Standards and regulations are tools to encourage and facilitate compliance with safety requirements and not close down businesses.
Whilst standards are tools to facilitate compliance with requirements to facilitate trade (of goods and services), they need to address the health and safety needs of consumers and the environment. The supporting systems and infrastructure such as conformity assessment and accreditation are means to facilitate or promote compliance.
According to the UN guidelines on Consumer Protection, safe products and services are among the essential needs of consumers – more so for vulnerable groups like children.
Offering safe products and services to the market goes beyond legal compliance. It is also a moral obligation and social responsibility of the industry.
Quality products in the market makes economic sense to businesses, people and the environment.
To facilitate compliance with safety standards is by making compliance mandatory – for product safety.
Consumer rights to safe products goes beyond legal compliance.
Offering safe products to the masses is a moral and social responsibility.
