Standardization News

James Thomas (left), president, ASTM International, addresses the DIN General Assembly in Berlin. Also pictured are Klaus Homann (center), president of DIN, and Torsten Bahke, chair of the DIN executive board.

James Thomas, president, ASTM International, addressed the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) General Assembly in November 2014 at DIN's Berlin, Germany, headquarters. Thomas' speech was titled "Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and Standards: The Role and Responsibilities of Standards Development Organizations."

Thomas outlined the many common attributes of DIN and ASTM, noting that standards emanating from both organizations are globally recognized for their technical quality and relevance. Among ASTM's 1,500 European members are more than 200 German technical experts from leading companies such as BASF, Bayer, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens. These members are actively engaged in shaping ASTM standards as members of ASTM technical committees.

Thomas noted that greater transatlantic convergence in standards development would support global commerce. In conclusion, Thomas stated that ASTM "would welcome cooperative efforts and joint standards projects with DIN if they are meaningful, technically substantive and beneficial to our exporting members."

By agreement with the German federal government, DIN is the acknowledged national standards body that represents German interests in European and international standards organizations.