23-27 May, Grange St. Paul’s Hotel, 10 Godliman Street, London
ISO COPOLCO (International Organization for Standardization Consumer Policy Committee)
Hosted by BSI and supported by BIS (the UK government's Department for Business Innovation & Skills), this annual meeting of consumers involved in standardization:
- was the 33rd of its kind
- welcomed delegates from 47 countries
- included 13 BSI-sponsored delegates from developing countries.
COPOLCO's workshop theme, ‘Homes for tomorrow – building through standards’ addressed climate change and the sustainability needs of homes.
Address from consumer minister Edward Davey
The UK's Government Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs spoke about UK government policy on empowering consumers and the need for fair service to consumers. Mr Davey specifically mentioned British Standard BS 18477 Inclusive service provision. Requirements for identifying and responding to consumer vulnerability.
Lynn and Howard cut the 60th birthday cake in the Great Hall at Lincolns Inn!
Consumer champion, health campaigner and journalist, Lynn Faulds Wood, BSI's Mike Low (Director of Standards) and Howard Kerr (CEO) hosted a welcome reception in the magnificent Great Hall at Lincoln’s Inn (familiar to Harry Potter fans!). This celebrated 60 years of consumers in standards and those present included past and present members of the BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network, representatives from UK, European and international consumer and standards organizations and delegates of the COPOLCO 2011 meeting.
Activities held over five days also included:
- Plenary sessions
- Fringe meetings
- A technical visit to the Olympics 2012 stadium
- A farewell dinner with entertainment including scenes from Shakespeare.
How to earn a BSI Kitemark
The BBC responded to the whole event by featuring 60 years of testing consumer products at BSI's test labs on BBC Breakfast, an item on the BBC news site and an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
Papers from this and past workshops can be found at: http://www.iso.org/iso/resources/resources_consumers/copolco_s_past_events.htm.
Read the press release.
Past COPOLCO workshops and events
Details on themes of past events include Interoperability; Sustainable energy; Fair trade claims; Environmental standards.
BSI and consumer input to standardization
