Overview
ISO/IEC Guide 46:2017 - "Comparative testing of consumer products and related services - General principles" sets out high-level principles for planning, conducting and reporting comparative tests intended to inform consumers. The Guide covers testing of both products and services (or combinations), focusing on producing meaningful, consumer‑relevant information. It explicitly excludes anti‑counterfeiting and formal conformity assessment.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose
- Establishes general principles for comparative testing to help consumers make informed choices.
- Excludes conformity assessment and anti‑counterfeiting activities.
- Choice of products or services
- Selection should reflect what is or will be available on the market; limits must be explained.
- Sampling
- Samples should match those sold to consumers, be randomly selected where appropriate, and account for transport, storage and service variability.
- Ensure samples are likely to still be available when results are published.
- Choice of characteristics
- Test relevant consumer‑oriented characteristics (usability, safety, reliability, energy consumption, price, labelling, warranties, etc.) unless a narrower focus is justified.
- Test methods
- Prefer methods from international, regional or national standards, reputable technical bodies, or validated laboratory methods.
- Laboratory‑developed methods may be used if validated; consider informing standards bodies when novel methods are applied.
- Evaluation and quality assurance
- Implement processes to minimize testing and interpretation errors (competency requirements, expert review).
- Share tested characteristics and methods with manufacturers; allow manufacturers to supply evidence if they dispute results.
- Notify manufacturers, authorities and users promptly if tests show an unacceptable consumer risk.
- Presentation of results
- Present results factually and in consumer‑comprehensible form, including acquisition and test dates.
- Correct major factual errors promptly in published reports.
Applications and users
ISO/IEC Guide 46:2017 is intended for:
- Consumer organizations and testing programs
- Independent test laboratories and research institutes
- Regulatory bodies and market observers (for coordination, not for formal surveillance)
- NGOs, product review publishers and industry groups conducting comparative evaluations
Practical applications include product comparison reports, service quality studies (e.g., mystery shopping), safety or performance rankings (e.g., NCAP‑style reports), and consumer buying guides.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 17025 - competence of testing and calibration laboratories (recommended best practice)
- ISO/IEC 17000 - conformity assessment vocabulary and principles
- ISO 12931 - anti‑counterfeiting performance criteria (outside Guide 46 scope)
- ISO 10377 / ISO 10393 - consumer product safety and recalls
Keywords: ISO/IEC Guide 46:2017, comparative testing, consumer products, test methods, sampling, ISO/IEC 17025, consumer testing, product comparison.