(ISO: Geneva) -- A brochure recently published by ISO and IEC gives an overview of joint guides that provide advice for standards writers, consumer representatives, designers, product manufacturers, service providers, retail chains, testing laboratories, regulators, and others.

“How ISO/IEC Guides Add Value to International Standards” covers publications of general interest. Primarily developed to help standards writers take into account the needs of stakeholders, such as consumers, the guides also contain useful information for people not involved in standards work, such as the groups identified above (it doesn’t include information on guides addressing more specialized subjects).

The new brochure (in English and French) lists with concise descriptions the ISO/IEC Guides on the following topics:

• The vocabulary of standardization
• Drafting standards for conformity assessment
• Purchase information on goods and services intended for consumers
• Instructions for use of products by consumers
• Packaging that meets consumer needs
• Comparative testing of consumer products and related services
• Child safety
• Safety aspects in standards
• Environmental aspects in standards
• Meeting the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities in standards
• Justifying the need for management system standards
• Risk management vocabulary
• Graphical symbols that meet consumer needs
• Taking consumer issues into account in service standards
• The expression of uncertainty in measurement (upcoming publication)
• The vocabulary of metrology (upcoming publication)

“How ISO/IEC Guides Add Value to International Standards” (ISBN 978-92-67-01165-3) is available for no charge (except postage and packaging) from national member institutes (see the complete list with contact details) and from ISO Central Secretariat through the ISO store or by contacting the marketing and communication department. An electronic version is available for downloading.

For more information, visit www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1101.