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JISC-related terms and abbreviations
JISC-related terms and
abbreviations
We have compiled a
list of explanations of major terms and abbreviations related to the JISC.
Please utilize them. (We plant to add contents as necessary.)
[K]
[L]
[M]
- Management System Standard
- Measurement standard
- Method standard
- Mutual Recognition
Agreement/Mutual Recognition Arrangement
[N]
[O]
[P]
[Q]
[R]
[S]
[T]
[U]
[V]
[W]
[X]
[Y]
[Z]
Abbreviation (in alphabetical
order)
[Terms] (in alphabetical order)
Accessible design
Design that aims to
expand the scope of the persons who can use products and services by extending
general design processes of such products and services with full consideration
of the needs of aged and handicapped persons
Accreditation
Certification by
third parties pertaining to conformity assessment organizations that have
capacity to conduct specific conformity assessment tasks and transmit official
verification (Definition of ISO/IEC 17001)
Basic standard
Standard that has
wide ranging provisions or general provisions in specific fields (Definition of
ISO/IEC 17000)
Standard that specifies terms, marks, units, and standard figures, etc.
Biometrics
Technology aimed at
tapping into human beings’ biological characteristics, such as fingerprints,
voiceprints, irises, and wrinkles on palms, for individual identification
Biological characteristics are digitalized and registered in advance, and are
used to compare with a person’s characteristics for confirming his/her
identity.
CE Marking
Mark that proves
that a product meets mandatory safety requirements of the EC directives
The manufacturer of the product or third party affixes this mark to product
packaging or attached documents so as to show that they have gone through
specified procedures for conformity assessment. Products with CE marks are
guaranteed free distribution within the EU.
Competent minister
The minister who is
in charge of any given project
Under the Industrial Standardization Act, the Minister of Internal Affairs and
Communications, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Minister of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Minister of Economy, Trade and
Industry, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Minister
of the Environment can serve as competent minister in their respective JIS
fields.
Compulsory
legislation
Acts that have
provisions that require quotation of JIS standards and conformity with said
standards
Conformity assessment
Products,
processes, systems, persons or organizations that are proved to achieve
specified requirements (definition of ISO/IEC FDIS 17001)
The term is sometimes used with wider meaning so as to include accreditation.
Convener
The head of a
working group
De facto standard
Substantial
standards
Standards of an individual company or a syndicate that have become widespread
in the marketplace through free choice or selection
(ex. VTR (Beta v. VHS), PC’s OS (Windows vs. MacOS)
De jure standard
Official standards
Standards prepared through official procedures that have been clarified and
published
Domestic standards and international standards are both included among these.
Dresden
The agreement
signed between the IEC and the CENELEC, which specifies procedures aimed at
avoiding duplication of work involved in the preparation of standards
e-JISC
The system that computerizes JIS
preparation procedures and ISO/IEC documenting procedures as part of
e-government services
It also allows the general public to obtain various types of information
on the contents of JIS and standardization by way of the JISC website through
using such data
Environmental JIS
The general term for JIS that contributes
to the preservation of the environment
This includes environmental measurement standards such as air and water
emission levels, as well as those concerning 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle)
Environmental
Management System
A type of
management system that includes organizational systems, planning activities,
responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes, and resources aimed at
creating, implementing, performing, reviewing and maintaining environmental
policies
Forum standard
Standards prepared
by a forum consisting of interested companies
Forum standards are not official standards, but have open procedures just as de
jure standards do. They are often used especially for
the purpose of preparing standards in the high-tech field (e.g. DVD-ROM, etc.).
Industrial
Standardization Promotion Month
Every October is
designated as “Industrial Standardization Promotion Month” so as to raise
interest among the general public in regards to industrial standardization and
to further enhance the morale of the related parties engaged in industrial
standardization. During this month, persons of merit and contributing business
entities in the field of industrial standardization are given awards by the
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, related lectures are held, and PR
posters are distributed.
Intellectual
infrastructure
Measurement
standards (including reference materials), measurement/assessment methods,
database, and research materials (biological resources, etc.), for which
outcomes of intellectual creation such as R&D are systematized and
organized so as to be utilized as the base for further promoting R&D and
economic activities
JIS Handbook
A book published by
the Japanese Standards Association which contains and presents JIS standards,
organized according to field and industry in a user-friendly manner
There is also a “JIS Catalogue” that presents JIS standards in list form for
easy perusal.
