ISO Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO)

• India is hosting the 44^th edition of the coveted annual ISO COPOLCO Plenary from 23-26 May 2023 in New Delhi.
• The event is being organized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standards body of India.

ABOUT COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER POLICY

• ISO COPOLCO, or the Committee on Consumer Policy, is a committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) responsible for promoting consumer interests in the standardization process and for ensuring that standards are developed with the needs of consumers in mind.
• COPOLCO members are ISO members.
• Objectives:
  • helping consumers to benefit from standardization,
  • improving consumer participation in national and international standardization.
  • exchange of information on the experience of consumer participation in the development
• COPOLCO offers a range of training and events including an annual workshop for consumers, public authorities, manufacturers and standardization experts.
• ISO COPOLCO is reckoned as the major international event that brings together representatives from ISO member countries to discuss and develop strategies for accelerating the development of standards for the world.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANISATION (ISO)

• ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization made up of members from the national standards bodies of 168 countries.
• Central Secretariat- Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members – 168 countries (India is one of the founding members of ISO).