| 2011 09 21 | Complementing
the study "Chemical requirements for consumer
products" (see below) a further piece of research was
commissioned by the Consumer Council. It investigates a number of
further product laws concerning the coverage of chemical risks in
the following areas: gaseous fuels
appliances; pyrotechnic articles;
electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits;
radio and
telecommunications |
|
| 2011 03 07 | A new research work of the Consumer Council looks into the issue of chemicals in consumer products in a horizontal manner, identifies shortcomings of European product regulation with respect to chemicals and outlines several options for a way forward. The study critically reviews chemicals regulation (REACH) as well as a selection of product legislation on general product safety, personal protective equipment, toys, construction products, electrical and electronic equipment and energy related products. The study clearly demonstrates that the current European legal framework regarding chemicals in products is insufficient to ensure a high level of safety to consumers and the environment. The study thus concludes that the adoption of a new regulatory framework for chemicals in consumer products is necessary. An extension of the scope of the "Ecodesign requirements for Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive" (2009/125/EC) to cover all relevant consumer products (whether or not energy related) and address all environmental aspects including chemicals seems the most promising option. This study is available here as PDF-file ("Chemical requirements for consumer products", 885KB). | |
| 2010 04 15 | A folder describes some of the most important present and past projects of the Consumer Council. This brochure is available here as PDF-file ("Consumer protection in standardisation", 1407KB). | |
| 2009 11 20 | Many enterprises measure customer satisfaction nowadays. That they are more concerned about sales increase than customer satisfaction is shown in a new study commissioned by the Consumer Council. The report is available here as PDF-file ("Customer satisfaction - from the viewpoint of the consumers", 178KB). | |
| 2009 03 25 | A new study of the Consumer Council concerning Fire safety shows clearly that fire protection in the private domain is underdeveloped: 2,0 - 2,5 million burns in Europa per year result in 20 000 to 25 000 fatalities. About 80% of these occur in private homes. It is high time that measures for the protection of consumers are taken. This study which contains in addition to an extensive analysis of accident patterns numerous proposals for improvements is available here as PDF-file ("Consumer fire safety: European and potential fire safety measures", 695KB). | |
| 2008 10 21 | The
Consumer Council organizes in co-operation with European consumer and
environmental umbrella organizations a conference on
"Sustainable construction labelling - User
needs" in Brussels on 21 October. This event was triggered
by European standardization activities on the subject of: "Environmental
Product Declarations - EPDs".
The draft standard prEN 15804 has been heavily critizised by consumer
circles and its usefulness has been questioned.
In this context the question needs to be raised what the demands of
potential users on environmental declarations are. Here is the programm of
the event and here are the presentations (8MB). Some background information: ANEC/ECOS position paper on ISO environmental management standards ANEC study on environmental declarations and consumer needs ANEC statement on study mentioned above Consumer Council model declaration for indoor paint "PAINTY" |
|
| 2008 03 25 | In study commissioned by the Consumer Council a specification for finger protectors was elaborated. These products protect fingers – mainly of children – from injuries when doors are closed or slam shut because of draught. Accidents of that kind are frequent. This work is available here as PDF-file ("Non-integrated finger protection – A background study and proposals of requirements and test methods", 737KB). | |
| 2008 02 15 | The
European draft standard prEN
15733 "Services of Real Estate Agents - Requirements for the
provision of the services of real estate agents" met
with vehement criticism of the consumer organisations. Their
concerns such as intransparent costs or deceptive and unrealistic
presentation
of properties by real estate agents have been ignored. The lack
of clear-cut normative requirements as well as the absence of requirements
concerning
information provision and the education of real estate agents was
criticized in particular. The Consumer Council has submitted a
comprehensive
list of faults to the national mirror committe
("prEN
15733 Comments Consumer Council", 120KB). |
|
| 2008 01 29 | It is true that environmental declarations, sustainability or CSR reports contain lots of figures, but mostly they do not allow an assessment or comparisons between companies. Within the scope of a study commissioned by the Consumer Council the sectors bank services, cement production and textiles were investigated in more detail. It became clear that comparable environmental indicators for companies can only be developed on a subsector level. Examples of key indicators were drawn up for the areas mentioned above and a general procedure for their elaboration was worked out. Environmental and consumer organisations ask for the inclusion of such indicators in the revision of EMAS. This work is available here as PDF-file ("Comparable environmental indicators for companies", 895KB). | |
| 2007 08 30 | ISO
published the third draft (WD3) of ISO
26000 "Guidance on social responsibility". A joint
position paper of the stakeholder groups consumer, labour and NGOs
was developed in Austria, which heavily criticises the document.