JIS Mark
Certification System
A product
certification system based on the Industrial Standardization Act
When a registered accreditation organization certifies that a product match
respective requirements of quality, etc. specified by corresponding JIS
(certifiable product standard), the receiver of certification is allowed to
display a JIS mark on the product or on its packaging to prove that said
product meets JIS requirements and guarantee its quality thereby. Business
entities that seek to obtain certification pertaining to JIS marks are required
to undergo examination by registered accreditation organizations
JISC Conformity
Assessment Board
The Conformity
Assessment Board conducts deliberations on the overall operation of
certification/accreditation systems, conformity assessment systems including
the JIS mark system and the JNLA system, and promotion of international mutual
recognition.
JISC Special
Committee on Consumer Policy
The Special
Committee on Consumer Policy conducts necessary research and deliberations for
the purpose of further reflecting the viewpoints of consumers (overall
consumers without any bias of age or gender, with full consideration for aged
and handicapped persons) in the process of developing standards such as JIS,
and at the same time, fulfills the role of domestic review panel, which
corresponds to the COPOLCO established in the ISO.
JISC Special
Committee on Measurement Standards and Intellectual Infrastructure
The Special
Committee on Measurement Standards and Intellectual Infrastructure establishes
the plans necessary for the accelerating and efficient development of
intellectual infrastructure, such as measurement standards,
measurement/assessment methods, database development, and research materials,
in which
JISC Standards
Board
The Standards Board
prepares basic policies and policies pertaining to domestic standardization
such as JIS and international standardization such as ISO/IEC, from the
standpoint of both de jure standards (JIS,
international standards, etc.) and de facto standards (forum standards,
consortium standards, etc.). Under this Board, committees are established in
respective technical fields.
Laboratory
Accreditation System
A type of
conformity assessment system that uses international standards, etc.
The Japan National Laboratory Accreditation System (JNLA) based on the
Industrial Standardization Act depends on this system. See JNLA.
Management System
Standard
Standards
concerning systems by which organizations establish policies and goals and
attain these goals
Measurement standard
Criteria used when
measuring things
Measuring instruments, practical measuring equipment, reference material or
system of measurement aiming to define, realize, preserve, or recreate certain
units or amount of value so as to be used as criteria (Definition of terms for
measurement of JIS Z 8103: (Measurement) standard)
Method standard
Standards that
specify requirements for methods to meet so that consistency with the specified
purposes is ensured (Definition of ISO/IEC Guide 2)
Said standards specify methods of testing, analyzing, inspecting, and
measuring, as well as work standards, etc.
Mutual Recognition
Agreement/Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
See MRA.
One stop testing
The system wherein
the results of one test can gain equivalency throughout the world
There is another expression for this system, “One standard, one test, accepted
everywhere,” which includes the notion that only one standard should be
required for such tests.
P member
P members are
required to actively participate in the special tasks of the ISO/IEC and have
obligation to vote for all issues, inquiry drafts, and final international
standard drafts officially submitted for voting within the TC or the SC. Said
members have the right to propose new work items, vote on periodical reviews
(five years) and appoint WG members.
Patent pool
The system wherein
multiple owners of patent rights, etc. gather their patent rights or
authorities grant licenses to certain companies or organizations (forms of such
organizations are diverse; in some cases a new organization is established and
in other cases an existing organizations is used for that purpose), and members
of a patent pool receive the necessary licenses through said company or
organization
Product standard
Standards that
specify the requirements that products or group of products must meet in order
to ensure consistency with the purpose (Definition of ISO/IEC Guide 2)
Standards that specify the shapes, sizes, materials, quality, performance, and
functions, etc. of products
Quality Management
System
A management system
for managing qualities by taking control of organizations
Reference material
Substances or
materials whose single or multiple characteristic values are fully maintained
homogeneous for use for calibrating measuring equipment, assessing measurement
methods, or evaluating materials
Reference materials are used to correct deviations between different analysts
and methods of equipment use and characteristics, and also play a role as a
quantitative scale in conducting various chemical analyses.
