ANEC, the European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation (known informally as 'the European consumer voice in standardisation'), is an organisation promoting and defending consumer interests in the processes of standardization and certification and in legislation related to standardization and certification[1]. In November 2008, ANEC adopted the strapline 'Raising Standards for Consumers' as part of an initiative to improve the visibility of the association.
ANEC provides technical expertise and advice drawn from a network of more than 200 consumer representatives across Europe. The organisation's experts contribute directly to the work of more than 80 technical committees and working groups of the European Standards Organisations, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI[1].
ANEC was set up in 1995 as an international non-profit association under Belgian law. Its principal motivation was to ensure organised consumer participation in the development of European Standards intended to support European legislation introduced under the New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standardization. However, its competence also extends to other European Standards developed by the European Standards Organisations as well as to other standards that may impact directly or indirectly on the European consumer (for example, certain standards of W3C, the World Wide Web Consortium)[1].
ANEC represents consumer organisations mainly from the European Union Member States and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The organisation's General Assembly is composed of one national member per country, nominated jointly by the national consumer organisations in that country. Its Working Groups bring together volunteer experts who define the consumer position in fields related presently to eight areas of priority (Child Safety, Design for All, Domestic Appliances, the Environment, Information Society, Innovation, Services, and Traffic). ANEC reimburses the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of its volunteers [1].
ANEC is funded by the European Union (95%) and EFTA (5%), while the time of the representatives of the national consumer organisations and experts is accepted by the EU and EFTA as a 'contribution in kind'[1]. In 2010, the ANEC budget was almost 1.4 million euros[2]. The ANEC Secretariat calculated the "contribution in kind" in 2007 to be worth 260.000 euros[3].
The ANEC Secretariat is based in Brussels. The Secretariat team is responsible for leading the political lobbying activities of the association. ANEC has signed the European Union's Transparency Register (with identification number 507800799-30) and accepted its Code of Conduct[2].
On 1 June 2011, Arnold Pindar (United Kingdom) was elected ANEC President for the term 2011-2013[4]. The current Secretary-General is Stephen Russell[5].