ISO COPOLCO
COPOLCO is the Committee on Consumer Policy of the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). Established in 1978, COPOLCO’s membership includes some 89
national standards bodies from countries around the world. Delegates typically are
representatives from the national standards bodies and consumer organizations in the various
countries. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is also represented. Consumers
International and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have liaison
status. ANEC, the European consumer voice in standardization, also participates as an
observer. The U.S. participates in COPOLCO via ANSI’s Consumer Interest Forum.
COPOLCO provides a forum for the exchange of information and experience on standards
and conformity assessment issues of interest to consumers. COPOLCO identifies
standardization areas of priority interest to consumers and works to promote and coordinate
consumer representation in those areas. It also influences ISO’s programme of work by
proposing new areas for standardization where there is a perceived need for enhanced
consumer protection. For example, in response to COPOLCO proposals, ISO has undertaken
standards projects on:
- customer satisfaction, including guidance for organizations on how to develop codes of
conduct, complaints handling mechanisms, and external customer dispute resolution
systems
- environmental management systems
- social responsibility
- tourism and related services
- generic guidelines to address the trading of second hand goods, especially safety,
health, environmental protection and product information aspects
While COPOLCO itself does not write standards—that work is carried out by ISO’s technical
committees—it does produce standards development guides, policy statements and
informational publications on issues of importance to consumers such as:
- Child safety
- Comparative testing of consumer products and services
- Consumer participation in standardization
- General safety guidelines
- Graphical symbols
- Packaging
- Product information and instructions
- The needs of the elderly and people with disabilities
- Development of standards for services – Recommendations for addressing consumer
issues (to be published in 2006)
Each year COPOLCO convenes an open workshop on an issue of concern to consumers.
Workshop topics have included such diverse topics as: corporate social responsibility,
standards for services, consumer protection in the global market, addressing the needs of
ageing populations, and product labeling. Follow-up actions are considered by COPOLCO
during its annual plenary meeting. COPOLCO also conducts training in standardization in
conjunction with its meetings
Additional information about COPOLCO, and the role of standards and the consumer, is
available on ISO’s website.
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