International guide ISO/IEC Guide 14, Products and related services – Information for consumers has been updated to reflect changes in product labelling technology and consider the needs of a wider audience.
ISO/IEC Guide 14 helps to improve the quality of product information and is aimed primarily at standards developers in the field of consumer issues. The guide is also useful for those involved in product labelling, such as product designers, manufacturers, technical writers, and marketers.
“As information is key for consumers, the more detailed and accurate it is, the more protected are consumer rights,” Advocacy Manager for Consumers International, Antonino Serra Cambaceres, said. “Consumers must be confident in the products and services they use and they also must have as much information as possible to make informed choices.”
Michele Althoff, convenor of working group WG 15, the technical group that developed ISO/IEC Guide 14, said it offers guidance on what consumers demand and expect.
“The revised guide now takes into account new labelling tools like QR codes, as well as the information needs of vulnerable persons, such as those who could be at risk of harm from products due to their age or other limitations,” Althoff said. “It also pays closer attention to the treatment of sustainability and privacy issues.”