Comments Sought on guide for consumer product instructions.

Press Release Summary:



Developed by the ISO Committee on Consumer Policy, a draft guide on instructions for use of products by consumers has been circulated to ISO national standards bodies and national committees of the IEC for vote. ANSI invites all interested stakeholders to submit comments by July 31, 2009. With practical recommendations and a proposed methodology for assessment, ISO/IEC Guide 37 establishes common criteria for evaluating the quality of product instructions.



Original Press Release:



ANSI Seeks Comments on Draft Guide for Consumer Product Instructions



A draft guide developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) on instructions for use of products by consumers has been circulated to ISO national standards bodies and national committees of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for vote. As the U.S. member body to ISO and, via the U.S. National Committee, to IEC, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) invites all interested stakeholders to submit comments by July 31, 2009.

ISO/IEC Guide 37 addresses user instructions on products and product-related services that assure safety and proper use. Instructions in the form of texts, graphical symbols, diagrams, illustrations, and audible or visible information are covered in the guide, which is intended for use by:

Committees preparing standards for consumer products
Product designers, manufacturers, technical writers, or others engaged in the work of conceiving and drafting such instructions
Importers, regulators, inspection bodies, and researchers

With practical recommendations and a proposed methodology for assessment, the guide establishes common criteria for evaluating the quality of product instructions. Additionally, the guide contains checklists for principal target groups and model wording for specific clauses. Principles and detailed recommendations in the document are intended for use alongside more specific requirements for particular products or groups of products.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition of ISO/IEC Guide 37, which was published in 1995 and has been technically revised. Publication as a Guide requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Comments should be submitted to Steven P. Cornish, ANSI senior director for international policy (scornish@ansi.org). Feedback received by the July 31 deadline will be reviewed and compiled for consideration. Efforts will be made with the USNC to develop a consolidated U.S. response to both ISO and IEC.

ANSI has developed an explanatory information document outlining the process used to develop U.S. positions on issues and activities under consideration by ISO and IEC.

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