FIRST STEP FOR ISO STANDARD ON RECALL OF UNSAFE PRODUCTS

The first meeting of the ISO project committee that will develop an international Standard providing a code of good practice for establishing, implementing, and managing efficient, flexible, and responsive consumer product recall programmes including corrective actions, took place in May 2009, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Project Committee (PC) 240, Product recall, agreed a publication target of 2012 for the new Standard (ISO 10393). ISO/PC 240 also agreed to harmonise efforts with other ISO committees developing Standards for consumer product safety (ISO/PC 243), anti-counterfeiting (ISO/PC 246), and combating fraud (ISO/TC 247).

ISO/PC 240 was established following an initiative of ISO/COPOLCO, the ISO committee on consumer policy, which noted that ineffective product recalls of damaged or unsafe products have resulted in millions of people being injured – sometimes fatally – or becoming ill.

The new product recall Standard will help organisations to manage timely and cost effective product recalls following design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warning labels or instructions – whether the products are still in the manufacturer's or distributor's inventory or retail shelves or in the hands of consumers. It will also provide guidance on corrective actions, including repair, placement, repurchase, and public notice, helping organisations to minimise legal risks, and contributing to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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