Voluntary Consensus Standard

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Discussion

A voluntary consensus standard is a type of standard developed or adopted by a Voluntary Consensus Standards Body through a voluntary consensus standards development process.

The process includes:

Openness to interested partiesMeaningful participation on a non-discriminatory basisBalance among represented interestsDocumented and publicly available proceduresAdequate notice and review opportunitiesFair consideration and resolution of conflicting viewsAn impartial appeals processConsensus that does not require unanimityThe term voluntary describes the standards development system and the non-governmental origin of the standard. It does not mean that every use of the standard remains optional. A law, regulation, procurement instrument, contract, or organisational policy may require conformance with a voluntary consensus standard.

Under United States federal standards policy, agencies use voluntary consensus standards instead of government-unique standards when such use is consistent with applicable law and practical for the agency's requirements.

Definition

Standard developed or adopted by a voluntary consensus standards body through an open, balanced, due-process-based, appealable, and consensus-based process.

Source

* National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, Public Law 104-113 * Office of Management and Budget, Circular A-119: Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities * National Institute of Standards and Technology, Federal Policy on Standards

Note

Voluntary does not mean non-binding. An authority may incorporate a voluntary consensus standard into a regulation, procurement requirement, contract, conformance profile, or organisational policy.

OMB Circular A-119 distinguishes voluntary consensus standards from government-unique standards and from other private-sector standards that do not satisfy all attributes of the voluntary consensus process.

A standard does not qualify as a voluntary consensus standard solely because industry participants use it widely or because its content is publicly available.

Example

A federal agency may incorporate a suitable voluntary consensus standard into a procurement specification instead of developing a government-unique technical standard.

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