VoluntaryConsensusStandards

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"Voluntary consensus standards" is a term used by the US govt's National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The following definition is a cut down version of the one in the "Revised OMB CircularA?-119" at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a119/a119.html:

4. What Are Voluntary, Consensus Standards?

: a. ... "voluntary consensus standards" are standards developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies ... These standards include provisions requiring that owners of relevant intellectual property have agreed to make that intellectual property available on a non-discriminatory, royalty-free or reasonable royalty basis to all interested parties ...

: (1) ... A voluntary consensus standards body is defined by the following attributes:

: (i) Openness.

: (ii) Balance of interest.

: (iii) Due process.

: (vi) An appeals process.

: (v) Consensus, which is defined as general agreement, but not necessarily unanimity, and includes a process for attempting to resolve objections by interested parties, as long as all comments have been fairly considered, each objector is advised of the disposition of his or her objection(s) and the reasons why, and the consensus body members are given an opportunity to change their votes after reviewing the comments.

: b. Other types of standards, which are distinct from voluntary consensus standards, are the following:

: (1) "Non-consensus standards," "Industry standards," "Company standards," or "de facto standards," which are developed in the private sector but not in the full consensus process.

: (2) "Government-unique standards," which are developed by the government for its own uses.

: (3) Standards mandated by law, such as those contained in the United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary, as referenced in 21 U.S.C. 351.

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