Kick-off meeting of CEN/TC 452

The kick-off meeting of CEN/TC 452, Assistance dogs, organized by the Croatian Standards Institute (HZN), was held on 13 December 2016 in Zagreb.

This is the first European technical committee the secretariat of which is held by HZN.
Its scope will include requirements for the training of assistance dogs (including guide dogs), as well as user and trainer requirements.


The kick-off meeting was an opportunity for the delegates to meet, master the standardization procedures and hold their first discussions. Mr. Marijan Alfonzo Sesar, Ph.D., Director of Rehabilitation Centre Silver, was confirmed as the Committee chairman. Mr. Sesar is the first Croatian to chair a European TC.

Representatives of 11 National Standards Bodies attended the meeting: ASI, NBN, HZN, UNMZ, SFS, AFNOR, UNI, NEN, ASRO, SIST and BSI, as well as a representative of ANEC, the European consumer voice in standardization.



HZN was represented by Julijana Gyorgy Matešić, Mira Katalenić, Maša Dolenc and Lea Devčić, accompanied by two assistance dogs.
It is interesting to note that the CEN/TC 452 kick-off meeting was held in the year of the 100^th anniversary of the first guide dog school in Europe.

The CEN/TC 452 secretary is Vesna Ferenčak Brodarić, Senior Adviser for Standardization in the Field of Services, Products for Household and Leisure Use.