(ANSI: New York) -- Just three weeks remain before the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day (WSD). An exhibition, reception, and dinner marking the occasion will be held Oct. 7 focusing on the theme "Standards for Environmental Stewardship."

From reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving energy to supporting sustainable buildings and products, consumers worldwide are focused on protecting and preserving the environment. Technologies and strategies that support these initiatives often rely on coordination among manufacturers, standards development organizations, conformity assessment bodies, and consumers, throughout the United States and around the world. This year’s WSD will highlight the critical role of standards and conformity assessment programs in the development and implementation of these green initiatives.

Celebrated annually, World Standards Day serves to raise awareness of the importance of international standardization to the world economy and to promote its role in helping meet the needs of business, industry, government, and consumers worldwide. The global celebration is coordinated by the principal international standards organizations: the International Electrotechnical Commission, the International Organization for Standardization, and the International Telecommunication Union.

Since the initial celebration in 1970, World Standards Day is now recognized in nations around the globe. The U.S. activities are organized annually by a planning committee consisting of representatives from across the standards and conformity assessment community. The event is cochaired each year by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. will serve as this year’s administrating organization in celebration of their 115th anniversary.

The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The evening’s festivities include presentation of the 2009 Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award to Jim Sanford, assistant U.S. trade representative for market access and industrial competitiveness, who is being honored for his outstanding contributions to the use of standardization to reduce trade barriers. The winners of the 2009 World Standards Day Paper Competition will also be announced and presented with awards.

For more information or to register, please visit www.wsd-us.org. Advance registration is required.