France Study Groups then support the UK view, and at the Plenary the DTI casts its vote. A similar procedure is adopted for ETSI, except that individual The standardisation authority in France is the Association Francaise members are more fully represented in ETSI committees. However de Normalisation (AFNOR). It was founded in 1926 and was made the DTI uses co-ordinating committees, especially those set up responsible for standardisation in France by the decree of 1984. It is through the British Standards Institute (BSI), to develop and sound responsible for preparing standards, and has its own permanent staff out the UK view, and then casts its national vote accordingly in the plus a large number who are sponsored by other organisations. ETSI Technical and General Assemblies. As shown in Figure 22.11, the DTI takes advice from a policy committee (TAPC) on which a wide range of UK trade and user 22.4.6.2 Germany associations, network operators, and agencies such as BSI and OFTEL are represented. This committee is able to influence the The Germany authority for standards making is the Deutsche Insti- DTI's view to the CEPT, especially in its vote within TRAC on the tut fur Normung (DIN). It is a private non-profit making association, approval of NETs, and to the European Commission and its influen- which was founded in 1917. DIN standards are voluntary but they tial SOGT. are accepted by industry and government, and are usually made the The British Standards Institute is the official standards body requirement for purchase agreements. All interested parties can within the UK. It was formed in 1901 as the Engineering Standards participate in formulating DIN standards. Committee. It was granted a royal charter in 1929 for the co-ordina- tion and preparation of standards and for marking and registering goods which complied with these standards. It took its present name 22.4.6.3 in 1931. Its activities cover a wide area such as building material, domestic In the UK the Telecommunications and Posts Division of the Gov-