PASC 32 Lauds ANSI VP while passing resolutions.
Press Release Summary:
The Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) passed several resolutions concerning energy management and social responsibility at its thirty-second meeting (PASC 32), and also presented Gary Kushnier, ANSI vice president of international policy, with the PASC Meritorious Service Award. That latter was done in recognition of his contributions to the group. Kushnier has participated in PASC for 15 years and chaired the PASC Executive Committee for nearly 9 years.
Original Press Release:
PASC 32 Passes Resolutions on Energy Management, Social Responsibility
ANSI vice president Gary Kushnier awarded PASC Meritorious Service Award
New Yorl April 6, 2009
The Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) held its thirty-second meeting (PASC 32) March 31 to April 4, 2009. The Congress passed a number of key resolutions at the meeting, which took place in Hobart, Australia.
One primary resolution addressed energy efficiency and its key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the demand on electricity supply systems. The Congress urged its members to be more involved in the activities of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Project Committee (PC) 242, Energy management.
PASC members also lauded the efforts of the U.S., Japan, and China to pursue Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade and Investment Liberalization and Facilitation (TILF) funding for a project proposal to help educate the APEC business community on the implementation of an ISO standard for energy management.
Attendees passed a resolution on ISO Committee Draft (CD) 26000, Social Responsibility. [see related article] PASC 32 called upon the ISO Working Group (WG) to assure that further development of ISO/CD 26000 is in line with policy statements Principles for Developing ISO and IEC Standards Related to or Supporting Public Policy Initiatives and ISO Global Relevance Policy.
PASC 32 posited that this will help ensure that the resulting standard:
is market driven;
is not based on subjective judgments;
does not seek to assume the role of setting public policy in the areas of social responsibility or sustainable development;
does not establish a technical barrier to trade; and
is applicable to all countries and organizations.
Members praised the positive effects of ISO's continued inclusiveness, openness, cooperative approach, and innovation under the leadership of Rob Steele, the new Secretary-General, and Alan Morrison, Ph.D., ISO President. Attendees were encouraged to participate in the consultation process for the development of the ISO Strategic Plan.
PASC 32 also encouraged its members to be more actively engaged in standards and conformity assessment activities of the International Electrotechnical Institute (IEC), and to participate in various IEC training programs provided to member countries. Member countries were urged to explore the use of IEC international standardization and conformity assessment programs as another tool to support their regulatory programs where appropriate.
Finally, the Congress presented Gary Kushnier, ANSI vice president of international policy, with the PASC Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his longtime contributions to the group. Mr. Kushnier has participated in PASC for fifteen years and has chaired the PASC Executive Committee (EC) for almost nine years.
"When people look at PASC from other regions of the world, or even within our own region, they see a very unique organization-one with minimal rules, and one that truly works together when needs come before it and advances proposals on its own to appropriate fora," said Mr. Kushnier. "I've been honored and proud to serve you for nearly nine years in this position, and have truly appreciated the warm friendships that developed and remain."
Mr. Kushnier's term as chair of the PASC EC will conclude at the end of 2009. He will be followed by Colin Blair, deputy CEO of Australia's national standards body, Standards Australia.
For more information, visit the PASC website.
