Standards Development Handbook

NSF International

Standards Development Handbook

A Guide for Standard Committee Membership and Mentoring

The Public

Health and Safety

Company.TM

NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is dedicated to being the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions while serving the interests of all stakeholders.

This handbook is subject to revision. Contact NSF to confirm this version is current.

NSF International

789 North Dixboro Road, P.O. Box 130140 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140 USA

Phone: (734) 769-8010 Telex: 753215 NSF INTL FAX: (734) 769-0109 E-mail: [email protected]

Web: http://www.nsf.org

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NSF International

Standards Development Handbook A Guide for Standard Committee Membership and Mentoring

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Prepared by The NSF Standards Department September 2011

Published by NSF International PO Box 130140, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140, USA Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from NSF International. Printed in the United States of America.

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Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Statement of Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 NSF Mission Statement ................................................................................................................... 1 2 Role of the Volunteer .............................................................................................................................. 1 2.1 Benefits and roles ............................................................................................................................ 1 2.2 Improvements to the volunteering process ...................................................................................... 2 3 Role of NSF Staff .................................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Primary role ...................................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Primary staff involved ....................................................................................................................... 4 4 How to Get Involved ............................................................................................................................... 5 4.1 Who can become a member ............................................................................................................ 5 4.2 Selection/Acceptance Criteria .......................................................................................................... 5 4.3 Existing NSF committees ................................................................................................................. 5 4.4 Committee needs ............................................................................................................................. 5 4.5 Participation on NSF Joint Committees ........................................................................................... 6 4.6 Orientation ........................................................................................................................................ 6 5 Committee Organization and Responsibility .......................................................................................... 7 5.1 NSF Standards Organization ........................................................................................................... 7 5.2 Council of Public Health Consultants (CPHC) ................................................................................. 7 5.3 Joint Committees ............................................................................................................................. 9 5.4 Sub-tier committees ......................................................................................................................... 9 6 How the Work Gets Done ..................................................................................................................... 10 6.1 Issue Papers .................................................................................................................................. 10 6.2 Meetings ......................................................................................................................................... 10 6.3 Teleconferences/Web conferences ............................................................................................... 10 6.4 NSF Online Workspace (NOW) ..................................................................................................... 11 7 Process and Procedures ...................................................................................................................... 12 7.1 Process .......................................................................................................................................... 12 7.2 Procedures ..................................................................................................................................... 13

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NSF International Standards Development Handbook A Guide for Standard Committee Membership and Mentoring 1 Introduction 1.1 Statement of Purpose The purpose of the NSF International Standards Development Handbook is to provide a convenient easy-to-use reference that defines the roles and responsibilities of volunteers and staff as well as providing an overview of the Standards development process. This handbook is designed to be used by new, as well as experienced, NSF staff and volunteers to quickly answer questions and provide guidance in what can sometimes be a complex and challenging process. 1.2 NSF Mission Statement NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is dedicated to being the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions while serving the interests of all stakeholders. 2 Role of the Volunteer 2.1 Benefits and roles Volunteers are individuals who are willing to donate their time, knowledge and expertise to the development and maintenance of NSF Standards. The volunteer does not serve to promote the interests of his/her employer. However the volunteer and their employer do benefit from the Standards development activity by way of:

Interacting with and learning from the foremost technical experts in a given field.

Creating a personal network of contacts for technical advice.

Becoming aware of revisions to Standards prior to publication

Becoming aware of technical issues in the industry, and learning how others are dealing with them.

Participants are able to avoid similar problems within their own organizations or prepare solutions in

advance.

Realizing the satisfaction of having one’s work incorporated into a globally recognized Standard.

Gaining experience in consensus building and teamwork.

Developing technical leadership skills through task group involvement.

Enhancing communication skills and the ability to persuade others in a technical forum.

NSF International Standards Development Handbook (September 2011)

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Broadening their understanding of other segments of their industry, in the U.S. and internationally.

Receiving complimentary access to the NSF Standards related to committee work.

