On 21st January 2021 the International Organisation of Standidisation released a proposal for a new area of technical activity in the area of assistance dogs with NEN as the proposer. The proposal, if voted in, would have meant that a international standard (ISO) of assistance dogs would have been created. The proposal would have seen the creation of a Technical Committee (TS/P 295) comprised of 8 working items. Each working item is an area to standidise, this does not necessarily mean that each proposed requirement would be used but means it would be discussed and a conclusion made about it’s suitability. In this proposal the 8 working items (WI) were the following

• WI1 Terminology – terminology and definitions internationally
• WI2 Health and Welfare – the health and welfare principals and requirements such as vetanairy services and kennel facilities
• WI3 Breeding and Puppy development- the breeding programmes and puppy raising programmes for assistance dogs such as breeding stock selection and puppy rearing practices
• WI4 Training and Assessment – training and assessment of assistance dogs such as essential temperament and health, methodology and final assessment.
• WI5 Client sevices – the requirements for client services such as safeguarding procedures, application processes and aftercare services.
• WI6 Competencies for assistance dog professionals – the requirements and competencies for professionally skilled staff such as their education and skill maintenance.
• WI7 Conformity assessment- the conformity assessment process which would have covered both service providers and owner trained teams as well as registration an identification.
• WI8 Accessibility – the accessibility requirements for public areas such as free movement and recognised areas of prohibited access

The proposal had an objective to develop the ISO with cooperation with CEN/T 452. The proposal than goes on to outline who the stakeholders are and why the proposal was put through. Stakeholders were to comment on the proposal to their national member of the ISO and the closing date for countries to vote was the 8th April 2021.

The ISO proposal was voted down and didn’t go through. Publicly available responses to the proposal outlined some common concerns around it such as the effects it would have on owner trained partnerships, potentially restricting innovation and the financial sustainability.

• CATE UK's Facebook
• Instagram