The Radioactive Materials Packaging and Transportation Standards Programs

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI}, Inc., is the central body responsible for the identification of a single, consistent set of voluntary standards called American National Standards. ANSI does not write standards; ANSI advises and approves the work of some 250 standards-developing organizations. Two key words describe the standards process under ANSI: voluntary and consensus. Participation in the process, from the writing of the standard, through the approval process, to the implementation of the standard in the work place, is voluntary. American National Standards have the force of law only when and if endorsed by legal authority, for example, in contracts or regulations. The approval process is based on the principle of consensus, which means that substantial agreement has been reached, and this determination is made by an appointed authority. ANSI approval of these standards is intended to verify that the principles of openness and due process have been followed in the approval procedure and that a consensus of those directly and materially affected by the standards has been achieved.