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October 2025

Lead story

Joint ANEC, ECOS & CEN/CENELEC webinar: 'The Importance of an Inclusive Standardisation System' on the occasion of World Standards Day

Join us in celebrating World Standards Day with a webinar, co-hosted by ANEC, ECOS and CEN-CENELEC.

The webinar is titled 'The Importance of an Inclusive Standardization System' and will take place on 9 October 2025 (13:30-14:30 CEST).

This year’s World Standards Day theme, Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, highlights the power of collaboration in standardisation. The webinar will explore insights into inclusive standardisation; give an overview of stakeholder participation in European standardisation; provide real-world case studies showcasing the contributions of consumer and environmental organisations, as well as practical guidance to help you get involved.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is mandatory.  

In case of questions related to the logistics of this webinar, please don’t hesitate to contact CEN-CENELEC via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We look forward to having you join us!

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Report exposes major product safety gaps

The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) - a coalition of leading consumer organisations from the EU, USA and UK, including ANEC - has published a landmark report that reveals serious gaps in product safety enforcement on major online marketplaces.

The findings raise urgent concerns about the safety of products sold to consumers through these platforms. Despite the existence of safety standards, weak enforcement and a lack of clear accountability mean that unsafe products can too easily reach consumers.

In its statement on the report, ANEC stressed:

“ANEC is deeply concerned about the increasing presence of unsafe products sold through online marketplaces, especially those imported from third countries that do not always comply with EU safety standards. Consumers can be exposed to toys with choking hazards, electrical goods with fire risks and dangerous chemical substances. ANEC joins TACD call to fill the serious enforcement gap where standards cannot protect consumers unless they are coupled with effective market surveillance, liability frameworks, and robust enforcement mechanisms.”

By endorsing the TACD report, ANEC underlines the urgent need for coordinated action to strengthen consumer protection. Standards alone are not enough unless they are backed by accountability, surveillance and cross-border enforcement

Read the full report.

ANEC contributes to next Consumer Agenda 2025-2030

ANEC sees the European Commission’s next Consumer Agenda as a vital roadmap for advancing consumer protection in the Single Market. In a new position paper, we outline six priorities:

1. stronger product safety rules and a European framework for the safety of services;
2. improved coordination of market surveillance and joint EU actions;
3. safeguarding privacy, security, accessibility and choice in the digital transition;
4. swift implementation of the ESPR with clear labelling and protection against greenwashing;
5. inclusive policies for vulnerable consumers;
6. greater support for consumer organisations to ensure a strong voice in standardisation.

Read our full position paper or summary fact sheet Factsheet: ANEC Position on the Consumer Agenda 2025–2030.

Aligning product legislation with the digital age

ANEC welcomes the proposals of the European Commission (EC) to modernise product legislation for the digital era. In our latest position paper, we set out key priorities to ensure that consumers are effectively protected:

• Instructions and safety information for consumers: Product instructions and safety information must remain available both digitally and offline, so no consumer is left behind.
• EC Common Specifications as alternatives to Harmonised Standards: Draft implementing acts with technical specifications should be subject to broad stakeholder consultations, going beyond comitology, to ensure all views are considered.
• Clarity in product marking: To avoid consumer confusion, CE marking should be moved to the technical file, the digital declaration of conformity, or the Digital Product Passport (DPP).

Read the full position paper.

ANEC on the revision of the NLF

ANEC welcomes the European Commission’s review of the New Legislative Framework (NLF).

We believe the revision must address smart, connected and remanufactured products; cover cybersecurity and AI risks, and ensure safety throughout the product lifecycle. Moreover, it should clarify the liability of online marketplaces; strengthen conformity assessment; improve oversight of Notified Bodies, and reform CE marking to avoid it misleading consumers.

The DPP should provide clear, accessible information while complementing physical labels. The NLF also needs to support circular economy goals with harmonised definitions for refurbishers and repairers; ensure harmonised standards remain clear, inclusive and subject to transparent objections, and adopt gender-neutral wording.

Read our full position paper.

ANEC reacts to Call for Evidence on revision of Reg 1025/2012

STOP PRESS: the formal public consultation on the revision was launched on 24 September with deadline of 17 December 2025. See here. ANEC will work with its members in response.

A Call for Evidence on the revision of Regulation (EU) 1025/2012 - the Standardisation Regulation - was held by the EC between 24 June and 21 July 2025.

In our reply, we call for more inclusive and transparent governance of the European Standardisation System. The current HAS system of Consultants should be replaced with a permanent and independent body within the EC, bringing in legal, technical, consumer,

accessibility and social expertise. Political decisions, such as safety limits, must not be delegated to European Standardisation Organisations, and areas such as ethics or social rights should remain outside standardisation.

Final responsibility for compliance with EU law and fundamental rights must rest with the EC. Support for Annex III organisations should be strengthened to ensure consumer participation, and procedures for raising objections to standards must be clear, timely and transparent.

Read our full position.

