COPOLCO

COPOLCO's objectives

place mouse over for a larger version

Through the ISO Committee on consumer policy (COPOLCO) ISO undertakes to:

  • Make COPOLCO’s services available to ISO members worldwide
  • Support its members in developing consumer participation in standards-making
  • Study how consumers can benefit from standardization
  • Promote the positive role of standards in consumer protection
  • Encourage the exchange of experience on standards work of consumer interest
  • Channel consumers’ views into both current standards projects and proposals for new work in areas of interest to consumers.

What COPOLCO does

COPOLCO achieves its objectives in several ways:

  • COPOLCO selects areas in ISO's work that are of priority interest to consumers and then coordinates participation by consumer representatives in these areas.
  • It develops publications to promote consumer participation in standards work and to train consumer representatives for this task.
  • It coordinates training activities and representation at events involving consumers and standardization issues.
  • Furthermore, COPOLCO organizes annual workshops that bring together representatives of consumers, public authorities, manufacturers and standardization experts.

These workshops are oriented around a specific current issue that is relevant to consumers. They provide a forum for COPOLCO to develop recommendations for action, policy statements, guides for standards writers, or proposals for new areas of standardization.