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Standardised Labels on Translation Output in ASTM International
Introduction
In recent years, the volume of translation produced automatically has increased exponentially. Some of this translation output reaches end users without any human intervention. Many members of the translation community have observed that labels on translation output would be beneficial. These labels would inform end users regarding the nature of the translation they are reading. In particular, the labels would signal whether it is raw automatic (i.e. non-human) output, output involving qualified professional translators, or something in between.
Labels on translation output will be most useful to end users if they are standardised world-wide. Such labels have already been standardised within ASTM International.
The purpose of this document is to inform ISO Technical Committee 37, Subcommittee 5, about the standardization of labels on translation output within ASTM Technical Committee F43, Subcommittee 03, so that new ISO standards and updates to existing standards within Technical Committee 37 can take into account work within ASTM. The relevant ASTM standard is F2575. In October 2025, a ballot amending the text of Subsection 10.2 passed, and the 2025 edition of ASTM F2575 was published on January 15, 2026.
Section 1: What is ASTM International (commonly called ASTM)?
ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) is a not-for-profit organisation focused on the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards. Formed in 1898, ASTM was the first modern standards organisation. In 2001, ASTM officially changed its name to “ASTM International”. As of 2025, over twelve thousand ASTM standards were used around the world to improve product quality, enhance health and safety, strengthen market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.
Section : How does ASTM relate to ISO?
ASTM is one of ISO’s partner organisations.
ASTM lists ISO as one of its Global Engagement partners.
Section 3: What is ASTM F2575?
ASTM F2575 (Standard Practice for Language Translation) identifies factors relevant to each phase of a translation project (pre-production, production, and post-production) and is intended for use by all stakeholders. It provides a framework for agreement on specifications that should guide the persons involved throughout the project, to ensure the needs and expectations of the clients and the end users are met. It can be considered a “sister standard” to ISO 11669. Click this link for more information about F2575. Note that the 2023 edition of F2575 has recently been updated, and a new 2025 edition has been published.
See section 4 of this Technical Report for details about the update, which standardises the labels Professionally Verified Translation and Unverified Translation.
Section 4
What does the latest edition of F2575 say about labels?
Section 10 of the standard refers to the post-production phase of a translation project, and 10.2 (see below) describes the two labels, their purpose, and use:
QUOTE
As a matter of transparency and consumer protection, stakeholders should label translation output as either “Unverified Translation” or “Professionally Verified Translation”. The word “Professionally” emphasizes that a professional – a qualified translator who has all the competencies mentioned in subsection 7.4 above (cf. ISO17100:2015 subsection 3.1) – has produced and self-checked, edited, or revised (that is, Verified) the translation, confirming that it meets the agreed-on specifications and is thus a quality translation. Any translation that is not Professionally Verified is considered Unverified. After labeling, the translations are released for use.
Note that labels do not map directly to points on the spectrum in Annex A1, because the spectrum does not distinguish between qualified and non-qualified translators. It is possible that if the end users are external to the requester organisation, feedback is not collected before the project ends. In these cases, feedback will be used for future projects.
The only technical change to ASTM F2575 between the 2023 edition and the 2025 edition was to subsection 10.2. The labels in 10.2 were agreed on after considerable discussion.
Section 5: How do the ASTM labels relate to translation stakeholders?
The labels Professionally Verified Translation and Unverified Translation are tools that translation stakeholders—requester, translator, publisher, and consumer—can use for risk management, accountability, and consumer protection. They also provide transparency and promote translation as a profession.
Annex 1: Additional information about ASTM and ISO
ASTM initially focused on standards supporting the construction of the transcontinental railroad, but gradually extended its scope beyond the United States.
ISO was formed in 1947 in the context of rebuilding Europe, and one US organization, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) stepped up to represent American interests as an umbrella organisation uniting the plethora of American standards bodies. However, within this framework, some major specialized organisations retained subordinate responsibility for their sector. ASTM is the largest and most influential of these entities.
Technically, ASTM organisations forward their ballot intentions to ANSI for international ballot, but actual administration and organisation of many ISO mirror groups in the United States is under the control of ASTM. Thus, for example, ASTM Technical Committee F43 (Language Services and Products) administers the ISO Technical Committee 37 (Language and Terminology) US mirror committees.
ASTM and ISO collaborate closely in some areas of standardisation outside the United States. For example, in the area of additive manufacturing, they have issued joint standards.
Information about logos: ASTM has standardised the written-out labels described in this TR (Professionally Verified Translation and Unverified Translation). There are logos associated with these labels, but the logos are outside the scope of ASTM and ISO. They are currently managed by the Tranquality division of a not-for-profit organisation called LTAC Global. The FIT Standards Committee is part of the consortium promoting the use of the labels and logos, and it is hoped that FIT will become further involved in the Labels project by monitoring the appropriate use of the labels and logos.
