India will host the esteemed 44th annual ISO COPOLCO Plenary in New Delhi from May 23 to May 26, 2023. The event will be inaugurated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles. Ms. Sadie Dainton, Chair of COPOLCO, Mr. Serjio Mujica, ISO General Secretary, and other high-ranking ISO officials will also be present.
ISO COPOLCO, a committee under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), focuses on advocating for consumer interests in the standardization process and ensuring that standards consider consumer needs. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India’s national standards body, is organizing the event, which will feature dialogue sessions, workshops, and other activities aimed at enhancing consumer engagement in the standardization process.
The four-day plenary will witness the participation of government and business leaders as well as international delegates representing prominent stakeholders. With a people-centric approach, this year’s plenary will address themes such as ‘Challenges and Good Practices for Consumer Engagement,’ ‘Empowering Consumers for a Sustainable Future,’ and ‘Consumer Protection and Legal Frameworks,’ making it highly significant for India and the global community.
The conference will include workshops, speeches by distinguished speakers, including ministers and eminent individuals from various countries, and panel discussions on consumer engagement. The ISO COPOLCO Plenary is expected to have a significant impact on the global economy and people’s lives.
ISO, an international organization comprising 168 member countries, develops standards that have a profound influence on diverse sectors, both in business and society. Through COPOLCO, their consumer committee on standards development, ISO actively involves the general public in the standardization process. Therefore, the ISO COPOLCO Plenary is a major international event that brings together representatives from ISO member countries to discuss and formulate strategies for accelerating global standards development.
India has been actively engaged in international standardization matters and was among the founding members of ISO. As the National Standards Body of India, BIS plays an active role in international and regional standardization efforts. BIS is a member of ISO and participates through the Indian National Committee (INC). It is also a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) through the INC and is associated with regional standards bodies like the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) and the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO). Additionally, BIS operates within the framework of IBSA (India, Brazil, and South Africa).
