The File status authority table is a controlled vocabulary that covers various stages in the life cycle of diverse activities. Originally, it described the different stages in the life cycle of an act (or in the decision-making process of an act) from the moment it is launched until the final step is completed, to fulfil the needs of EUR-Lex. As the need arose for a generic status table, this asset has been broadened to provide stages for all kinds of products and processes. The File status authority table is maintained by the Publications Office of the European Union and disseminated on the EU Vocabularies website.