ASTM International hosts Asia/Pacific standards leaders

Frozen Food Digest, Dec, 2003

Twenty-two top executives representing the national standards bodies of the Asia/Pacific region convened at ASTM International for a two-day Open House.

The even was an open forum for frank and stimulating discussion regarding today's changing world of international standardization.

The countries participating in the dialogue included: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

The Open House was co-sponsored by ASME International, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., and ASTM International, in cooperation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

In his remarks to the audience, ASTM President Jim Thomas described the event as history making for ASTM International and as an opportunity to hear different view-points, share ideas, and to learn from each other. About his own organization, Thomas explained, "The process for the development of standards at ASTM International is unlike others in the world. Our participation is direct--no delegations, no prerequisites."

Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest standards development and delivery systems in the world.

ASTM International standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.