Spanish webinar on civil society and standardisation

On 25 September, ANEC joined an online event hosted by CECU - the Spanish consumer association and ANEC member - and UNE, the Spanish national standardisation body.

The event aimed at informing civil society organisations in Spain about why standards matter for consumers and the environment, and why and how to get involved in standardisation.

Isabel Lopez-Neira, ANEC Project Manager, explained the role of ANEC in European standardisation and provided clear examples of the impact of standards on the everyday lives of consumers.

ANEC has been delighted by the response to the webinar. Indeed, we would be pleased to collaborate with organisations in other countries wishing to promote the importance of standardisation to civil society at the national level.

Child Safety & Domestic Appliances 

Standards for toy trampolines and finger paints adopted

During the summer, FprEN 71-7 ‘Safety of toys - Part 7: Finger paints - Requirements and test methods’ was submitted to Formal Vote. ANEC gave its support for adoption of the draft and a Favourable Opinion. We welcomed the unanimous adoption of the standard by CEN members.

Also in the summer, EN 71-14 ‘Safety of toys - Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use’ was adopted by CEN. ANEC actively participated in the work. Here is the result proved more nuanced.

In 2024, we submitted comments and a Favourable Opinion to CEN during the Enquiry on prEN 71-14. Our comments addressed terms and definitions; categories of trampoline; the lack of requirements for outdoor trampolines regarding exposure to atmospheric conditions; ground-levelled trampolines; enclosures, finger entrapment, mat deflection for buried trampolines; the vertical strength of the enclosure; and warnings and markings.

During the resolution of the comments, CEN/TC 52/WG10 agreed that new technical aspects, including some proposed by ANEC, would be left for a future revision of the standard. Upon request of ANEC, these comments were indicated as “for future work”, instead of “not accepted” as initially proposed.

In our reply to the Formal Vote on FprEN 71-14, ANEC gave a further Favourable Opinion. Nevertheless, we stressed that the decision to omit new technical aspects has left much to be done to improve the standard. We urged further revision of the standard to be done as soon as possible.

Accessibility

ANEC joins AccessibleEU European event

With the European Accessibility Act entering into force in June 2025, the AccessibleEU event, “Hi, European Accessibility Act… Let’s Rock Accessibility!”, offered a great opportunity to reflect on progress, share best practices, and prepare for the changes the Act will bring. The event showcased achievements to date and built momentum towards a more inclusive European Union.

ANEC contributed to a panel on accessibility in public procurement. Chiara Giovannini, ANEC Deputy Director-General and Senior Manager for Policy & Innovation, discussed how European Accessibility Act standards can support procurement that benefits consumers of all ages and abilities.

She stressed that a future revision of the Public Procurement Directive must introduce mandatory accessibility requirements. With the legal link between the Accessibility Act and the Procurement Directive, standards will be required to support accessibility, and training will be essential to ensure they are applied effectively. As such, there is no longer an excuse not to procure in an accessible way.

Watch the event recording to learn more.

Competencies for assistance dog professionals

We are delighted that EN 17984-3 “Assistance dogs – Part 3: Competencies for assistance dog professionals” has been approved.

The ballot delivered a unanimous outcome, with sixteen CEN members voting in favour of adoption and none against. This represents 100 per cent approval, well above the required thresholds of 55 per cent of members and 65 per cent of the weighted population.

As also at the Enquiry stage, ANEC supported approval of the standard.

Digital Society

ANEC factsheet on cybersecurity standards

ANEC has published a new factsheet to share its view on the new EU harmonised cybersecurity standards. The standards took effect on 1 August 2025, covering network protection, personal data and privacy, and fraud prevention for connected products such as toys, wearables and childcare items. The aim is to improve consumer safety, strengthen data protection and increase trust in CE-marked products. However, ANEC warns that the standards remain too high-level, lack clear testing methods and do not cover all relevant products, meaning further improvements are needed.

Read the full Factsheet.

Macedonian translation available, with thanks to our member The North Macedonian consumer organisation, Organizacija na potrosuvacite na Makedonija (OPM).

Empowering Consumers in Standardisation: Insights from Lithuania

On 23 September 2025, ANEC brought together policymakers, experts, and consumer advocates in Lithuania for a national online event on “Standardisation and Consumer Representation”, a lively exchange on how to ensure consumers have a real say in shaping the standards that affect their daily lives.

Rusnė Juozapaitienė, ANEC Vice-President, opened the session with a strong call to empower consumers through active participation in both technical and policy arenas. Algis Baležentis, Senior Legal Adviser at the Ministry of Justice, followed with insights on Lithuania’s approach to protecting consumer rights and strengthening their role in standardisation.

Mindaugas Aleksandras Balčiauskas of the Lithuanian Standards Board showcased practical ways for citizens to engage at the national level, while Chiara Giovannini, ANEC Deputy Director-General, highlighted ANEC’s impact on European and International standardisation.

