Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for recording changing standards within a blockchain. A system configured to perform the method can receive, at a processor configured to read from and write to a blockchain, a request to create a new block associated with an item for the blockchain. The system retrieves, from a database, the standard for the item. The system also generates a new block of data associated with the item, the new block of data comprising: an identification of the item; at least one of the standard for the item, a hash of the standard, and a reference to the standard for the item; and a previous block hash identifying a previous block in the blockchain. The system adds the new block of data to the blockchain, to yield a modified blockchain and distributes the modified blockchain to a distributed ledger.