(ISO: Geneva) -- For any person who is relatively new to the world of standardization and consumer policy, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has implemented a user-friendly, interactive tutorial, explaining what consumers can gain from international standards and how standards benefit from consumer input.

“Consumers and standards: partnership for a better world” is a convenient, stand-alone distance learning tutorial.  The module should also be helpful to seasoned professionals from consumer organizations and standards bodies as a review of concepts and a repository of ideas and background sources.

The aim of “Consumers and standards” is to provide the user with a basic understanding of what standards are and what they do, and explain how consumers can participate in standards development and why they should do so. It also demonstrates how standards can improve goods and services for consumers, using specific examples.

“Consumers are often the end users of goods and services influenced by ISO standards,” says Rob Steele, ISO secretary-general. “They value such characteristics as safety, quality, ease of use, and interoperability that standards help to ensure. This tutorial will help both to broaden and intensify consumer participation in developing ISO standards by providing the basic tools and references needed to understand and take an active part in the partnership with ISO.”

The tutorial is designed to be used by representatives of consumer organizations, standards bodies, or other types of organizations, from developing and developed countries. The easy to navigate module includes a glossary of terms and definitions, selected useful reference materials, and a short description of these materials. An interactive review quiz at the end of each section will help the user review concepts. An embedded feedback form is also available for comments and suggestions.

This tutorial was produced as part of an ongoing joint program of the ISO Committee on consumer policy (ISO/COPOLCO) and the ISO Committee on developing country matters (ISO/DEVCO) to promote consumer participation in standardization, with support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Consumers International, a liaison organization to ISO/COPOLCO, also participated actively in its development.

For further information, visit www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1206.