Science and
Technology Basic Plan
The plan to realize
the ideal goal of Japan as a world leader in science and technology by way of
strategically focusing on science and technology policies as basic philosophy,
promoting internationalization of scientific and technological activities, and implementing
reform of scientific and technological systems so as to produce and exploit
excellent results as one of Japan’s significant policies
Standard
Document,
established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides, for
common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or
their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a
given context (Definition of ISO/IEC17000)
Document approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated
use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and
production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory. It may also include
or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process
or production method (Standard: Definition of the WTO/TBT Agreement)
The term is used in reference standards in a broad sense (see “Standards”).
Standardization
Activities
pertaining to issues regarding existence or potential with a view to
establishing arrangements for common and repeated use, aimed at achieving the
optimum degree of order in a given context (ISO/IEC Guide 2)
Standardization refers to activities aimed at reducing, simplifying, and
organizing matters that are apt to become diffuse, complicated, and chaotic if
left uncontrolled. Concretely, this necessitates the designation of certain
categories for various “goods” and “matters” for the purpose of “securing the
quality and performance,” “securing safety,” “securing compatibility,” and
“unifying testing/assessment methods,” etc.
Standards
Arrangements
specified by standardization process
There are mandatory standards and voluntary standards, but generally voluntary
ones are referred to as “standards” (see “Standard”).
Technical regulation
Legally binding
regulation adopted by administrative organs that specifies technical
requirements directly or by referring or rerecording the contents of certain
standards, technological specifications, or practice criteria (Definition of
ISO/IEC 17000)
Document which lays down product characteristics or their related processes and
production methods, including the applicable administrative provisions, with
which compliance is mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with
terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling
requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method
(Technical regulation: Definition of the WTO/TBT Agreement)
The term is sometimes referred to as technical criteria.
Traceability (of
measurement)
The capacity to
trace measurement results back to the Systeme
International d’Unites (SI), the base of domestic
measurement standards, and correlate them therewith by way of the sequence of
comparison, together with the unclear information in question
Data can be “made traceable” only by the use of measuring instruments that have
gone through appropriate calibration.
Vienna
The agreement
signed between the ISO and the CEN, which specifies procedures aimed at
avoiding duplication of work involved in the preparation of standards
[Abbreviation] (in alphabetical
order)
ADR [Alternative Dispute Resolution]
This refers to
methods for settling disputes without going through judicial processes such as
court decisions. Specifically, this means civil arbitration/family arbitration,
amiable settlement and arbitration through litigation, and amiable settlement
and mediation through administrative organs or private organizations, etc.
Settlements through judicial processes are based on laws, while ADR aims for
reasonable settlements based on the realities of disputes without being bound
by laws.
AIST [National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology］
The AIST is the
largest research organization in
ANSI [American National Standards Institute]
The ANSI is the
standardization organization that prepares American National Standards (ANS).
It also functions as a member organization of the ISO and the IEC, representing
the
APEC/SCSC [Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance]
The APEC/SCSC is
the committee established under the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) of
the APEC, which is an intergovernmental consortium that deals with economic
issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The sub-committee discusses regulations,
standards, conformity assessments, and mutual recognition, etc.。
APLAC [Asia Pacific Laboratory
Accreditation Cooperation]
The APLAC is one of
regional cooperation conferences by laboratory accreditation organizations,
which covers the Asia Pacific region. The APLAC implements Mutual Recognition
Arrangement (MRA) within the region, and also functions as a sub-group of the
MRA of the ILAC.
ASEM Standards and
Conformity Assessment Consortium
This group was
established for the purpose of promoting the Trade Facilitation Action Plan
(TFAP) compiled by the Europe-Asia Meeting (ASEM), which is an
intergovernmental consortium involving Asian and European countries. The group
discusses the promotion of international harmonization, assistance to
developing countries, and establishment of appropriate conformity assessment
systems, etc.
ASTM [American Society for Testing and Materials]
The ASTM is one of
the standardization organizations in the
BIPM [International Bureau of Weights and Measures]
The BIPM is an
organization that works as a head office of the intergovernmental consortium
for the Meter Convention, which aims to unify international weights and
measures and unit systems.
CAB (1) [Conformity Assessment Board]
The CAB refers to
the board established under the Council Board (CB) of the IEC, which manages
overall conformity assessment activities. The board takes responsibilities for
the operation of the IEC accreditation systems (IECEE, IECQ, IECEx), the management thereof, assessment changes,
arrangements, and budget formulation.
