Consumer & Public Interest Network (CPIN) - Winter 2011 meeting
The CPI Network met together on 1 December at BSI's London headquarters to renew acquaintances across the Network, make some new consumer contacts and discuss important current issues together to feed back into standards work.
There was a tremendous buzz of interest throughout the day. The CPI members enjoyed the opportunity to talk to other experts, actively engaging with the subjects on the table and enthusiastically exchanging views. This second event of the year was relatively low key, because our Summer meeting had been the prestigious COPOLCO 2011 event in May, which was hosted by BSI to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the CPI Network.
Lynn Faulds Wood, Chair of the CPI Network, and well known as a campaigning journalist for consumers (particularly as former TV Watchdog presenter), was in charge of the day. Lynn led the proceedings with her usual flair and humour, commenting frequently on the value of the work that CPI Network members do and the fantastic breadth and depth of their experience and knowledge in matters concerning safety, accessibility, services, sustainability and security in particular.
The majority of those attending the Winter meeting were CPI Representatives and CPI Coordinators (those members who are actively involved in standards making for a large and diverse range of subjects, such as the accessibility of buildings, child-appealing products, and airport security).
In addition, we were lucky enough to have some of the members of our CPI Strategic Advisory Committee, the group made up of senior representatives from the leading UK consumer and public interest organizations, such as the Trading Standards Institute, DEFRA and the National Consumer Federation.
The topics discussed in groups were as follows and all are related to current standardization work - the CPIN has consumer Reps working on all of these subjects:
| Three members of our Construction group |
Hard at work discussing consumer issues |
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- ROBOT ETHICS – WHERE SHOULD WE DRAW THE LINE?
In the future, it could be robots that deliver your personal care, etc. in your home. The committee covering this new standard has two CPI members on it, one as the CPI Rep and the other representing the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors. The consumer aspects relate to safety, ethics, services, and wellbeing.
- DO WE KNOW AND DO WE CARE? DEMYSTIFYING TECHNICAL TOPICS (and why we need to understand them):
a. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and the dangers of these
b. Our consumer proposal for a consumer guide to ICT
c. Nanotechnology – explaining the terms: a New Work Item for the International Standards Organization (ISO)
d. Biometrics*
- CONSTRUCTION:
a. The ‘Green Deal’ and new standards on green installation, external wall insulation, micro-generation, ground source heat pumps
b. Security of buildings, Locks, Safety Gates: inactive committees, but potential items of current interest to consumers
- SERVICES, HEALTH AND MANUFACTURING:
a. If ‘Standards = Safety’, what do we think about standards for tattoos, sun-tanning salons, aesthetic surgery and medical spas*?
b. What are the differences between product and services standards for Reps working on these sorts of subjects? (e.g. this is relevant to Financial Services)
c. Taboo subjects and standards: care home services, funerals, memorial sites*
- ON TIME, CLEAN, PLENTY OF SEATS – WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT:
a. What are the consumer issues and what standards do we need* (e.g. electric vehicles….?)
- IS IT A TOY? IS IT A BIRD? PRODUCTS AND CHILDREN
Some products are designed specifically for children, but many others are not, but are child-appealing. CPI members are acutely aware of the safety issues, e.g.:
a. Luminaires – child-appealing electrical lamps that children use
b. Computers – games and internet – chat rooms, etc.
c. Mini-motorbikes – concerns about use by children, riding at speed, without proper supervision and protective equipment, leading to deaths
d. Food packaging* - unhealthy food in child-appealing packaging
* List of New Work Proposals and current Drafts for Public Comment discussed 1 December:
BS 8415 + Amendment 2 Monuments within burial grounds and memorial sites – Specification
Deadline: 31 Jan 2012
ISO/DIS 28621 Medical spas using natural resources – service requirements
Deadline: 31 Jan 2012
Pictograms, Icons and symbols for use with Biometrics Systems – Part 4: Face
Code of practice for the implementation of a biometric system
Electrically propelled road vehicles - Safety specifications - Part 4: Post crash electrical safety requirements
Aircraft ground equipment-Boarding vehicle for persons with reduced mobility - Functional and safety requirements
Use of Mobile Biometrics for Personalization and Authentication
Prerequisite programmes on food safety – Part x: Food packaging manufacturing
CPIN members line up for the camera:
