(ANSI: Washington) -- Only three weeks remain to submit an entry to the 2010 U.S. Celebration of World Accreditation Day paper competition launched by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Paper submissions are due by April 30.

ANSI invites all interested stakeholders to participate in the U.S. Celebration of World Accreditation Day, on June 9, by submitting a paper of no more than 2,000 words that highlights the value of accreditation in facilitating acceptance of products, services, and professional credentials across borders. Authors are encouraged to cite concrete examples that demonstrate how globally accepted conformity-assessment solutions have enabled trade and opened new markets.

Papers will be judged by representatives from ANSI’s Conformity Assessment Policy Committee as well as the various accreditation committees.

The best paper will be awarded a $1,000 prize and will be published—along with the second- and third-place papers—on the ANSI web site, www.ansi.org.

“ANSI values the importance of accreditation in enhancing consumer safety and international trade,” says Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI vice president of accreditation services. “We’re excited to hear from our constituents through their paper submissions about the concrete ways that accreditation adds value in the global marketplace.”

Accreditation assesses the competence of bodies to determine compliance with standards. It also helps to promote best industry practices, reduces the need for government agencies to individually monitor conformity assessment organizations, and strengthens consumer confidence in products and services.

The Institute’s portfolio of accreditation services includes programs for product certification bodies, personnel certification bodies, education and training certificate-issuing bodies, greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies, and standards developers. The ANSI-American Society for Quality (ASQ) National Accreditation Board accredits management systems certification bodies under the ANAB brand and accredits testing and calibration laboratories, reference material producers, and inspection bodies under the ACLASS brand.

Entries should be sent to Elizabeth Neiman, ANSI director of communications and public relations at eneiman@ansi.org or by fax to (212) 398-0023. All papers must be received by April 30 to be considered.

World Accreditation Day was launched as a global event in 2008 by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Each year on June 9, IAF and ILAC invite their national representatives from around the world to mark the occasion with dedicated celebrations to honor the important role that accreditation plays in the global standards and conformity assessment community.