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Implementing the ISO/IEC Statement on Consumer Participation in Standardization Work

This article discusses the importance of consumer participation in standardization work and provides thirteen recommendations for national bodies to encourage consumer representation. It also highlights the interest of COPOLCO in the relationship between COPOLCO and IEC, as well as the promotion of ISO/IEC Guides.

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Implementing the ISO/IEC Statement on Consumer Participation in Standardization Work

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  1. Implementing the ISO/IEC Statement on Consumer Participation in Standardization Work John Drengenberg Consumer Affairs Manager Underwriters Laboratories Inc. USNC Technical Management Committee January 17, 2003

  2. November 2001 ISO/IEC Consumer Participation Statement • Standards should be based on consensus of all interested parties, including consumers • “Consumer" is understood to mean an individual member of the general public, purchasing or using goods, property or services, for private purposes • Taking consumer views into account helps to ensure market relevance of standards work programmes • Consumers face difficulties participating in standardization due to lack of financial resources and technical expertise • Standards bodies should encourage and support consumer participation in standardization work

  3. Thirteen ISO/IEC RecommendationsNational bodies should . . . • support ISO and IEC initiatives aimed at encouraging consumer representation in standardization • involve consumers in planning standards work programmes, both national and international, and in policy matters • invite consumers to participate in all technical committees having standards projects affecting consumer interests • “enable” consumers to participate in priority areas if consumers are not able to finance their participation • seek the active participation of consumers in national delegations • be assisted by TCs in identifying new work items of particular interest to consumers

  4. Thirteen ISO/IEC RecommendationsNational bodies should . . . • provide consumers with guidance and training on standards procedures, and briefings on technical issues • ensure effective communication with consumers and encourage feedback, e.g. via the Internet • sound out consumer opinion through consumer organizations • seek consumer input at all stages of the standardization process and, working with TCs, establish a process for identifying priority areas of consumer interest • learn from other national bodies • provide a mechanism to allow consumer representatives to request the initiation of standards projects • coordinate all activities arising from these recommendations within the same country

  5. COPOLCO Interest in IEC • COPOLCO notes that it is an appropriate time to re-evaluate the relationship between COPOLCO and IEC in the light of the retirement of the IEC representative . . . (COPOLCO Resolution 14/2002, June 2002) • Until recently, Maureen Hersee, of the U.K. National Committee, was the primary liaison between IEC and COPOLCO, reporting to COPOLCO annually on work in ACOS, IEC/TC 61, etc. She has now retired and a successor liaison has not been appointed.

  6. COPOLCO Interest in IEC • IEC/TC 23, Electrical accessories • IEC/TC 34, Lamps and related equipment • IEC/TC 35, Primary cells and batteries • IEC/TC 59, Performance of household electrical appliances • IEC/TC 61, Safety of household and similar electrical appliances • COPOLCO will maintain a “watching brief” on these activities • Little/no U.S. consumer representatives involved according to recent ANSI CIF survey of TAGs • Emerging issue raised by JISC: photo sensitive epilepsy / image safety. Work going on in ITU; COPOLCO inquiring whether some aspects may fall within IEC’s jurisdiction

  7. Promoting Use of ISO/IEC Guides is of concern to COPOLCO • Little is known regarding the use and effectiveness of ISO/IEC Guides • COPOLCO believes Guides should be readily accessible to TCs • COPOLCO exploring with ISO a possible survey of TCs regarding use of Guides

  8. ISO/IEC Guides of Interest to COPOLCO Guide 14 – Purchase information on goods and services intended for consumers (under revision) Guide 37 – Instructions for use of products of consumer interest Guide 41 – Packaging—Recommendations for addressing consumer needs (under revision) Guide 46 – Comparative testing of consumer products and related services—General principles Guide 50 – Child safety and standards – General guidelines Guide 51 – Safety aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in standards Guide 71 – Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities Guide 74 – Consumer requirements concerning graphic symbols (draft)

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