Establishment and Role of PASC
The importance of international standardization to trade and commerce is recognized throughout the world. Countries on the Pacific Rim agree on the need for a forum to:
- Strengthen international standardization programmes of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and to improve the ability of Pacific Rim standards organizations to participate in these programmes effectively.
- Improve the quality and capacity of standardization in economies of the region.
- Support free trade within the region and with economies in other regions.
- Support improvement of economic efficiency and development of the region through the promotion of standardization.
- Interact with other bodies that represent elements of the standardization technical infrastructure, industry, consumers and government.
In 1972, standards body representatives from a number of Pacific Rim countries met in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, to plan for and suggest a programme leading to the development of a voluntary, independent organization of Pacific area national standards organizations.
In 1973, the first meeting of the organization, which was named the PACIFIC AREA STANDARDS CONGRESS (PASC), was held in Honolulu. The members of PASC have adopted by consensus a number of important resolutions concerning international standardization, the work of ISO and IEC, and communication and interrelationships among PASC members. PASC is concerned not only with standards preparation but also with conformance to standards.
