(ISO: Geneva) -- 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 programs including corrective actions, took place in May, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

ISO/PC 240—Product recall, decided on a publication target of 2012 for the new standard, ISO 10393. ISO/PC 240 also resolved to harmonize efforts with other ISO committees developing standards for consumer product safety (ISO/PC 243), anticounterfeiting (ISO/PC 246), and combating fraud (ISO/TC 247).

The committee extended a call for interested parties wishing to participate (through the ISO member of their respective country). Currently, about 12 countries participate in ISO/PC 240, and an additional four have observer status. Among its members, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, and South Africa were present at the first meeting.

ISO/PC 240—Product recall 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.

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