Procedures for withdrawal and stabilisation

[MURATA Makoto (FAMILY Given)]

Dear colleagues,

(Wearing my convenor hat)

I spoke with the SC34 secretariat, Kimura-san, about the procedures
for withdrawal and stabilisation.  In the JTC1 directives, Withdrawal
is specified in 15.2, while stabilisation is specified in 15.6.

Stabilisation is usually used for avoiding five-year reviews. 
Stabilized standards are still valid standards.  Even if a standard is
stabilised, it is not too difficult to start corrigenda, amendments, or 
revisions.   Stabilization can happen after the first five-year review
cycle.

Standards are withdrawn if the relevant SC and then JTC1 approves
withdrawal.  It is not clear whether or not both SC-level and
JTC1-level ballots are needed, however.  In the past, JTC1 standards
are withdrawn when it is absolutely clear that there are no users.
When there are some theoretical possibilities or remote chances of
users, standards are not withdrawn.


Regards,

SC34/WG4 Convenor
MURATA Makoto (FAMILY Given)
----------------------------
Extracted from the JTC1 directives (5th edition)

15.2 Withdrawal

The procedure for withdrawal of an IS is the same as that for
preparation and acceptance; that is, an initial study shall take place
in JTC 1.  On the recommendation of JTC 1 or of the ITTF, the proposal
for withdrawal shall then be submitted to NBs for approval, giving the
same voting time limits as for the approval of an IS (see 12.7.1.2)


15.6 Stabilised Standards 

A stabilised standard is one that has ongoing validity and
effectiveness but is mature and insofar as can be determined will not
require further maintenance of any sort.  While a standard is in
stabilised status it will no longer be subject to periodic maintenance
but will be retained to provide for the continued viability of
existing products or servicing of equipment that is expected to have a
long working life.

15.6.1 At least one five-year review cycle must pass after the last
modification to an existing standard before it can recommended for
stabilisation by the owning Sub Committee or other standards owning
body within JTC 1.

15.6.2 An SC or other standards owning body within JTC 1 may recommend
that a standard it owns be put in stabilised status as a result of any
regular review of that standard..  In each case the recommendation is
accompanied by a statement of rationale and results in a JTC 1 letter
ballot as is done in the case of a reaffirmation recommendation.

15.6.3 Once a standard is stabilised it will be recorded on a master
list of stabilised standards kept by the ISO Central Secretariat and
available to the JTC 1 Secretariat and to all Sub Committee
Secretariats.  This record will include the date of first addition to
the list and the rationale provided as above.  Stabilised standards
will also be indicated as such on the ISO Catalogue.

15.6.4 Where a Sub Committee,National Body or other standards owning
body within JTC 1 becomes aware that a stabilised standard is no
longer in use or its use has been superseded or it now unsafe to
continue to use the standard, the Sub Committee ,National Body or
other standards owning body within JTC 1 may request JTC 1 to issue an
immediate 60 day letter ballot to reclassify the standard as
withdrawn.

15.6.5 If a new work proposal is generated and adopted against a
stabilised standard, the standard is automatically removed by the
Secretariat from the list of stabilised standards.  A new work
proposal against a stabilised standard must explicitly note that the
standard is stabilised and that the effect of adoption of the new work
proposal will be to return the standard to active status.  To be
eligible once again for stabilisation the standard must go through the
same process as it did initially, including no modification for at
least one five year maintenance cycle.

15.6.6 The owning JTC 1 Sub Committee may act to remove a standard
from stabilised status at any time and it may request a 60 day letter
ballot to reinstate the standard as current.