Ensuring that products and services sold in the marketplace are safe should be a priority of the U.S. government as it is a priority for consumers and consumer advocates. Privatization of certain technical aspects of standards development, as provided in OMB Circular A-119, has the potential to reduce costs and harness industry expertise; but it also has the potential, without adequate oversight by the government and by the public, to fall short of its objectives, with safety considerations being shortchanged in a quest for cost savings or other private commercial goals. It is important that regulatory policy recognize this inherent risk and take adequate measures to protect against it.