ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to assess what limitations international economic law places on nations' domestic product safety regulation. It tries to bring together various strands of international activity relating to consumer safety regulation. The most important aspects relate to the role of the WTO organisation and International Standards Organisation (ISO) in attempting to break down trading barriers and promoting harmonised standards. The chapter explores the co–operation agreement between CEN and ISO and standards adopted under this become European standards and therefore has to be adopted by national members of CEN. ISO is the equivalent body at the international level to CEN at the European level. Consumers International (CI) is the only body with official status to represent consumers on ISO committees, sub–committees and working groups. Co–operation between ISO and regional and national bodies is important for business efficiency reasons.
