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Accreditation of U.S TAGs to ISO
& TAG Administrator Approval

US TAG Accreditation process

Step 1: Determining U.S. Position and/or Participation in an ISO Technical Activity

There are several scenarios that may precede and/or kick-off the U.S. TAG to ISO accreditation process, based on the determination of the U.S. position on an area of ISO technical activity and national participation:

In the case of a newly proposed ISO technical activity, one of the following scenarios apply:

  1. When ISO announces a proposal by an ISO member (i.e., national body) of a new area of technical activity, ANSI notifies the public and solicits U.S. stakeholder input on whether to vote in support of or against the new ISO activity via an announcement in Standards Action. If your organization is interested in serving as the TAG Administrator, should this activity be approved, you should state as much in the comments that you submit to ANSI.
  2. If the U.S. (via ANSI) is the ISO member proposing a new ISO area of activity (based on U.S. stakeholder input and AIC approval), no additional public review is conducted by ANSI, as U.S. approval can be assumed.

In the case of an existing ISO technical activity, you can determine whether the U.S. currently participates (i.e., whether an ANSI-Accredited U.S. TAG already exists) by checking www.ansi.org/iso/ansi-activities/us-tags.

Here’s what you do

Review timely announcements in the relevant section of ANSI Standards Action regarding any of the following:

  • Calls for comment on proposed new areas of ISO technical activity
  • Calls for comment on U.S. participation in an ISO technical activity

Step 1: Determining U.S. Position and/or Participation in an ISO Technical Activity

There are several scenarios that may precede and/or kick-off the U.S. TAG to ISO accreditation process, based on the determination of the U.S. position on an area of ISO technical activity and national participation:

In the case of a newly proposed ISO technical activity, one of the following scenarios apply:

  1. When ISO announces a proposal by an ISO member (i.e., national body) of a new area of technical activity, ANSI notifies the public and solicits U.S. stakeholder input on whether to vote in support of or against the new ISO activity via an announcement in Standards Action. If your organization is interested in serving as the TAG Administrator, should this activity be approved, you should state as much in the comments that you submit to ANSI.
  2. If the U.S. (via ANSI) is the ISO member proposing a new ISO area of activity (based on U.S. stakeholder input and AIC approval), no additional public review is conducted by ANSI, as U.S. approval can be assumed.

In the case of an existing ISO technical activity, you can determine whether the U.S. currently participates (i.e., whether an ANSI-Accredited U.S. TAG already exists) by checking www.ansi.org/iso/ansi-activities/us-tags.

Here's what you need to know

When another ISO member is the proposal submitter, at this point ANSI reviews and considers U.S. stakeholder input received via the ANSI ISO Council (AIC) and develops the U.S. position on whether to support a new field of ISO technical activity. The position is based on consideration of the following factors:

  1. The need for such an international standards activity
  2. Whether the proposed scope of the activity is acceptable
  3. Whether there is sufficient indicated support from those U.S. national interested parties directly and materially affected to provide effective U.S. participation in the work if a new ISO committee is established
  4. If U.S. participation is supported, the position must identify at which level:
    • P-(participant) membership: Allows the U.S. to actively participate by voting on ISO standards and other documents at various stages of development.
    • O-(observer) membership: Allows the U.S. to obtain information about the work of the TC or SC and offer comments and advice as standards and other documents are developed, but cannot vote.

Step 1: Determining U.S. Position and/or Participation in an ISO Technical Activity

There are several scenarios that may precede and/or kick-off the U.S. TAG to ISO accreditation process, based on the determination of the U.S. position on an area of ISO technical activity and national participation:

In the case of a newly proposed ISO technical activity, one of the following scenarios apply:

  1. When ISO announces a proposal by an ISO member (i.e., national body) of a new area of technical activity, ANSI notifies the public and solicits U.S. stakeholder input on whether to vote in support of or against the new ISO activity via an announcement in Standards Action. If your organization is interested in serving as the TAG Administrator, should this activity be approved, you should state as much in the comments that you submit to ANSI.
  2. If the U.S. (via ANSI) is the ISO member proposing a new ISO area of activity (based on U.S. stakeholder input and AIC approval), no additional public review is conducted by ANSI, as U.S. approval can be assumed.

In the case of an existing ISO technical activity, you can determine whether the U.S. currently participates (i.e., whether an ANSI-Accredited U.S. TAG already exists) by checking www.ansi.org/iso/ansi-activities/us-tags.

Useful Tips

ANSI may register as a P-member of an ISO committee during the TAG application and accreditation approval process. Continued P-membership is then contingent upon subsequent approval and accreditation of a TAG Administrator and TAG.

ANSI may initially register as an O-member to facilitate outreach and the formation of a TAG. If ANSI registers as an O-member at the request of a group of stakeholders, a U.S. TAG should then be established and the provisions in section 2 shall apply.

The formation and accreditation of a U.S. TAG is required in order for the U.S. to submit comments or vote on a standard or other document, unless, in exceptional circumstances, a position is established by the ANSI ISO Council (AIC). If the U.S. holds O-membership and there is no ANSI-accredited U.S. TAG, individuals wishing to attend meetings must obtain approval from ANSI on an exceptional basis.

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Have questions or need some help?

ANSI’s Procedures and Standards Administration (PSA) staff can answer your questions or provide additional guidance about the accreditation process.

ANSI's ISO Team (ISOT) can provide assistance to ANSI-Accredited U.S. TAG Administrators to ISO activities concerning their roles.

Email PSA StaffEmail ISOT Staff