Two inspiring case studies followed, one on cybersecurity, presented by Rusne, and on one on financial services, presented by Kęstutis Kupšys from the Lithuanian Consumers Alliance, illustrating how consumer perspectives can shape safer, fairer standards. The event closed with the presentation of ANEC’s e-learning course “Societal Stakeholders and Standards”, inviting participants to continue building a more inclusive standardisation ecosystem.

Fundamental Rights and AI Act Standards Webinar

On 3 October 2025, ANEC hosted a public webinar on “Fundamental Rights and AI Act Standards: How can we have our rights respected when facing new AI products and services?” The event explored how fundamental rights are a key part in the upcoming AI Act Standards, especially for consumer protection.

Speakers including Patricia Shaw, International AI standards and governance expert (Beyond Reach Consulting Limited), Chiara Giovannini, Senior Manager and Deputy Director-General ANEC and ANEC’s AI experts and representatives in CEN-CENELEC JTC21 , namely, Helen Tueni, Brian Tranter and Malcolm Fisk.

Participants were introduced to specifically developed Fundamental Rights Checklist, a practical tool to assess whether AI standards adequately protect consumer and human rights. A case study on AI in financial services illustrated the real-world challenges of balancing risk management, bias prevention, and trustworthiness in AI-driven systems. Participants were then split in working groups to apply the checklist and then report on the findings.

ANEC’s initiative reinforces that technical standards must not only ensure compliance, but actively protect people’s health, safety and fundamental rights in the digital age. To download the webinar materials and checklist check our webinar page here. We thank the European AI & Society Fund for their support.

Sustainability

ANEC Sustainability WG meets in Berlin

The annual meeting of the ANEC Sustainability WG took place at DIN Consumer Council (DIN CC) in Berlin, Germany on 29-30 September 2025. The occasion brought together a diverse group of experts who all contributed valuable insights. ANEC warmly thanks the DIN CC for hosting us at their offices.

The meeting started with a lively debate on future actions for ANEC concerning circular economy, textiles and packaging. We continued with a review of our activities at international and European level on environmental labelling and climate change related standardisation. BEUC colleagues joined the meeting to update us on their activities on environmental labelling. Our experts continued their debate on the second day especially on sustainable finance, and European testing about PFAS and other hazardous chemicals found in consumer products. ANEC staff and experts reported on key updates, learnings and wins from ANEC activities, sparking discussion and ideas for the next steps forward.

The ANEC Sustainability WG meeting in Berlin closed with a joint session with the ANEC Domestic Appliances WG (DOMAP WG), focusing on Ecodesign and energy labelling policy; as well as the standards that improve the performance and sustainability of the consumer products we use daily.

News from ANEC member countries

Czechia - Giving visibility to standards 

Market operators, including manufacturers, service providers, businesses and consumers, often fail to recognize the enormous importance of European and International standards for the market. In close cooperation with the Czech Consumer Association and with the support of various entities, particularly the Czech Standardization Agency and the Quality Council of the Czech Republic, the Cabinet for Standardization is focusing systematically on promoting the visibility of standards and their role in consumers' everyday lives.

For 2025, the Cabinet has received financial support to develop projects in three areas: accessibility of the built environment for all; toys – new EU regulation supported by technical standards – for children’s safety and parents’ peace of mind; and accommodation facilities – behind the Euro Stars.

Each project consists of developing a micro-study on the topic, including a web presentation and the production of a printed booklet. Micro-studies describe the topics in more detail, while booklets should be shorter and more understandable for consumers.

The issue of accessibility of the built environment relates to the introduction of EN 17210:2021, 'Accessibility and usability of the built environment – Functional requirements', which describes the basic functional requirements and contains recommendations for access to the built environment and its use in accordance with the principles of "design for all"/"universal design".

The issue of toys concerns regulatory changes in the new Toy Safety Regulation (TSR) compared to the existing Toy Safety Directive (TSD). The micro-study highlights the role of standards for toy safety while also providing examples of standardisation in other areas of children's products.

Finally, the topic 'Accommodation facilities – Behind the Euro Stars with the help of technical standards' emphasises the consumer perspective on the subject and introduces the European Hotelstars Union model through the original Czech standard, ČSN 76 1110:2025 'Tourism services – Classification of accommodation establishments – Category hotel, hotel garni, pension, apartment hotel and apartment complex'. The micro-study also provides an overview of the key elements of the ISO standard ISO 21902:2022, 'Tourism and related services – Accessible tourism for all – Requirements and recommendations'. This standard is essential for assessing the accessibility of tourism services, including accommodation facilities and services.

For more, contract Libor Dupal, Cabinet for Standardization, Czech Consumer Association, dupal(at)konzument.cz.

Slovenia - Breda steps down from ZPS

Long-time President Breda Kutin has completed her final term at the head of the ZPS, the Slovene Consumers’ Organisation. Breda had led ZPS since its creation in 1990. Breda was also the Slovene member of ANEC General Assembly for many years.

At the ZPS General Assembly in early September, members of the Assembly thanked Breda for her tireless work before awarding her the title of Honorary President of ZPS.