International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is working to develop uniform standards for consumer goods so that globe-trotting people may not find difficulties in using any product anywhere in the world.
Committee on Consumer Policy (Copolco), a body established by ISO, is holding an international conference here to study the feasibility of developing uniform standards.
Inaugurating the event today, Consumer Affairs Secretary Yashwant Bhave said the deliberations have to find out whether inter-operability in consumer goods will work.
He stressed there is a need to safeguard interests of consumers as they, at times, find difficulties in using a product bought in a different country.
Ideally, all consumer products could be made with uniform standards, but there are some goods whose uniqueness the manufacturers would want to maintain, he said, adding they fear to lose the uniqueness by following uniform standards.
Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is hosting the Copolco conference, said consumers' interests are safeguarded on inter-operability.