General Public Participation
in ANSI ISO Activities

ANSI International Procedures

2.4 Application for Accreditation of the U.S. TAG and for Approval of the U.S. TAG Administrator and Initial Membership of the U.S. TAG

2.4.1 Application.

The U.S. TAG Administrator shall submit an application for accreditation of the U.S. TAG, and for approval of the U.S. TAG Administrator and the initial U.S. TAG membership list to the ExSC for approval.  The application shall include verification of the requirements found in section 2.3.1.2, the initial list of U.S. TAG members⁷ and their representatives.

⁷ See section 2.5.5.2 for the format of membership lists.

2.4.2 Public Review.

A notice with regard to the application for approval of the U.S. TAG Administrator, the U.S. TAG membership list and accreditation of the U.S. TAG shall be published in Standards Action with a call for comment. Copies of the pertinent operating procedures, scope, and membership list shall be available from the applicant upon request.

Prompt consideration shall be given to the written views and objections of all participants, including those commenting on the listing in Standards Action. An effort to resolve all expressed objections shall be made, and each objector shall be advised of the disposition of the objection and the reasons therefor.

2.4.3 Approval of TAG Administrator.

The ExSC shall consider the information supplied by the applicant and any comments received as a result of public review in approving the U.S. TAG Administrator and initial U.S. TAG membership list. 

ANSI International Procedures

1.5 Acceptance of ISO Committee Secretariats

1.5.1 General.

The role of an ISO secretariat is to provide administrative and procedural support to the ISO technical committee or subcommittee to which it is appointed, in accordance with ISO’s and ANSI’s rules and procedures. The secretariat of an ISO technical committee is appointed by the ISO Technical Management Board from among the P-member countries of the technical committee. The secretariat of an ISO subcommittee is appointed by the parent technical committee from among the P-members of the subcommittee if there is a single applicant. The secretariat of an ISO project committee is assigned to the national body that submitted the proposal. If the proposal did not originate from a national body, then the ISO Technical Management Board selects from among the offers received.

In all other cases, the ISO Technical Management Board makes the appointment. When ANSI registers as a P-member of a newly created committee or of a committee whose secretariat is being reallocated, it may offer to undertake the secretariat.

1.5.3 Tentative Offers to Accept Secretariat.

To the extent feasible, ANSI will engage in discussions with relevant U.S. interested parties prior to any international meeting at which the availability of a secretariat is expected to be made known. Informed by such a discussion, the U.S. Head of Delegation to a meeting of an ISO committee may make an offer to accept a secretariat. In such cases, the Head of Delegation shall clearly state that the offer is subject to confirmation by ANSI. Immediately following any meeting at which such a tentative offer has been made, the Head of Delegation shall notify ANSI and the U.S. TAG of the offer and ensure that a written request to undertake the secretariat is submitted in accordance with 1.5.4.

1.5.4 Requests for Acceptance or Retention of Secretariats.

The AIC shall make all decisions concerning the acceptance, transfer or relinquishment of the secretariat of ISO committees. The AIC will assign the secretariat to ANSI or to an external organization, taking into account the support of the directly and materially interested parties. The AIC shall consider any written request to undertake the secretariat of a new or existing ISO committee or to retain the secretariat of an ISO committee. For consultative purposes, such requests shall be provided to the responsible U.S. TAG, where one exists, and a notice shall be placed in ANSI’s Standards Action and other appropriate publications. Such requests shall indicate the willingness of ANSI or an external organization to provide professional and financial resources to support the secretariat function. Such requests shall include the basis for the recommendation that the proposed U.S. secretariat should be administered by ANSI or by another organization on behalf of ANSI in accordance with section 1.5.5.2 or 1.5.5.3, as applicable. Such requests shall also address the four points listed below and provide supporting documentation when appropriate. If no U.S. TAG exists, the request should also include a commitment to establish a U.S. TAG administered by a TAG Administrator in accordance with these procedures.

When considering such requests, the AIC shall be guided by the following criteria:

1. Documented evidence of strong U.S. interest on the part of directly and materially interested parties
2. Evidence that directly and materially interested ANSI members support the commitment and if appropriate, support the recommendation of ANSI to serve as secretariat
3. Availability of a minimum three year financial and technical commitment to support the activity
4. Availability of competent staff and administrative resources to administer the secretariat, including an agreement to complete mandatory training offered by ANSI to support compliance with ISO and ANSI procedures governing the administration of the international secretariat

1.5.5 Delegation of Administration of Secretariats to ISO Committees.

The AIC shall make all decisions concerning the assignment of the administration of secretariats, including the granting, continuance, transfer or withdrawal of such assignments to ANSI or external organizations.