In particular, the lack of minimum requirements and the modest substance
as well as the poor verifiability of the recommendations
is deplored. Altogether the authors of the position paper conclude,
that the draft standard is suitable for marketing purposes but is
unlikely to stimulate socially responsible
action. The comprehensive criticism is available here as
PDF-file
("ISO
26000.3 comments AT C-L-NGO", 320KB). The ISO documents
are accessible under: http://www.iso.org/wgsr (here
go to N numbered document list, WD3 = N113) |
|
| 2006 10 27 | The European consumer and environmental organisations strongly questioned the usefulness of the EMAS-system and called for a substantive reform. It should include environmental performance requirements beyond the legal minimum and compulsory indicators to allow for comparisons between different organisations. This paper refers amongst other things to the study of the Consumer Council mentioned below. The document is available on the web site of ANEC as PDF-file (http://www.anec.eu/attachments/ANEC-ENV-2006-G-047.pdf, 91KB). | |
| 2006 05 22 | A study on the subject of alternatives to environmental management systems was finalised. Environmental and consumer groups have repeatedly criticized that these systems such as EMAS and ISO 14001 are process oriented and do not contain any performance requirements. Hence, a certificate does dot say anything about the level of environmental protection achieved. This can be freely chosen by business. The present study proposes a set of minimum requirements for the global level which is to be complemented by higher level sector specific rules for Europe. Thus EMAS could be transformed into a true environmental label for companies. The report is available here as PDF-file ("Going beyond EMS", 624KB). | |
| 2006 02 01 | An analysis of the inner lining of ski helmets for children carried out by ÖTI (Austrian Textile Research Institute) showed that more than 50% of the products did not comply with the criteria of the Oeko-tex 100 Standard. Even sensitising substances could be found. An analogous investigation of nightwear and linen brought similar results. Both test reports are available here as PDF-files ("Test report ski helmets", 1015KB und "Test report night wear and linen", 1328KB"). | |
| 2005 08 29 | The Consumer Council has commissioned a study in order to test a previously developed method for the determination of plasticizers in practice. The validation results of the first study could be confirmed using toy samples this time. 20 toy samples purchased in the Vienna area were tested for plasticizers. Critical phthalates were found in two samples in higher amounts. This work is available here as PDF-file ("Plasticizers in toys: Method validation using toy samples and analysis of toys", 3267KB). | |
| 2005 05 11 | Dr. Franz Fiala, the secretary of the Consumer Council, is again confirmed as vice president at the ANEC General Assembly. ANEC is the European consumer representation in standardisation. | |
| 2005 04 01 | By
means of the new Austrian legislation on product safety (PSG 2004)
the Consumer Council and its financial support
was after all embodied in law. So far the funding was based only on a decision
of the Council of Ministers from 1990.The relevant paragraph reads: Consumer Council § 24 The Federal Minister for for Social Security, Generations and Consumer Protection has to ensure an efficient independent representation of consumer interests in national and international standardisation, in particular, by financially supporting a suitable institution such as the Consumer Council at the Austrian Standards Institute. The Consumer Council is very pleased about this and expresses its thanks to all who have made it possible. |
|
| 2005 03 02 | A new publication of the Consumer Council covers the subject prevention of packaging. In contrast to the European standard EN 13428, which does not contain substantive requirements in this respect at all, quantitative criteria for the assessment of packaging were included in previous studies of the Consumer Council. The present brochure ("Packaging waste" - PDF-file 3638KB) illustrates this method. | |
| 2005 02 02 | The revision of EN 1273 "Child care articles - Baby walking frames - Safety requirements and test methods" is adopted with a slim majority. This standard which is welcomed by the consumer organisations will lead to a significant increase of the safety level of the product. The Consumer Council had elaborated the draft standard. | |
| 2004 10 19 | The Consumer Council presents its study concerning environmental baseline requirements for textiles to CEN SABE (Strategic Advisory Body for the Environment)). In this work it is shown how such requirements can be derived from eco-label criteria and other information. CEN SABE acknowledges this study in a resolution. However, the CEN textile committee does not seem to be inclined to elaborate such a standard. This study is available here as PDF-file ("Environmental baseline requirements for textiles", 856KB). | |
| 2004 10 18 | The Consumer Council project on the integration of environmental aspects in product standards (the Consumer Council Environmental Helpdesk) is presented to the CEN ENIS Team (Environmental Issues in Standards) and is positively received. The project is carried out in co-operation with a Dutch consultant (CREM). | |
