When it comes to the growing volume of regulations and standards currently “in the works” around the world, it’s best to heed that old maxim: “forewarned is forearmed.” While we’re not ready to take action on any of these updates, it’s a good idea to at least get ready to do so.
To start, let’s clarify briefly the difference between regulations and standards. Standards are specific requirements, often taking the form of guidelines, developed by private industry groups, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), but which do not have the force of law.