EPA uses voluntary standards to support rulemaking compliance activities and partnership programs with industry and foreign countries. Voluntary standards are developed by industry, nonprofit organizations, trade associations, and others. Within these bodies, standards-developing groups, such as committees, boards and working groups, write, review and revise standards in accordance with the procedures established by the standards body. Voluntary standards are an important element in developing a cooperative approach to environmental management. They encourage the adoption of environmental practices without the enforcement and compliance required by international treaties and regulations.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Pollution Prevention (P2): Voluntary Standards Network
  This page provides information about the Voluntary Standards Network.
• EPA Standards Network Fact Sheet
  Federal government activities involve the use of products or services that must meet reliable design and/or performance standards.
• Pesticides: International Agreements and Treaties
  EPA is working closely with other U.S. agencies, foreign countries and international organizations to develop or strengthen international standards for chemicals.

Border Issues
Great Lakes, Transboundary Pollution, US-Canada Border, US-Mexico Border

Chemicals Management
Export, Green Chemistry, Import, Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRS), Screening

Country & Regional Programs
Canada, Caribbean, Central Europe, China, Eastern Europe, Japan, Latin America, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Western Europe

Environmental Policy
Children's Health, Marine Pollution, Trade

Global Climate Change
Carbon Sequestration, Carbon Sink, Forestry, Greenhouse Gas, Land Use, Methane, Technology Cooperation

Import/Export
Pesticides, Waste

International Visitors

Partners/Networks
International Joint Commission (IJC), NAFTA Technical Working Group on Pesticides, OECD Pesticide Working Group

Pollution Prevention
Binational Toxics Strategy

Radiation

Stratospheric Ozone

Technical Assistance
Environmental Technology Verification, Site Remediation Technologies, Training

Treaties and Agreements
Basel Convention, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, La Paz Agreement, London Convention, Marpol Agreement, Montreal Protocol, North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), US-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Protection, US-Taiwan Bilateral Agreement In the Field of Environmental Protection, US-Thailand Agreement in the Area of Environmental Protection

Voluntary Standards
ISO 14000

Waste

Water
Marine Pollution, Transboundary