Overview
ISO/IEC Guide 14:2018 - Products and related services - Information for consumers provides guidance for preparing clear, comparable and usable product information intended for consumers. The guide outlines general principles and recommendations for the content, methods, formats and design of purchase information so consumers can compare, select and safely use products and related services prior to purchase.
Key topics and technical focus
ISO/IEC Guide 14 covers practical aspects of consumer-facing information, including:
- Objectives of purchase information: enable informed decisions, safe use, assembly, installation, maintenance and disposal.
- Content and presentation: guidance on minimum content, clarity, legibility and uniform presentation to support comparison.
- Performance and conditions of use: how to communicate expected performance, operating conditions and limitations.
- Dependability considerations: information on expected life, reliability and associated assurances (warranties/guarantees).
- Special cases: information for second‑hand goods, recycling and sustainability considerations.
- Methods of conveyance: written/printed, online information, and verbal methods - including use of linear bar codes, QR codes, RFID and other machine‑readable tools.
- Formats and design principles: use of diagrams, symbols, pictograms, scales, tables, permanency and accessibility (including for vulnerable consumers).
- Risk, privacy and safety: addressing residual risks, warnings and privacy implications associated with product information.
Practical applications - who uses it and why
ISO/IEC Guide 14 is intended for anyone responsible for creating or specifying consumer product information:
- Standards committees drafting product or service standards
- Product designers, manufacturers and suppliers
- Technical writers, marketers and graphic designers
- Retailers, importers and enforcement agencies (consumer protection bodies)
- Organizations producing online product catalogues, labels or user instructions
Benefits include improved consumer decision‑making, reduced returns and complaints, clearer cross‑jurisdictional compliance, and better access for vulnerable consumers.
Related standards
ISO/IEC Guide 14 references and aligns with other guidance on consumer information and safety, for example:
- IEC 82079‑1 - Preparation of instructions for use
- ISO/IEC Guide 37, ISO/IEC Guide 41 - Complementary guidance on instructions and packaging
- ISO/IEC Guide 51 - Safety aspects in standards
- ISO 20245 - Cross‑border trade in second‑hand goods
ISO/IEC Guide 14 is a practical resource for organizations aiming to deliver clear, comparable and accessible product information that supports safe and informed consumer choices.