not neccesary to be under standard to sell product in US unless say certain
items -food. Some products are just lucky and can stamp std. approved.
Some cheaper without. Some may but don't say it. Some may appear to be,
but not in details. but for this you could prob find a std. And if it
isn't, it would state something, and that may be in the class of a similar
stdized product
now to ask what good a surface plate is. i.e what other purchases it
eliminates.