Quality News

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.
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), anti-counterfeiting (ISO/PC 246) and combatting 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.

“A market-oriented International Standard on product recall will help to protect consumers and users from fatalities, injuries and financial loss caused by flawed products, but it will also help businesses to save time and money and reduce related legal risks” said the Canadian representative, Mr. Doug Geralde, Director of Corporate Audits and Investigations, Canadian Standards Association.



“This standard is particularly relevant in today’s market context where products routinely cross borders, but uneven and inconsistent approaches in policies and procedures pose significant challenges for global recalls,” Mr. Geralde added.

ful text ISO.ORG