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In the News
COPOLCO Holds Its
21st Meeting
By Marian L. Gaucher
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COPOLCO, the International Organization for Standardization's
(ISO) Committee on Consumer Policy, held its twenty-first
meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 11 and 12, 1999.
The meeting was hosted by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) and its Consumer Interest Council.
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Members of the Canadian Delegation Front
Row (Left to Right): Jenny Hillard, Consumers' Association
of Canada; Sondra Bruni, Chair, Canadian Advisory Committee
on COPOLCO; Jean Bank, Canadian Standards' Association.
Back Row (Left to Right): Irene Sieferling, Standards
Council of Canada/Canadian Advisory Committee on COPOLCO;
Marian Gaucher, Canadian General Standards Board
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One of four policy development committees reporting to the
ISO Council, COPOLCO provides an important forum for the exchange
of information and experience on consumer participation in
national and international standardization, on the implementation
of standards in the consumer field, and on any other question
of interest for consumers.
The Canadian delegation to the 21st meeting included representatives
from the Standards Council of Canada, the Canadian Standards
Association, the Canadian Advisory Committee on COPOLCO, the
Consumers' Association of Canada, and the Canadian General
Standards Board.
Topics of discussion included consumer participation in ISO
and International Electrochemical Commission (IEC) technical
programs, Standards for Packaging — Consumer Requirements
(ISO Guide 41), Product Information for Consumers
(ISO/IEC Guide 14), consumer protection in the global
market, standardization of services, and consumer participation
in standardization work. The special needs of the elderly
and people with disabilities, consumer requirements regarding
graphic symbols, ethical criteria in labelling foodstuffs,
and standards for privacy and the protection of personal information
were also covered.
A highlight of the COPOLCO meeting was a workshop held on
May 10 entitled "Meeting the Needs of the Aging Populations:
Enhancing the Quality of Life through Standards." As a follow-up
to the workshop, a number of resolutions were adopted by the
committee. The workshop at next year's meeting will focus
on consumer protection in the global market.
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