scope:

Introduction.

The Department of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the ''Department'') recognizes the importance, the advantages, and the benefits of voluntary standards and standardization activities. Such standards may cover, but are not limited to, terms, classes, sizes (including quantities of packaged consumer commodities), dimensions, capacities, quality levels, performance criteria, inspection requirements, marking requirements, testing equipment, test procedures and installation procedures. Economic growth is promoted through:

(1) Reduction of manufacturing costs, inventory costs, and distribution costs;

(2) Better understanding among manufacturers, producers, or packagers (hereinafter referred to as producers), distributors, users, and consumers; and

(3) Simplification of the purchase, installation, and use of the product being standardized.