The Technical Committee’s activities will help widen consumers’ choice, ensure the active participation of all stakeholders in developing standards in this field and improve access to information on the quality and safety of goods and services.

At the initiative of the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a new Technical Committee for Standardization on “Consumer Policy” (AZSTAND/TC 53) has been established by the Azerbaijan Institute of Standardization (AZSTAND), operating under the Agency.

The main objectives of establishing the Technical Committee are to create favourable conditions for consumers when choosing goods and services, ensure the active participation of stakeholders in developing international and national standards in this field, take consumer expectations and market requirements into account, and ensure access to accurate information on the quality and safety of goods and services.

The Technical Committee comprises representatives of eight government institutions directly involved in consumer rights protection and five public associations, to ensure public participation.

The first meeting of the Committee was attended, alongside Agency representatives, by representatives of the Azerbaijan Institute of Standardization (AZSTAND), the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Food Safety Agency, the State Tourism Agency, the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency, the “Free Consumers” Public Union, the “Trade Network Development” Public Union, the Azerbaijan Quality Association, the Azerbaijan Retail Clothing Importers Association and the Azerbaijan Construction Materials Manufacturers Association.

Yusif Tapdigli, Head of the Consumer Market Supervision Division of the Agency and Chair of the Technical Committee, addressed the meeting and presented the key aspects of the draft standards developed under the Technical Committee’s 2025 Work Plan: AZS ISO/IEC GUIDE 14:2025 — “Products and Related Services — Information for Consumers”, AZS ISO/IEC GUIDE 76:2025 — “Development of Service Standards — Recommendations for Addressing Consumer Issues”, and AZS ISO/IEC GUIDE 41:2025 — “Packaging — Recommendations for Addressing Consumer Needs”. He highlighted the contribution that their implementation at the national level would make to providing consumers with accurate information, improving service quality, strengthening safety in product packaging and, more broadly, enhancing consumer rights protection in the country in line with international requirements.

The meeting also discussed the draft standards envisaged under the Technical Committee’s Work Plan and the development of up-to-date national standards based on existing international standards in this field.

At the end of the meeting, the proposals of Technical Committee members on the draft standards were heard. It was decided that, taking into account the comments made on the three draft standards submitted for discussion, the drafts would be further improved and submitted for approval.