The globally-recognized standards development organization ASTM International has become a member of the European-American Business Council (www.eabc.org).  Comprising 75 leading global companies and organizations, the EABC provides a valuable platform for policy discussion and advocacy for senior business leaders and government officials in Europe, the United States and Canada.



“Through its offices in Washington, D.C., and Brussels, the EABC provides commercial policy leadership focused on advancing Trans-Atlantic investment, innovation and regulatory integration,” says Jeff Grove, vice president of global policy and industry affairs at ASTM International.  “Many EABC member companies from Europe, the United States and Canada utilize ASTM standards to accomplish their global business objectives. ASTM’s direct engagement in EABC activities will bring additional value to all stakeholders.”  
 


ASTM International will become a member of EABC’s Alliance Council and will engage in a number of EABC Policy Groups addressing emerging issues such as sustainability, green buildings, carbon accounting, nanotechnology, life sciences and electronic health care. EABC Policy Groups meet in quarterly, trans-Atlantic conference calls held at 10 a.m. EST, which allows  executives and officials from across Europe and North America to participate.
 


“As tariffs have come down, many of today’s trade barriers involve standards and regulations,” says Michael Maibach, president and CEO of EABC. “We welcome the active engagement of ASTM International professionals as the EABC works to remove barriers to enhanced movement of capital, goods, services, information and talent across the Atlantic.”


ASTM International is a global leader in the development and delivery of consensus standards with individual members from more than 135 WTO member countries, including the 27 member nations of the European Union. ASTM standards are used in research and development, product testing and quality systems. They are often a critical component of the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.


To discuss ASTM's global policy and stakeholder outreach efforts, please contact Jeff Grove, vice president, global policy and industry affairs, ASTM International (phone: +1-202-223-8505; jgrove@astm.org).

For more information about global affairs at ASTM International, visit www.astm.org/GLOBAL.

October2010