CAB (2)［Conformity
Assessment Body］
The CAB refers to
the organizations that conduct conformity assessments such as assessment
registration, product accreditation, testing, and inspections, etc. (Definition
of ISO/IEC FDIS 17001; accreditation organizations are not included here).
CASCO [Committee on Conformity Assessment]
The CASCO is one of
the policy development committees under the ISO Central Secretariat. The
committee conducts deliberations appertaining to guides and standards for
conformity assessments.
CEN [European Committee for Standardization]
The CEN refers to
the regional standardization organization of the European sphere. The committee
prepares European standards in fields other than the CENELEC related to the electrotechnical field and the ETSI related to the
telecommunications field.
CENELEC [European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization]
The CENELEC refers
to the regional standardization organization of the European sphere, which
establishes standards in the electrotechnical field.
CGP [Code of Good Practice]
The CGP refers to
the code concerning the appropriate preparation of standards compiled in Annex
3 of the WTO/TBT Agreement.
COPOLCO [Committee on Consumer Policy]
The COPOLCP is one
of policy development committees under the ISO Central Secretariat. The
committee deals with consumer-related standardization issues.
CSB [Competent Standardization Body]
The CSB refers to
organizations involved in the preparation of JIS drafts that are confirmed by
the JISC as having systems in place to ensure sufficient fairness and openness
in draft preparation, including committees consisting of interested parties at the
proper proportions. With regard to applications of JIS drafts under Article 12
of the Industrial Standardization Act, proposals from organizations that meet
CSB requirements are in essence to be examined only by the board with a view to
promptly establishing or revising JIS standards.。
(C)SR [(Corporate) Social Responsibility]
The term (C)SR
refers to companies’ responsibilities in regards to societal aspects other than
the economic aspects of their activities, such as compliance, consumer
protection, environment preservation, respect for labor and human rights, and
contribution to local communities. This sometimes includes companies’ voluntary
efforts from a social perspective for the purpose of sustainable development.
The ISO intends to carry out deliberations on this issue under the name SR so as
to promote standardization not only for companies but also for organizations in
general.
EMS [Environmental Management System]
The
The systems classified as the ISO 14000 series are well known and have been
used for assessment of registration systems.
EPA [Economic Partnership Agreement]
EPAs refer to agreements that cover a wider
range of facets of the economy, including not only trade liberalization but
also cooperation in various fields, such as the formulation of rules concerning
investment, the movement of persons, intellectual property rights, and
competition policies.
(Reference) In the
environment-related field, this abbreviation is often used to stand for the
Environmental Protection Agency in the
FTA [Free Trade Agreement]
FTAs refer to agreements that aim to
liberalize trade among certain countries and regions by removing customs on
traded goods and restrictions on foreign investment among the countries and
regions included within any given agreement.
GRP [Good Regulatory Practice]
This has been
discussed by the OECD, APEC, ASEM, and WTO, etc. Specifically, this refers to
the standardization of performance, the utilization of international standards
and guides, and the shift from government accreditation to third party
accreditation.
GSJ［Geological
Survey of Japan］
The GSJ is a
general term that refers to overall research sectors, joint research bodies,
and research-related departments engaged in “geological surveys” conducted by
the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
These serve as an external contact points pertaining to “geological survey”
work and provide geological maps and geological information.
IEC [International Electrotechnical Commission]
The IEC is one of
representative international standardization organizations, one that deals with
standardization in the electrotechnical field. Only
one member per country can participate in the IEC. The Central Management
Office is located in
ILAC [International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation]
The ILAC refers to
the international cooperation council of laboratory accreditation
organizations, aiming to define the principle and framework of the laboratory
accreditation system, collect information on related parties (accreditation
organizations, laboratories, and affiliated organizations, etc.) and exchange
opinions. It also operates MRA among laboratory accreditation organizations.
IPR [Intellectual Property Rights]
This refers to
rights concerning intellectual properties such as patent rights, copyrights,
and trademarks, etc.
ISO [International Organization for Standardization]
The ISO is a
representative international standardization organization. Only one member per
country can participate in the ISO, which has become the international
consortium for national domestic standard organizations. The Central Management
Office is located in
ITU [International Telecommunication Union ]
The ITU refers to
the international organization established by the United Nations, which deals
with the telecommunications field. The International Telecommunication Union,
Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) is mainly responsible for
standardization.
