FAQs and Inquiries

Each year, API updates current standards, creates new standards, and adopts back existing standards. View our 2011 Standards Plan for a listing of the projected updated standards by industry segment.

API, as approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has developed a document that details the process of API standards development. This document provides guidance on the development, revisions and interpretations API standards, as well as the development of committees and designation of each document into standards, recommended practices, specification or codes.

Please use this link to view the API Procedures for Standards Development in full.

API’s Office of the General Council has put together guidelines for Anti-Trust Compliance. These guidelines explain the specific nature of each Federal Anti-Trust Law and State Trade Regulation Statute. Anti-trust laws guard against such circumstances as price discrimination, boycotts, and derogatory comments against competing industry enterprises. For more details on anti-trust laws, regulations and compliance, please view the Anti-Trust Compliance Guide.

Shall: As used in a standard, “shall” denotes a minimum requirement in order to conform to the specification.

Should: As used in a standard, “should” denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in order to conform to the specification.

”United States Standards Strategy establishes a framework that can be used by all interested parties to further advance trade issues in the global marketplace, enhance consumer health and safety, meet stakeholder needs and, as appropriate, advance U.S. viewpoints in the regional and international arena.” (ANSI website, www.ansi.org).

For more specific information on the US Standards Strategy, its history and implementation, please visit the ANSI website.