a particular product, may request the Department to participate in the development and publication of a voluntary standard for that product under the procedures set forth in this part. Any request shall be in writing, and shall be signed by a representative of the group or agency, and forwarded to the Department. The request shall contain the following information:

(1) The purpose and scope of a suggested standard.