1.5.5.1 Decision by ANSI ISO Council (AIC).

In determining the assignment or transfer of administration of a secretariat, the AIC, in consultation with relevant ANSI leadership, shall follow the guiding principle that assignment or delegation shall be made to ANSI, or, if not to ANSI, then to another external organization pursuant to the criteria in 1.5.5.2 and 1.5.5.3, respectively. 

Any decision of the AIC pursuant to section 1.5.4 or 1.5.5 shall be announced in ANSI’s Standards Action. Any U.S. National Interested Party may appeal the decision of the AIC in accordance with section 3. The appeal shall be filed in writing with the Secretary of the AIC within 15 working days of the announcement of the action by the AIC in Standards Action.

If more than one organization is interested in administering a secretariat, the AIC shall base its decision on all relevant information provided.

1.5.5.2 Assignment of a Secretariat to ANSI.

Any request that the assignment of the administration of a secretariat be assumed by ANSI shall demonstrate that the following criteria are met:

1. The affected technical sector, organizations or companies desiring that the U.S. hold the secretariat request that ANSI perform this function;
2. The relevant U.S. TAG has been consulted with regard to ANSI’s potential role as secretariat;
3. ANSI is able to fulfill the requirements of a secretariat; and
4. The directly and materially interested parties have made a financial commitment for not less than three years covering all defined costs incurred by ANSI associated with holding the secretariat.

1.5.5.3 Delegation of a Secretariat to an External Organization.

Any request that the assignment of the administration of a secretariat be delegated to an external organization, rather than ANSI, shall demonstrate that the following criteria are met:

1. The affected technical sector, organizations or companies desire that an external organization hold the secretariat and request that such external organization perform this function.
2. The relevant U.S. TAG has been consulted with regard to the external organization’s potential role as secretariat.
3. The external organization is a member of ANSI, has committed to encourage its members to join ANSI and is a U.S. National Interested Party.
4. The external organization has sufficient documented technical and administrative competence.
5. The external organization has sufficient experience in administering a secretariat on behalf of ANSI or agrees to be mentored by ANSI, to ANSI's satisfaction, to ensure that they are properly trained to carry out their responsibilities.
6. Evidence of support for the external organization seeking to hold the secretariat by members of ANSI impacted by the standards area for which the secretariat is sought has been documented.
7. The external organization has made a written financial commitment for not less than three years covering the costs associated with holding the secretariat, including the defined costs incurred by ANSI for administrative support and oversight of the delegated secretariat.
8. Unless the external organization administers the U.S. TAG, it has agreed to serve as a voting or non-voting member of the U.S. TAG.
9. The external organization agrees that, should it be unable to continue to serve, it will provide fifteen (15) months prior written notice to ANSI of its intent to relinquish.
10. The external organization has agreed to comply with the requirements associated with ANSI oversight of the activities of all parties holding secretariats in accordance with 1.6.
11. The external organization has committed in writing to comply with all applicable rules, regulations and policies of ANSI and ISO.
12. The external organization has agreed to complete mandatory training offered by ANSI to support compliance with ISO and ANSI procedures governing the administration of the international secretariat.
13. The external organization has agreed that the person(s) administering the secretariat shall be a U.S. citizen (or seeking U.S. citizenship) residing in the U.S., or a U.S. citizen (or seeking U.S. citizenship) living or working abroad, or otherwise legally authorized to work in the U.S. (which would also include lawful permanent residents and individuals in the U.S. on temporary work visas).
14. ANSI delegates the authority to nominate the ISO Chair to the external organization.
15. A mutually acceptable written agreement between ANSI and the external organization concerning the terms and conditions of the secretariat assignment has been executed, providing, in part, that the external organization shall not assign or delegate any of its responsibilities to a third party without the prior approval of ANSI and, as appropriate, the AIC.

Additionally, in the case where no U.S. TAG exists, the external organization shall notify ANSI if it intends to apply to the ExSC for approval as the TAG Administrator.