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.

1. TITLE

   The name of the organization is PACIFIC AREA STANDARDS CONGRESS, hereinafter referred to as PASC.

2. OBJECTIVES
   1. To exchange information and views between national standards bodies and among organizations interested in standardization and conformance and initiate necessary actions to help ensure that international standardization activities are properly coordinated on a consensus basis to meet world needs and foster international trade and commerce
   2. To provide a geographically convenient forum for the countries and territories of the Pacific area to develop recommendations for communication to the international standards bodies, particularly ISO and IEC
   3. To form a consultative liaison with International and Regional standards bodies to help them meet world needs in standardization through communication of recommendations of PASC members
   4. To provide a central site for papers and reports on related subjects which further the objectives of PASC
   5. To work with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), relevant APEC Specialist Regional Bodies (SRBs), and multilateral agencies to support economic and technical infrastructure development and free trade in the region. This may extend to seeking financial assistance from those bodies. In this capacity, PASC serves as the APEC Specialist Regional Body for Standards
   6. To actively promote the benefits of standardization and conformance in the region to governments, industry and consumers
   7. To provide a source of information for members on standards and conformance issues in the region and globally and to promote the region at the international level
   8. To have members promote PASC and its activities within their countries
   9. To promote the benefits of PASC membership to other National Standards Bodies (NSBs)
   10. To determine the policy and technical standardization priorities of members and establish mechanisms to address items of greatest common interest to PASC
   11. To consider evolving strategic issues in international standardization and examine possible changes in the current international structures, approaches and organizations that may be necessary to meet future requirements
   12. To ensure that members contribute sufficient resources to allow for effective and efficient achievement of PASC's objectives
   13. To support and promote adherence to the provisions of relevant WTO Agreements, including the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), among PASC member countries
3. MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE

   Membership in PASC shall be by invitation of a PASC member organization, upon an affirmative vote of a majority of PASC members at a PASC meeting, or by postal ballot. Membership is open to any country or territory:

   1. Bordering on the Pacific Rim whose standards organization is full, subscriber, associate, affiliate or correspondent member of ISO and IEC; or
   2. With a national organization that PASC determines is capable of making a contribution to the purposes and objectives of PASC.

   Membership in PASC will lapse if a member fails to attend three consecutive meetings. Any lapsed member could apply for re-admittance to PASC at a subsequent meeting under the criteria for membership in effect at the time of re-application.

   Attendance by observers from non PASC member organizations, other than representatives of ISO and IEC and a representative of each of the other four Specialist Regional Bodies recognized by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Subcommittee on Standards and Conformance (APEC SCSC), will only be agreed by the Chair of the meeting, where attendance is requested by a member and input will benefit PASC members. All observers will be excluded from Executive Sessions of PASC.

4. METHOD OF REACHING DECISIONS

   Adoption of PASC resolutions is principally by consensus. If required, PASC may reach decisions by a majority vote.

5. CHAIR OF PASC

   At the end of each meeting, the upcoming host country member advises the Chair for the next PASC meeting. The incoming Chair assumes responsibility on 1 January of the year after the preceding meeting, allowing sufficient time for the previous Chair to complete duties and follow-up from the previous meeting.

   A Vice Chair, available should the Chair be absent for any reason, will be appointed by the meeting and will normally be from the member to host the next PASC meeting.

6. SECRETARY OF PASC

   The Secretary will be appointed by PASC to a member for a period of three years. The Secretary may be appointed for one further term of three years.

   The Secretary will assist the host to plan all aspects of each annual meeting including agenda and all logistic arrangements, calling on other members, government, industry, or consumer groups to assist with meeting costs as necessary.

   The PASC Secretary will also fulfil the duties of Secretary to the PASC Standing Committee (PASC SC, see Section 7). The PASC Secretary and PASC SC Secretary will be responsible for following up on actions required by PASC and its Standing Committee. The Secretary will handle any special requests for attendance for each PASC meeting in consultation with the PASC Chair, and will invite representatives of ISO, IEC and ITU and a representative of each of the other Specialist Regional Bodies (APLAC, APLMF, APMP and PAC) to attend as observers.

7. PASC STANDING COMMITTEE

   To fulfil the objectives of PASC between meetings of PASC a standing committee (PASC SC) is maintained.

   The PASC Standing Committee (PASC SC) reports to PASC, and is open to all members of PASC, meeting as required to fulfil its role. Other work is completed by correspondence.

   PASC SC may establish ad-hoc groups as required for specific tasks. These groups will be disbanded once the tasks are completed.

   On reccomendation of the PASC SC, the Chair of the PASC SC is appointed by PASC for a three year term from the members of the PASC SC, and can be reappointed for additional three year terms as agreed by PASC.

   Membership, and working procedures of the PASC SC are given in the PASC SC Terms of Reference, Annex 2.

8. METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING PASC RESOLUTIONS

   Communication of a PASC resolution to international and regional standards bodies should normally be the responsibility of the Secretary or a designated individual PASC member. The Secretary or member designated should mention in the communication that the subject had been the topic of discussion at a PASC meeting.