2.2 Improvements to the volunteer process The earliest NSF committees were composed of members/volunteers who carried out the majority of the work during face-to-face meetings. The majority of the members were from North America, and attendance at meetings was expected. All communication was via hand and typewritten documents, distributed by the postal service. Today, NSF Standards are used worldwide, making it important to have stakeholder representation from around the world. This creates obvious challenges in terms of communication, meeting attendance, etc. One of the major steps taken by NSF was the NSF Online Workspace (NOW), the web based tool used by volunteers and staff throughout all phases of Standards development. This tool allows volunteers from around the world to participate on NSF committees, and provides a robust communication solution for both proposal and balloting phases of Standards development. The use of the NOW, along with the increasing use of virtual meetings (telecoms/webcasts) has helped to accelerate the Standards development process.


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Table 1 Member and Participant Classifications

Member Classification

Description Expectations1 Privileges

Joint Committee Member2

An individual, representing a particular interest category, and capable of attending all scheduled meetings.

Attend scheduled meetings Vote on all ballots Participate on Task Groups Actively participate in committee discussions

Listed on committee roster Receive complimentary copies of Standard(s) Full access to the NOW

Liaison Member

An individual that is self sponsored or sponsored by an employer and whose contribution to a committee is in the form of technical comment and review of proposals. Attendance at committee meetings is neither expected nor required.

Attendance at committee meetings is optional. Does not vote on committee ballots Optional participation on all review and comment ballots Participate on Task Groups

Listed on committee roster as "Liaison Member" Full access to the NOW Complementary copies of Standard(s)

Proxy

An individual who substitutes for an existing committee member at meetings, for a limited period of time.

Fulfills Joint Committee Member role for assigned meeting only

Fulfills Joint Committee Member role for assigned meeting only

Observer

An individual who has expressed interest in the work of one or more committee(s), and receives committee correspondence (agendas, minutes, etc.)

Does not vote on committee ballots. By mutual agreement may be assigned a committee work item by the Chair. Participate on Task Groups

Receives committee correspondence in the form of agendas, minutes, etc.

1 The Chair of each committee is expected to evaluate the performance of the members of the committee based on the expectations identified in the Table. 2 Membership is granted based on individual qualifications and members do not function as representatives of their employer or of any other organization.


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3 Role of NSF Staff 3.1 Primary role The primary role of staff assigned to committees is to implement actions that are required to meet the objectives of the committee on a continuing basis. 3.2 Primary staff involved

Joint Committee Secretariat

Policy Specialist 3.2.1 Joint Committee Secretariat In general, the Joint Committee Secretariat provides committees and task groups with the necessary support for the process of Standards development actions, interpretations, and related administrative actions (e.g., membership, procedures). The technical expertise necessary to develop consensus resides with the volunteers; therefore, the role of Joint Committee Secretariat is normally to provide administrative support. However, depending on the experience of the relevant staff person, it may be appropriate for the Joint Committee Secretariat to provide some degree of technical support (e.g., drafting proposed technical requirements or responses to comments, researching and drafting proposed replies to requests for consideration by the committee). Specific committee-related responsibilities of the Joint Committee Secretariat include:

Project Management: Process requests and recorded votes for Standards actions, interpretations,

membership actions, and procedural revisions; serve as Project Administrative Manager for actions

proposed for committee approval; interface with the Policy Specialist to manage the publication

schedule for Standards.

Administrative: Schedule meetings; prepare and distribute agendas and summaries; maintain

committee/task group membership; receive and maintain all committee and task group documents in

accordance with NSF Standards Development and Maintenance Policies.

Additional Support: correspond with interfacing organizations or individuals in the name of the

committee; provide guidance to volunteers on NSF procedures and policies; provide guidance to

volunteers on Standards activities. 3.2.2 Policy Specialist The Policy Specialist does not participate directly in committee activities but works with the Joint Committee Secretariat to manage the publication schedule for Standards. The Policy Specialist provides general guidance on the style and editorial content of NSF Standards ensuring accuracy and consistency in Standards development.