| 2004 04 24 | The references to EN 14059 "Decorative oil lamps — Safety requirements and test methods" and some other standards are published in the Official Journal of the EU. By this procedure it is established that a presumption of conformity to the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive applies in case of compliance with these standards. This means that the standards are de facto compulsory. The Consumer Council had a leading role in this project. | |
| 2004 03 11 | CEN Environmental Helpdesk fails its mission to green standards said ANEC, the European consumer representation in standardisation, in a press release. This body was supposed to lead to more environmentally friendly product standards. According to a study of the consumer organisation the CEN EHD was not in the position to deliver qualitatively and quantitatively convincing output. Its real impact was marginal. The study was initiated and supervised by the Consumer Council. | |
| 2003 07 15 | The European standard EN 14375 "Child-resistant non-reclosable packaging for pharmaceutical products - Requirements and testing" is approved with a slim majority. It achieves 72% of the weighted votes (71% is the minimum). The consumer organisations had massively lobbied for a rejection of the standard. | |
| 2003 07 01 | Amendment 2 of the European standard EN 71-4:1990 "Safety of toys Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities" is published. It contains requirements and test methods for closures of containers for chemicals. Those have to be child-resistant in future. The standard is based on proposals of the Consumer Council who, had initiated the amendment. | |
| 2003 06 03 | Dr. Franz Fiala, the secretary of the Consumer Council, is confirmed as vice president at the ANEC General Assembly. ANEC is the European consumer representation in standardisation. | |
| 2002 12 23 | A draft directive on "eco-design and end use equipment" (environmental requirements for energy consuming appliances) prepared by the Commission is heavily criticised by environmental and consumer advocates. The paper which follows to a large extent an environmental management system approach lacks substantive requirements. Originally only electrical and electronic equipment (draft EEE-directive) was intended to be covered. Also this paper was subject of strong criticism. | |
| 2002 12 06 | ANEC, the European organisation representing consumer interests in standardisation, and also the Consumer Council raise objections against a draft standard dealing with safety requirements for scooters. Many accidents are caused by the wheels which are too small. This essential point has not been taken into account. | |
| 2002 10 01 | The European standard EN 71-4:1990 concerning chemistry sets will be strengthened. The proposed changes by the Consumer Council regarding the closures of containers for chemicals have been accepted by the responsible committee. They will have to be child-resistant in future. The formal voting will be launched. | |
| 2002 07 23 | The European standard prEN 14059 "Decorative oil lamps - Safety requirements and test methods" is approved. A great day for the Consumer Council! | |
| 2002 04 15 | The draft standard prEN 13869 "Lighters - Child-resistance for lighters - Safety requirements and test methods" receives a positive result in the formal vote. Consumer organisations have strongly lobbied for this European standard. Importers of lighters from the Far East tried hard to prevent the adoption of the standard recently. | |
| 2002 02 15 | The European draft standard prEN 14059 "Decorative oil lamps - Safety requirements and test methods" is submitted to CEN for the format vote. A representative of the Consumer Council is convener of the responsible European working group. The goal was to prevent the access to the lamp oil by small children. Small amounts of lamp oil can lead to severe health damage or death when ingested. | |
| 2001 12 03 | The Austrian television program"Welcome Austria" reports about safety of lighters and the study conducted by the Consumer Council and the Association for Consumer Information. | |
| 2001 11 29 | Upon initiative of the Danish government a 2 days conference was held on the subject of the "New Approach". Of particular interest was the question whether and under which conditions this instrument can be used in the environmental field. Representatives of consumer and environmental organisations once again have called for a reform of the standardisation system aimed at strengthening public interests compared with representation from industry. | |
| 2001 11 04 | The Austrian radio consumer magazine "Help" reports on the web site of the Consumer Council. | |
| 2001 10 01 | The Consumer Council celebrates its 10th anniversary. The secretariat of the Consumer Council at the Austrian Standards Institute was put in operation on 1 October 1991. The inaugural meeting of the Consumer Council took place on 20 December 1991. | |
| 2001 09 18 | The revised version of the European standard on baby walking frames was prepared by a small editorial team under the leadership of the Consumer Council and was eventually sent to the responsible CEN working group for approval. The new text is based on a project report elaborated by the Consumer Council in co-operation with the Association for Consumer Information (VKI). |