JAB [Japan
The JAB is an
accreditation organization that accredits the work performance of CABs. The JAB
is the only accreditation organization in
JASC [Japan
The JASC refers to
the registration system of accreditation organizations based on the Industrial
Standardization Act. Registered accreditation organizations registered with the
competent minister are allowed to carry out accreditation work for JIS mark certification.
The JASC is the system to examine accreditation organizations that file
application and register* appropriate ones.
(Note) The term
“register” is used in the Act, but in an internationally accepted sense, the
JASC carries out activities within the scope of product certification.
JCSS［Japan
Calibration Service System］
The JCSS refers to
the system designed to accredit calibration service entities based on the
Measurement Act. Calibration here refers to acts designed to prove national
standards or provide links to measuring equipment by way of a sequence of
comparisons with national standards (measurement traceability). This is
implemented by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation,
International Accreditation Japan (IA-Japan).
JIS [Japanese Industrial Standards]
This refers to
standards based on the Industrial Standardization Act. JIS specifies such
matters as types, forms, sizes, structures, qualities, etc. of industrial
products, methods of production, designing, and use of industrial products, and
testing and inspecting methods, etc. for the purpose of improving quality,
enhancing production efficiency, streamlining production, making trade simple
and fair, and rationalizing use and consumption of industrial products.
JISC [Japanese Industrial Standards Committee]
The JISC is one of
committees established based on the Industrial Standardization Act, which falls
under the provisions of Article 8 of the National Government Organization Act.
The JISC conducts research and inspection into Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS),
submits recommendations to related ministers and publishes reports in response
to advisories for promoting industrial standardization.
Furthermore, the JISC is the organization that represents
JNLA [Japan
The JNLA refers to
the system for registering laboratory accreditation organizations based on the
Industrial Standardization Act. This is for “registering laboratory
accreditation organizations that have certain capacity” with regard to the
implementation of accreditation methods specified by the JIS. Such
implementation is carried out at the National Institute of Technology and
Evaluation, International Accreditation Japan (IA-Japan).
JSA [Japanese Standards Association]
This refers to the
organization working to disseminate standardization. The JSA distributes
Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS).
MLA [Multilateral Recognition Arrangement]
This refers to
mutual recognition arrangements at the nongovernmental level among multiple
organizations. This has the same meaning as MRA (Mutual Recognition
Arrangement), and is used within the IAF and the
MRA [Mutual Recognition Agreement (when used by governments or as a general
meaning)/ Mutual Recognition Arrangement (when used at the nongovernmental
level)]
This refers to the
arrangements wherein organizations participating in MRA mutually approve the
results of conformity assessments or accreditation by other participating
organizations as equivalent to those of their own conformity assessments or
accreditation systems.
At the intergovernmental level, this means a mutual agreement wherein a
conformity assessment organization designated by an exporting country conducted
a conformity assessment in accordance with an importing country’s standards and
conformity assessment procedures, the importing country is to accord the
assessment results the same guarantee that they would their own assessment
results. In this case, MRA has the same meaning as Mutual Acceptance Agreement
(MAA).
When emphasizing that an MRA is nongovernmental leveling nature, the term
Mutual Recognition Arrangement is used.
NITE [National Institute of Technology and Evaluation］
The NITE collects
and provides technological information concerning the fields of biotechnology,
management of chemical substances, conformity assessments, and human welfare.
The NITE also provides technological assessment services concerning industrial products,
and plays a central role in developing intellectual infrastructure for
technology, interlinking entire societies by way of technology.
NIST [National Institute of Standards
The NIST is among
the government organs under the auspices of the Department of Commerce of the
NMIJ[National Metrology Institute of Japan
The NMIJ refers to
the organization that conducts leading R&D activities concerning
measurement standards and measurement analysis technology, maintains national
standards, and carries out standard supply services.
OIML［International
Organization of Legal Metrology］
The OIML is an
intergovernmental organization. This organization carries out activities
designed to determine international solutions for administrative or technical
problems caused by measurement equipment structure, usage, or allowable error
margins, or those resultant from the equipment use. Member countries have a
moral responsibility to introduce measurement regulations, testing standards,
and measurement equipment performance levels, etc. approved at the OIML to the
greatest extent possible by way of their own domestic legislation.
