Relevant stakeholders are being encouraged to comment on an ISO new work item proposal focused on musical instruments.

The proposal, submitted by the Standardization Administration of China, notes there are currently no technical committees or subcommittees directly related to musical instruments inside ISO or the International Electrotechnical Commission.

The main work of the new committee would focus on the standardization of musical instruments and related products—including standardization of terminology, classification, test methods, products, and assessment rules. The committee would consider the current situation of musical instruments and related products and develop standards for terminology, methods, and major musical instrument products, thereby providing a valuable guide to relevant stakeholders in this field.

Standardization is proposed in three main areas:

• Common standards, including classification and terminology
• Method standards, including the assessment of musical performance and test methods of limits of hazardous substances for musical instruments
• Standards for application-oriented products and accessories, including main musical instrument products like piano, the violin family (including violin, viola, cello, double bass), guitar, accordion, aerophones, bow, and string.

Interested U.S. parties are invited to review the proposal, which includes initial proposed work and information on how it may relate to existing international standardization work, as well as relevant stakeholders and organizations.

Comments can be submitted to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Senior Director of International Policy Steve Cornish at scornish@ansi.org by close of business April 13.

Based on the feedback received, a recommended ANSI position and any comments will be developed and presented to the ANSI ISO Committee for approval before the ISO voting deadline of May 17.