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4 How to Get Involved 4.1 Who can become a member Any individual wishing to become a participant in the Standards development and maintenance process can apply for committee membership. There are no fees and no geographical restrictions associated with NSF Standards committee membership. Applicants for individual membership are selected based on their technical experience, interest classification, and ability to actively participate in committee activities. Volunteers are often sponsored by their employer. However, in NSF committee activities all members participate and vote as individuals rather than as representatives of their employer or of any other organization. 4.2 Selection/Acceptance Criteria To ensure that NSF Standards are developed in accordance with the procedures accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), individual membership appointments are based on a number of characteristics, including:

Experience and technical qualifications,

Ability to actively participate in committee activities,

Business interest of the organization, if any, that supports the member’s committee participation

(interest classification),

The need to maintain a balance of interests on the committee, and

The limit on the number of members for a committee. At the discretion of the chair, applicants may be requested to attend one or more meetings prior to being considered for membership. 4.3 Existing NSF committees A list of all NSF committees and their sub-tier committees is available on the NOW: http://Standards.nsf.org/apps/group_public/index.php The number of members and desired member qualifications vary by committee, and there may not be openings on a given committee at the time of application submission. For committees with sub-tier committees (task groups, sub-task groups, ad hoc groups), prior experience volunteering on a specialized working group is generally preferred prior to making application. 4.4 Committee needs Many NSF joint committees consist of a broad range of sub-tier committees, including task groups, sub-task groups, and ad hoc groups, that have been established to support the development and maintenance of the wide range of NSF Standards. NSF seeks the participation of all parties having an interest and technical expertise in specific areas covered by NSF Standards.


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A list of the NSF committees seeking volunteers is available on the NOW at: http://Standards.nsf.org/kwspub/public/stds 4.4.1. Preparing for Joint Committee membership It is recommended that a first time volunteer contact the Joint Committee Secretariat prior to submitting the membership application package to NSF. Attending a committee meeting as an observer prior to submission is also recommended. The Joint Committee Secretariat will provide all details (date, time, location) for the next meeting, if one has been scheduled. 4.5 Voting Participation on NSF Joint Committees A formal request to join as a voting member must be sent to the Joint Committee Secretariat or Chair. First time applicants must complete an application and submit the following to NSF:

Application for membership, and

Up-to-date curriculum vita, resume or biographical profile Upon receipt, the completed application is acknowledged by the Joint Committee Secretariat and distributed to the appropriate Chair for review and consideration. NSF staff is not responsible for making NSF committee membership decisions. 4.6 Orientation A mentor will be identified to assist new committee members in becoming oriented to the NSF Standards development process. The mentor will serve as the primary contact to address any process, organization, and logistics questions that may arise.

NOTE – For newly created Joint Committees, the Joint Committee Secretariat will serve as the mentor.


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5 Committee Organization and Responsibility 5.1 NSF Standards Organization NSF committees are organized in a hierarchical structure. As can be seen in Figure 5-1, NSF Standards development and modifications are ultimately reviewed by the Council of Public Health Consultants (CPHC). Beneath the CPHC, which is divided into three committees based on content, are Joint Committees for various different programs. Each Joint Committee (JC) focuses on a particular area. These areas are:

Drinking Water Treatment Units (DWTU)

Drinking Water Additives – Treatment Chemicals (DWA-TC)

Drinking Water Additives – System Components (DWA-SC)

Plastics (PLAS)

Wastewater Technology (WWT)

Recreational Water (RWF)

Food Equipment (FE)

Residential Food Equipment (RE)

Food Processing Equipment (FPE)

Biosafety Cabinetry (BSC)

Organic Personal care (OPC)

Dietary Supplements (DS)

Health Fitness/Facilities (HFF)

Pharmaceutical Excipients (PE)

Sustainable Carpet (SC)

Sustainable Wallcoverings (SW)

Sustainable Textiles (ST)

Sustainable Roofing (SR)

Sustainable Flooring (SF)

Chemicals and Processes Information (CPI)

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

School Equipment and Supplies (SES)

NOTE – Joint Committee are current as of September 16, 2011. 5.2 Council of Public Health Consultants (CPHC) Each CPHC standards balloting group reviews and considers proposals developed by the Joint Committees to ensure that all public health issues have been adequately addressed. It is the responsibility of the Joint Committee to develop and finalize standards proposal documents. The Joint Committee has the relevant technical expertise and is responsible for reaching consensus on proposed Standards actions. However, many NSF Standards are complex and require expertise in numerous areas, thereby requiring a further sub tier of committees beneath the Joint Committee.