PAC［The Pacific
Accreditation Cooperation］
The PAC is one of
regional cooperation organizations covering the Asia-Pacific region, one
responsible for accrediting assessment registration organizations and
accreditation organizations. It corresponds to the IAF, covering the fields of
assessment registration, product certification and staff certification for
management systems. Under cooperation with other regional organizations, the
PAC implements a MLA, which can be categorized as a sub-group of the IAF’s MLA.
PASC [Pacific Area Standards Congress]
The PASC is among
the regional cooperation organizations in the field of standardization,
covering the
QMS [Quality Management System]
This refers to the
management systems that operate and manage organizations, focusing on quality
control. The systems classified within the ISO 9000 series are well known and
have been used for assessment registration systems.
RFID [Radio Frequency Identification]
This refers to
technology to implant a non-contact “IC tags (a kind of microscopic radio IC
chip) into commodities, keep the records thereof, and automatically identify
them through radio data exchange at the time they are picked up by an antenna.
SC [Subcommittee]
At the ISO and the
IEC, standing subcommittees are sometimes established under technical
committees (TC), breaking down certain technological fields. Subcommittees are
numbered in the order of their establishment. They form part of organizations
that play major roles in preparing standards, and are positioned at the same
level as TCs within the procedures for the
preparation of standard drafts.
SDO [Standard Developing Organization]
The SDO is the
organization involved in the preparation of standards.
SI [International System of Unit]
This refers to the
single practical system of unit that can be adopted by all countries.
International Unit System consists of seven basic units, two supplementary
units, and derivative units formulated by way of the aforementioned units
(these three kinds of units are referred to as SI units), plus integral
multiples of 10 based on these units.
SR [Social Responsibility]
See （C）SR.
TC [Technical Committee (ISO,IEC)]
This refers to
committees established at the ISO and the IEC for each technological field for
the preparation of standards. Technical committees are numbered in the order of
their establishment, and develop plans for the preparation of standards in
their respective fields. They constitute parts of organizations that play major
roles in preparing standards. However, when subcommittees are established under
the auspices of TCs, standard drafts are directly put
to a vote without going through deliberations within the TCs.
TMB [Technical Management Board (ISO)]
The TMB refers to
the policy committee that manages the entirety of the technical work conducted
by the ISO. It consists of members appointed by the ISO’s Central Secretariat,
and the management office is located within the Central Management Office. The
board is accorded the authority to make a report to the Central Secretariat and
provide advice in related cases with regard to all matters concerning the
organization, arrangements, strategic plans, and plans for specialized projects
on the part of the ISO.
TQC [Total Quality Control]
This refers to
company-wide quality control. It aims to enhance company’s overall ability by
implementing various quality control measures in a comprehensive, company-wide
manner and calling upon the total power of employees.
TQM [Total Quality Management]
This refers to the
implementation of systematic quality enhancement of the entire scope of an
organization’s work and operations, which is an expanded version of TQC.
TR [Technical Report]
This refers to
technical information documents related to standards. Such documents include
information such as technical data and technical background that can constitute
grounds for code provisions, but does not include descriptions of codes
themselves.
TS [Technical Specification]
This is one of code
provisions established by way of agreements. TSs
constitute specifications wherein the scope of agreement is narrower than that
for standards. A TS is published when a specification fails to obtain a
sufficient consensus for international standard status due to, for example,
being in the process of technical development, while at the same time being
recognized as having such potential in the future.
WSC [World Standards Cooperation]
The WSC is the
top-level cooperation council among trio of the ISO, IEC, and ITU. It consists
of the presidents, vice-presidents, and directors-general, etc. of the ISO,
IEC, and ITU (ITU-T).
WTO/TBT Agreement
[World Trade Organization: (Agreement on) Technical Barriers to Trade]
This refers to the
international framework concerning standard accreditation systems, including
standardization. It aims to ensure that the standard accreditation systems of
member countries [technical regulations (technical standards in compulsory
legislation], standards, conformity assessment systems) do not create
unnecessary obstacles to international trade in the pursuit of reasonable goals
(safety, health protection, etc.). For that purpose, the agreement requires
that member countries secure transparency in preparing standards, utilize
international standards, and apply systems equally without any discrimination
between countries.
[Main
text ends here.]
Copyright (c) 2005 Japanese
Industrial Standards Committee. All Rights Reserved.