As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is seeking comments on a proposal for a new ISO technical committee to focus on service dogs. ANSI seeks input by February 26, 2021.
Service dogs (known as assistance dogs outside the United States) are trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. They can carry out a variety of practical tasks, thus mitigating limitations and improving the quality of life for people who depend on them. Examples of service dogs—an umbrella term—can include autism assistance dogs, developmental disorder assistance dogs, diabetes assistance dogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs, medical alert/response assistance dogs, mobility assistance dogs, PTSD assistance dogs, and seizure assistance dogs.
NEN (the Netherlands member of ISO) submitted the proposal, with the following scope statement:
Standardization in the field of assistance dogs focused on, but not limited to:
- Terminology
- Health and welfare
- Breeding and puppy development
- Training
- Client services
- Assistance dog professionals
- Conformity assessment
- Accessibility
Excluded are:
- Dogs that offer only emotional support and/or comfort (i.e., emotional support dogs)
- Dog-assisted interventions such as facility dogs or dog-assisted therapy
- Tther kinds of working dogs such as herding dogs, police dogs, and search and rescue dogs
Submit comments to Steven Cornish, ANSI senior director of international policy and strategy, at [email protected], by close of business on February 26, 2021. Based on input received from U.S. stakeholders, a recommended ANSI position and any comments will be developed and presented at the ANSI ISO Committee (AIC) for approval before ISO’s voting deadline of April 8, 2021.
ANSI has published an explanatory information document outlining the process used to develop U.S. positions in issues and activities under consideration by ISO and IEC.
