CSS Progress Reports (December 2005)

Within this page, progress reports for:

• Goal 1: Influence the formation, evolution and operation of standardization bodies that are important to Canada
• Goal 2: Improve access to existing and new markets for Canadian goods and services
• Goal 3: Build competitive advantage through technology and information transfer and global market intelligence
• Goal 4: Meet the needs of an evolving regulatory and policy environment
• Goal 5: Represent fully the range of standardization stakeholders
• Goal 6: Communicate effectively the role and benefits of standards and conformity assessment practices 

Goal One: Influence Key Standardization Bodies

SCC and our NSS partners participate in many international and regional standardization organizations.  This participation helps to influence the policy and governance activities of the organizations in ways that are beneficial to all Canadian stakeholders (including governments, large and small businesses, and consumers).

Action taken

• SCC assumed and retained key positions in international and regional conformity assessment arrangements including: Vice Chair of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Chair of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC), and Vice Chair of Interamerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).
• Canada assumed or continued to hold key positions in key international standards organizations including: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Council, ISO Technical Management Board (TMB), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Council Board, IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB), and the Committee on Conformity Assessment (ISO/CASCO) Chairman’s Policy and Coordination Group (CPC).
• The SCC’s Consumer and Public Interest Committee (CPIC) and the Advisory Committee on Trade (ACT) developed a Generic Priority Setting Mechanism for possible use by the SCC network of Advisory Committees.
• The SCC provided standardization-related input to support the development and implementation of the Security and Prosperity (SPP) Initiative of North America, specifically items related to the transportation of dangerous goods and improving metrological cooperation.

Goal Two: Improve Market Access for Canadian Goods and Services

Standardization plays a central role in trade facilitation and access for Canadian products and services into new and existing markets.  In this environment, standardization input is often crucial for successful government-to-government initiatives (i.e., formal trade agreements) and also for voluntary arrangements (i.e., agreements between private standardization bodies).  Enhancing access and opportunities for Canadian exporters remains a key CSS priority.

Action taken

• The SCC worked with our partners in Transport Canada and Industry Canada to support the development of the Pacific Gateway Initiative and related efforts to enhance Canadian access to emerging markets including China, India, and Brazil.
• The SCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), paving the way for further collaboration with our Chinese standards colleagues.
• The SCC continued to provide standardization-related policy support to our International Trade Canada partners and participated in the Canadian delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Goal Three: Support Developing Country Participation in International Standardization

The standardization needs of developing countries remain an important element of the CSS Update.  The SCC continues to support the participation of developing countries in international standardization through various capacity building activities including twinning arrangements.  These efforts strive to enhance the standards-related resource and technical capacity of developing countries and to ensure that the international standards that are developed are also “globally relevant”.

Action taken

• SCC and our NSS partners supported the participation of developing countries in international standardization, with particular emphasis on engaging consumers from developing economies.
• SCC supported the implementation of ISO’s Action Plan for Developing Countries through our continued participation in the DEVCO Chairman’s Advisory Group (CAG).
• Canada hosted 150 delegates from around the world who took part in the May, 2005 meeting of the ISO Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO), in Toronto, Canada.  This included supporting the participation of 16 representatives from developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The SCC is working with Costa Rica and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to implement a Good Regulatory Practices (GRP) project.  Through this partnership with Costa Rica’s Organo de Reglementación Técnica (ORT) – the country’s technical regulations unit, the adoption of regulatory best practices that promote a more transparent and efficient regulatory regime via standardization is encouraged.

Goal Four: Support the Evolving Regulatory and Policy Environment

This Goal underscores the SCC’s support for Government of Canada (GoC) regulatory and policy priorities and the potential role of standardization as a tool to achieve public policy objectives.  Activities focus on enhancements to domestic regulatory frameworks, specifically the Smart Regulations (SR) initiative and international initiatives that promote standardization as a key component of good regulatory practice and encourage market openness. Partnerships amongst regulatory and standardization bodies are also encouraged.

Action taken

• SCC participated in a number of Smart Regulation activities related to environmental sustainability, safety and security, international regulatory cooperation, and the strengthening of regulatory governance (e.g. instrument choice and the development of a Government Directive on Regulating).  These activities contribute to the objective of developing a stronger policy reference for the use of standardization as a regulatory tool.
• SCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) to establish a joint program for the accreditation of medical laboratories.  The new program will make it possible for laboratories to achieve both OMA recognition and SCC accreditation without having to undergo separate assessments or conform to different sets of criteria.
• SCC has signed a MoU with the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) to pursue closer cooperation with regard to the accreditation of specific healthcare facilities and perhaps leading to the accreditation of CCHSA as a standards development organization.
• Canada signed a MoU with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Under this agreement, both jurisdictions agree to work together to ensure greater protection of the health of consumers in the United States and Canada.
• The SCC provided recommendations to an Industry Canada-organized working group that is examining the greater application of standardization to overcome internal trade obstacles.
• The SCC continued to participate in a Canada Health Infoway (CHI) senior governance committee that oversees the development of a Pan-Canadian Electronic Health Record (EHR).

Goal Five: Represent Fully the Range of Stakeholders

Since 2000, significant efforts have been devoted to further enhancing the NSS and establishing the framework for the SCC’s Member Program (formerly the Volunteer Program).  The CSS Update 2005-2008 retains the commitment to enhancing the NSS via the expansion of the existing stakeholder base and building resources to ensure sustained participation.

With the framework for the SCC’s Member Program in place and the establishment of the core program pillars (Recruitment, Retention and Training) work continues to ensure the continuity of the NSS and the Member Program. The primary focus of activities to date this year was training.

Action taken

• The establishment of a partnership arrangement with SCC’s Human Resources department to support the orientation of new staff through the provision of two (2) mandatory training workshops.
• SCC has made a commitment to train seven (7) qualified individuals to deliver training workshops this fiscal year.
• SCC conducted a Customer Satisfaction Survey to determine future training needs for NSS members.
• The SCC Member Program conducted quarterly Workshops in support of training objectives for NSS stakeholders, staff, and volunteers.
• SCC hosted the Canadian Leadership Forum on 2005-11-21/23 to support   communication, information exchange and training among NSS members (specifically the Chairs of Canadian Advisory Committees and Canadian Subcommittees, and other project leaders for ISO and IEC).

Goal Six: Communicate Effectively the Benefits of Standardization

The SCC and its NSS partners continue to communicate and promote the role and benefits of standardization.  A sustained and coordinated effort to promote the value of standardization is integral to the continued success of the NSS and for ensuring sustained support (both human and financial) for standards-related activities.

Action taken

• In conjunction with members of the SCC’s Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee (PTAC) and the National Public Safety Advisory Committee (NPSAC), the SCC, “Standardization Across Canada” forums were held in five (5) different Provinces or Territories. Using a variety of presentations, including material from the “standardization value proposition” and from the NSS core presentation and speech modules, these forums promote the understanding of standardization and the NSS across Canada to a variety of interested groups and individuals.
• The Future Vision Task Force (FVTF) developed a “standardization value proposition” that outlined the benefits of standardization for consumers, businesses and governments (specifically regulators). In addition, to support FVTF recommendations, SCC also held discussions with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to investigate the application of Research and development tax credits to standardization-related activities.
• In celebration of World Standards Day and its 35th anniversary, SCC hosted 150 attendees from among Canada’s NSS, partners, committee members, accredited clients, and consumers. The event included a series of workshops which enabled participants to learn more about Canadian standardization and engage in discussions with leading experts.