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Figure 5-1.NSF Standards Organization

Council of Public Health Consultants (CPHC)

CPHC Food & Sanitation

CPHC Water & Environment

CPHC Health & Sustainability

JC DS JC DWA - SC JC BSC

JC DWA - TC

JC DWTU

JC PLAS

JC RWF

JC WWT

JC FE

JC FPE

JC EPP

JC CPI

JC HFF

JC IAQ

JC PE

JC SC

JC SF

JC SR

JC ST

JC SW

JC RE

NOTE – Joint Committees are current as of September 30, 2011. JC SES


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5.3 Joint Committees The membership goal of each NSF Joint Committee is typically no larger than 33 members. Two members serve as the officers of the committee (Chair, Vice Chair), and a Joint Committee Secretariat is assigned to the committee. Joint Committee Chair responsibilities include:

managing the JC and JC meetings in a manner that is efficient and in compliance with NSF

International Standards Development and Maintenance Policies;

completing JC responsibilities in a timely manner, including the review of drafts for ballot;

providing a liaison between JC and CPHC;

adjudicating all views and objections encountered in the balloting and public review processes, in

collaboration with the JC Secretariat;

participating in appeal actions; and

performing other functions, as required by these Policies or at the request of the JC. The Vice Chair is responsible for carrying out the duties of the Chair in the event he or she is unable to fulfill his or her duties. The Joint Committee Secretariat prepares the agenda, initiates ballots, records minutes of the meeting, and assists in all other administrative areas of the committee. The duties of a Joint Committee include:

proposing NSF Standards consistent with NSF’s mission;

developing and maintaining Standards within their charter.

voting on approval of proposed NSF Standards;

ensuring that public health, safety, and environmental issues are properly addressed in Standards;

maintaining Standards in accordance with NSF’s Standards Development and Maintenance Policies;

responding to requests for interpretations of NSF Standards within their scope of activity;

proposing additional policies and procedures to the Secretariat that are appropriate to their scope of

activity, and

addressing other matters requiring consensus body action. Joint Committees conduct their business using a combination of ballots and face-to-face meetings. 5.4 Sub-tier committees Most joint committees have a number of sub-tier committees. It is within these committees that much of the standards development work takes place. There are different types of sub-tier committees within NSF:


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Joint Committee Task Group (Standing or Ad Hoc) Sub-Task Group (Standing or Ad Hoc) Sub-tier committees may be formed on an Ad Hoc basis (formed for a specific issue and disbanded upon its completion) or Standing basis (formed to address multiple issues that arise over time). The number and type of sub-tier committees will vary depending upon the scope and responsibility of the parent committee. Sub-tier committees (task groups and sub-task groups) have, at a minimum, a Chair and a Joint Committee Secretariat who manages the administrative responsibilities. Although not required, sub-tier groups may appoint a member to the position of Vice Chair. 6 How the Work Gets Done 6.1 Issue Papers Issue papers are initiated by those directly and materially affected by a Standard. Upon receipt, issue papers are assigned a unique record number (e.g., JC-2011-1) by the Joint Committee Secretariat for purposes of tracking the item during its lifetime. 6.2 Meetings Committees meet on a regular basis. Meeting agendas and working documents are accessible for all committees via the NOW on the committee-specific webpage. On questions of parliamentary procedure not covered in NSF’s procedures, Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used - http://www.robertsrules.com/. 6.2.1 Joint Committees During initial development of a standard, the Joint Committee may choose to meet periodically to progress the standards development process and facilitate the discussion of comments and objections. Once a standard is developed and going into standards maintenance, a Joint Committee will typically meet once annually to address proposed changes and discuss other issues impacting the standard. Joint Committee meetings are typically face-to-face meetings. Remote participation arrangements are also provided for those not able to travel to the meeting. 6.2.2 Task Groups and Sub-Task Groups After Joint Committee meetings, sub-tier committees which have an issue assigned will hold a teleconference. Each issue paper is presented by the Group Chair, to be discussed among committee members. Proposals and background material are posted to the committee-specific webpage on the NOW. Recommendations on the issue paper, and proposals by the Group are then submitted to the Joint Committee for consideration. 6.3 Teleconferences/Web conferences Task Group meetings take place via teleconference and/or web conference at a date and time agreed upon by a majority of members. The necessary documents are posted on the NOW prior to the conference. A toll free call-in number and access code are provided.


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6.4 NSF Online Workspace (NOW) Most of the standards development work done by volunteers utilizes the NOW. NSF committee members and observers are provided personal accounts for accessing the NOW at: http://standards.nsf.org Volunteers use the NOW to:

Access general information pertaining to specific groups;

Search and view calendars, documents, ballots, action items, and email messages;

Send email to NSF volunteers, committees, and Staff;

View and edit their personal account information; and

Vote on ballots NOW training is provided via web conference periodically throughout the year.

