ANEC | Raising standards for consumers

ANEC joins its member APSI in celebrating 10 years of National Child Safety Day in Portugal! “Aqui Brinca-se” campaign (“Here We Play”) brought children back to streets, parks & public spaces for safe, active play. 🛝⚽🌳 Read more➡️apsi.org.pt/pt/artigos-sol… #dnsi2026 #AquiBrincaSe #oGOBIestáaqui

As AI continues to shape how we live, work, and make decisions, it’s critical that consumers have a voice at the table. We are pleased to share our work on #AIstandardisation and its impact on consumers with our @beuc colleagues during their Digital Experts meeting today! Thanks to the @EuropeanAIFund for supporting ANEC's work on AI standards. #ConsumerProtection #AIAct

Day 2 of the 40th Accessibility Working Group Meeting wrapped up ✅ Experts covered the European Accessibility Act 🇪🇺, updates to key EAA standards (EN 17161, EN 301 549, EN 17210), and new work on support services and non-digital information 📄 They also exchanged on the built environment 🏗️ and cultural heritage 🏛️, assistive products (including tactile lettering and assistance dogs 🐕‍🦺), ergonomics, and future accessibility training 🎓 Thanks to everyone for the great work & looking forward to the next meeting! 👏 Raising #standards for #consumers.

Celebrating the 40th ANEC Accessibility WG meeting with our experts and long-term ally Ima Placencia from the EC! Many thanks to all for your dedication and support in accessibility standardisation for everyday consumer products and services!

Following on from yesterday, discussions at our ANEC #Services WG meeting continue on services of general interest, with a focus on #postal #services, social impacts, and EU-level regulatory developments. A second guest student from the Hague University of Applied Sciences will present insights from applied research on the #PostalServicesDirective and the Commission’s Mandate 590. Highlights include discussions with @UNI_Europa – the European Services Workers Union on the #EUDeliveryAct, as well as an exchange with the @EU_Commission (DG SANTE) on #crossborder #healthcare and the evaluation of the #PatientsRightsDirective. ANEC will also present and discuss its #standardisation involvement in ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 43 on brain–computer interfaces. Raising #standards for #consumers.

ANEC #Services Working Group is hosting its 21st annual meeting today and tomorrow (21–22 April) in Brussels, focusing on the 2026–2027 Work Programme. Discussions open with horizontal services and the results of a study on mediation services, presented by a guest student from The Hague University of Applied Sciences - THUAS. Participants are also discussing the call for a #EuropeanFireSafetyStrategy and recent developments in #fire #safety awareness, alongside exchanges on the European Payments Council Scheme End-User Forum. The meeting features contributions from guest speakers from @beuc who will lead discussions on the #DigitalFairnessAct, #consumer #rights in #online #services, and recent developments concerning hand luggage within #passengerrights. Further exchanges will cover #safer #tourism and leisure services, as well as continued collaboration with THUAS. Raising #standards for #consumers.

Great to be back for Day 2 of the ANEC #Child #Safety meeting in Brussels (15–16 April), bringing members together to exchange on key priorities for #consumers. Today’s discussions cover technical studies such as children’s bite force, ergonomics and long-term health, safe sleeping, baby travel systems and suspended cribs. We are also sharing insights from product testing and shaping priorities for the 2027 work programme to better protect consumers. Raising #standards for #consumers. #Standardisation #Standards

🎉 Happy #WorldLiftDay In July 2025, a new European #standard that ANEC contributed to introduced the possibility of using certain lifts for evacuation of persons in emergency situations. For many persons with disabilities, evacuation in emergency situations has depended on assistance from others. EN 81-76 allows #lifts with specific characteristics to be used during #evacuation. It enables persons who cannot use stairs to escape safely and with greater independence, and introduces the possibility of unassisted self rescue through automatic evacuation operation. 👉 Discover more in our article: tinyurl.com/396ytnr5 🔗 Read our factsheet: tinyurl.com/264u2hvk #WorldElevatorDay #Accessibility #EvacuationLifts #Standardisation

🌐 Virtual Worlds, Real Risks: Are consumers protected in the #Metaverse? (ANEC & DIN Consumer Council webinar) 📅 26 March 2026 | ⏰ 15:00-16:00 (CET) The Metaverse and Extended Reality technologies are becoming part of consumers' everyday lives, yet little research has examined these environments from a #consumer perspective. A study commissioned by the DIN Consumer Council indicates a disconnect between potential risks and user perception. It refers to risks including #biometric #data collection, harassment, and addiction, and suggests that these may be underestimated by users. Michaela Hildebrandt, Project Manager at DIN Consumer Council, will present: • Key findings from the study • Identified #consumer #protection dimensions • An update on #standardisation work at ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24 👉 Join us: tinyurl.com/mucm52x8

As #WorldConsumerRightsDay 2026 concludes, ANEC reaffirms its determination to keep raising the bar for #consumer #protection and welfare, both in Europe and globally. Through its contributions to European and International #standardisation, ANEC looks to build a stronger, more resilient and more sustainable framework to aid #consumer confidence. Some tangible results: anec.eu/success-stories #WCRD2026 #SafeProducts #ConfidentConsumers #ProductSafety @isostandards #InternationalElectrotechnicalCommission @Consumers_Int @ITU

Product safety must protect all #consumers, including children, older persons and persons with disabilities. ANEC led a long-standing campaign to revise the European and International (EN/IEC 60335) series of electrical safety standards, so they reflect the needs of #vulnerable #consumers. As a result of our campaign, millions of electrical products bought by consumers this year will be safer than they would have otherwise been. #Inclusive #safety strengthens #consumer confidence. #WCRD2026 #SafeProductsConfidentConsumers #ProductSafety @isostandards @Consumers_Int

Children must be properly protected when travelling in vehicles. ANEC engages in the development and revision of #UN Regulation No. 129 “Enhanced Child Restraint Systems” to strengthen protection for young passengers across the EU. Read our leaflet “Protecting children in vehicles”: tinyurl.com/579ju6d9 #WCRD2026 #SafeProductsConfidentConsumers #ChildSafety @isostandards @Consumers_Int

As more #consumer products rely on #connectivity, #safety requirements must also address #cybersecurity risks. ANEC was actively involved in developing EN 18031 #standards series on cybersecurity requirements for radio equipment, helping to establish a baseline for safer #connected #devices. Read our factsheet “Will the new European Standards on Cybersecurity protect consumers?”: tinyurl.com/muabykxt #WCRD2026 #SafeProductsConfidentConsumers @isostandards @Consumers_Int

Strengthening #child #safety through European #standards is central to ANEC’s work. ANEC plays an active role in #standards on toys, child care articles, furniture, clothing and everyday household products to reduce choking, falls, strangulation, fire and other hazards. #WCRD2026 #SafeProductsConfidentConsumers #ChildSafety @isostandards @Consumers_Int