As citizens, what role can you play in standards development? Why is it important that the standardisation process is inclusive of consumers and citizens? This section aims at giving citizens of all ages guidance and tools on why and how to engage in standardisation.
Standards are an important lever to scale up good practices. Therefore, it is key to have standards that make sure those good practice products and services are suitable to the widest range of users possible. The PROGRESSIVE project aimed to make sure that the standards are ‘fit for purpose’ in a context of ageing demographics. This means that standards should be developed with a view to mainstream accessibility, usability and age-friendliness – and thus, to respond to the evolving needs and preferences of users whose life span is getting longer.
Getting involved in standardisation
Since they help to design accessible goods and services from onset, standards are a key enabler to increase accessibility, interoperability, safety and usability of products and services. This means that the standardisation process must be inclusive of societal stakeholders in their diversity with consumers of all age groups, including older people, being actively involved in the planning and development of standards in Europe and worldwide.
Participating in standardisation activities enables citizens to have a say in the development of standards, and thus influence their content to make sure that their requirements and needs are taken into account.
Access more details and resources on how to get involved
Learn how to co-produce standards with the PROGRESSIVE guidelines
You can also get in touch with the PROGRESSIVE project team to send your feedback on the information presented in this website, and generally about any questions or suggestions you may have.
Useful links and information
Below is a non-exhaustive list of groups and initiatives in standardisation taking place at European and international levels that might be specifically relevant for organisations representing older citizens.
- International Technical Committee on Ageing Societies (ISO TC 314)
- Joint Working Groups and Technical Committees at European level on general accessibility issues:
- Strategic Advisory Group on Accessibility (CEN/BT/WG 213)
- Joint Technical Committee on Design-For-All (CEN/CLC/JTC 12)
- Joint Working Group on Accessibility in the Built Environment (CEN-CENELEC JWG6)
- Joint Working Group on eAccessibility (CEN-CENELEC-ETSI JWG eAccessibility)
- Standardisation initiatives in relation to the accessibility and quality of services such as:
- the work on inclusive services (ISO PC 311)
- the work on ‘Service Chain for Social Care Alarms’ (CEN TC 431)
- the work on ‘Quality of care for older people’ (CEN TC 449)
- Standardisation initiatives in relation to product safety such as:
- the work on household appliances (CENELEC TC 61)
- the work on lifts (CEN TC 10)
- Standardisation initiatives in relation to assistive products such as:
- the work on wheelchairs (CEN TC 293/ISO TC 173)
- the work on ergonomics (CEN TC 122/ISO TC 159)
- Revision of standards in relation to digital accessibility, mainly the European standard EN301 549 ‘Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe’ following the standardisation request for standards on the accessibility of apps and mobile apps.