NOTE – Ballots and related documents are part of the NSF standards development process and are for NSF Committee use only. They shall not be reproduced, circulated, or quoted, in whole or in part, outside NSF activities except with the approval of NSF.

Information is organized by section (Tab) on NOW as shown below:


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6.4.1 My Groups Based on your roles on various committees and groups, the “My Groups” page provides a central location for all information -- calendars, documents, ballots, action items, and email messages. “My Groups” lists all of the committees and groups to which you belong and provides a link to each group’s individual page. Contact information for the group chair, the secretariat (NSF staff person), and other helpful information can be found on each group page. 6.4.2 Documents The “documents” page lists recently added documents from all groups to which you belong. On this page you can find the following information for each document: date submitted, document format (i.e., MS Word, PDF), document name (linked to the document itself for online viewing /downloading), file size and a link to the Document Details page.

NOTE – To quickly determine a document's file type, place your cursor over the document name. 6.4.3 Calendars The “Calendars” page lists all upcoming events from all groups to which you belong. On this page you can find the following information for each event: date, type (designated using the calendar icons), name (linked to the Event Details page), and group sponsor. Today's date is highlighted if there is an event scheduled.

NOTE – To quickly determine an event's scheduled time, place your cursor over the event name. 6.4.5 Ballots The “Ballots” page lists ballots from all groups to which you belong; ballots are organized by Close Date. All ballots for approval, review and comment are included. Ballots are grouped as follows: All My Ballots; Open Ballots; Votable Ballots; Closed Date in 2011; etc. 6.4.6 Email The “Email” page provides a central location for accessing all email messages submitted to your groups. Rather than going to each group to find a specific message, you may use this page to quickly scan for messages across all groups. The display controls on this page also allow you to narrow the listing to specific groups, message submitters, or date ranges. 7 Process and Procedures 7.1 Process The NSF Standards development process is characterized by the following key principles:

Openness

Transparency

Balance of Interest

Due Process

Consensus


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7.1.1 Openness Participation in the NSF Standards development process is open to interested parties and persons who are directly or materially affected by the standard. Participation is not restricted to U.S. citizens or residents. NSF committee meetings at which Standards issues are discussed are open to the public. 7.1.2 Transparency Information regarding NSF Standards development activities and processes is readily available to anyone who is interested. 7.1.3 Balance of Interests No individual, organization, or interest category may dominate the process. The membership of committees responsible for establishing consensus on Standards actions is required to be balanced among the committee’s interest categories. 7.1.4 Due Process Materially interested parties can submit their concerns with regard to a NSF Standard, have those concerns addressed and responded to, and if not satisfied with the consideration of their concerns, they have the right to appeal. 7.1.5 Consensus Consensus does not require unanimous approval. It requires approval by more than a simple majority of all materially interested parties. Consensus also requires that attempts be made to resolve all objections related to the proposed Standards action. 7.2 Procedures 7.2.1 ANSI Accreditation NSF has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop American National Standards using the NSF International Standards Development and Maintenance Policies. The current version of these accredited procedures is available on the NOW at: http://standards.nsf.org/kwspub/public/stds All NSF Committees are required to operate in accordance with the accredited procedures. 7.2.2 Training Materials NSF has created training materials to assist volunteers in their committee activities. Continuous training of volunteers is encouraged, either as part of committee meetings, or through independent review of the training materials. 7.2.3 Approval of Standards Actions 7.2.3.1 Joint Committee Ballot All joint committee votes for Standards actions are recorded in the NOW, NSF’s web-based electronic voting system.

