Worldwide, the vast majority of standards are developed by private or nongovernmental standards development organizations. These standards are used by many different people and entities across all sectors of industry, ensuring smooth functioning of the economy, facilitating technological advancement, and protecting public health and safety. Standards are also frequently used by local, state, and national governments, usually in accord with established legal and policy frameworks. These frameworks frequently contemplate some degree of governmental participation in the standards development process and also enable government agencies and officials to use the resulting standards to support both procurement and regulatory activities. In procurement, the standards allow governments to describe with specificity the materials and products they need to purchase.