ISO Standard Project Aimed at Facilitating Recall of Unsafe Products

March 31, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

The work of the committee will apply to consumer products, including electrical and gas household appliances.

The project committee on product recalls will seek to protect consumers and users from fatalities, injuries and financial loss caused by flawed products, while assisting business to save time and money and reduce related legal risks.

According to ISO, because of ineffective recalls, millions of people have been hurt, made sick or fatally injured by unsafe products due to design flaws, manufacturing defects or inadequate warning labels or instructions.

The goal of ISO/PC 240 - Product recall is to develop a market-oriented international standard organizations can use to plan and execute timely and cost-effective product recalls, thereby minimizing legal risks and contributing to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

This standard is relevant in today's market context where products routinely cross borders, but uneven and inconsistent approaches in policies and procedures pose challenges for global recalls, ISO said.

The standard will provide a code of good practice for establishing, implementing and managing an effective, flexible and responsive consumer product recall programme, with corrective actions, including repair, placement, repurchase and public notice.

It will also provide guidance on products in the manufacturer's or distributor's inventory or retail shelves, or already in the hands of consumers.

ISO said the projected standard will be useful for manufacturers, retailers, importers, testing organizations, providers of third party recall services, legal firms, government regulators and consumers/safety organizations.

Source: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).