First Ballot: The joint committee receives the proposed Standard or revision ballot for consideration, and has access to the task group’s development process (e.g., drafts, summaries) on the NOW. Members


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have the following voting options: affirmative, negative (with comment), and abstain. Members must submit a comment related to the material under consideration to support a negative vote. Comments may be provided, but are not required with affirmative votes. All substantive comments are considered and will be responded to; attempts must be made to resolve all negative votes and public comments. According to NSF’s accredited Standards development procedures, a proposed Standard or revision can be sent to the appropriate CPHC committee if: 1) the proposal is approved by a majority (greater than 50 percent) of the JC members, and at least two-thirds of those votes are affirmative, excluding abstentions; 2) there are no unresolved negative votes or substantive public comments; and no technical changes have been made to the draft. Adjudication Ballot: An adjudication ballot is issued for the following reasons: to review unresolved negative votes and/or substantive comments not incorporated or to review unresolved objections received as a result of the ANSI public review and comment process. According to NSF’s accredited Standards development procedures, a proposed Standard or revision can be sent to the appropriate CPHC committee if: 1) the proposal is approved by a majority (greater than 50 percent) of the JC members, and at least two-thirds of those votes are affirmative, excluding abstentions; 2) there are no unresolved negative votes or substantive public comments; and no technical changes have been made to the draft. Public Review: At the time of the Joint Committee ballot, NSF files paperwork with ANSI (BSR-108) to initiate an official public review period. All new Standards and proposed Standards modifications are required to be provided for a public review and comment period which is conducted at the same time as the committee vote. The availability of the proposed action for public review and comment is announced in ANSI’s Standards Action and on the NOW. All public comments must be considered and responded to. If any public review objections remain unresolved, an adjudication ballot must be conducted to give members an opportunity to consider the objections, and change their votes, if necessary. Second Ballot: The joint committee receives a substitutive modification to the proposed Standard or revision ballot for consideration, and has access to the task group’s development process (e.g., drafts, summaries, response letters) on the NOW. Members have the following voting options: affirmative, negative (with comment), and abstain. Members must submit a comment related to the material under consideration to support a negative vote. Comments may be provided, but are not required with affirmative votes. All substantive comments are considered and will be responded to; attempts must be made to resolve all negative votes and public comments. According to NSF’s accredited Standards development procedures, a proposed Standard or revision can be sent to the appropriate CPHC committee if: 1) the proposal is approved by a majority (greater than 50 percent) of the JC members, and at least two-thirds of those votes are affirmative, excluding abstentions; 2) there are no unresolved negative votes or substantive public comments; and no technical changes have been made to the draft.*

* This process will continue until all comments have been adjudicated/resolved.

7.2.3.2 CPHC Ballot After approval by the joint committee, the proposed Standard or revision ballot is provided to the relevant CPHC committee for consideration. Members of the CPHC committee are provided with the results of the joint committee ballot, and have access to comments and responses from the voting process on the NOW. If unresolved comments from the public review remain, they shall also be provided to the members, along with the responses to those comments.


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According to NSF’s accredited Standards development procedures, a proposed Standard or revision can be recommended for adoption if: 1) a ballot return of not less than 80 percent of all votes (affirmatives, negatives, and abstentions) and 2) an affirmative vote total of at least 90 percent of combined affirmative and negative votes is achieved. 7.2.3.3 ANSI Approval After CPHC approval, NSF files paperwork with ANSI (BSR-109) for final approval of the proposed Standard or revision. Publication of a new Standard will be as soon as possible after the approval date. A revision to a Standard will be published within six months of the approval date. 7.2.4 Editorial Revisions Any editorial revisions made to a proposed Standard or revisions as result of consideration of comments require the Joint Committee Secretariat, the responsible chair, and technical representative’s approval. 7.2.5 Approval of responses to requests for interpretations Interpretations are formal written responses to written (letter, fax, or e-mail) inquiries that are transmitted to the inquirer on NSF letterhead. The interpretation process is as follows:

Joint Committee Secretariat and Joint Committee Chairperson

Joint Committee 7.2.5.1 The Joint Committee Secretariat and the Joint Committee Chairperson review the interpretation request to determine if the JC, or Secretariat in consultant with the Chairperson, should consider the request. The Secretariat will provide the interpretation in written format to the requester, and will post the document on the Joint Committee’s homepage on the NOW. 7.2.5.2 If the requestor is not satisfied with the interpretation provided by the Secretariat, the requestor may request that the interpretation be considered by the Joint Committee. The voting options are affirmative, negative or abstention. NSF’s accredited Standards development procedures require an affirmative vote of a majority (greater than 50%) of JC members and an affirmative vote by at least 2/3 of the members voting to approve the interpretation, excluding abstentions. The Secretariat will provide the interpretation in written format to the requester, and post the document on the Joint Committee’s homepage on the NOW.

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