Developing Countries

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is helping developing countries move towards economic stability and independence by taking steps to involve them in international standardization. The SCC offers technical support for the development of standards and conformity assessment infrastructures and advocates for greater involvement of developing countries in international standardization.

Most developing countries are interested in increasing their ability to trade freely with partners around the world, but they often lack the resources to become fully participating members in trade agreements and other related international organizations.

Standardization plays a critical role in the integration of developing countries into the multilateral trade system. International standards are key to improving developing country access to markets and to strengthening their ability to implement international trade obligations.

The SCC's approach for providing technical assistance to developing countries involves collaboration with national and international partners. It supports a number of cooperative initiatives and assistance projects that help to build institutional frameworks in developing countries.

Another way the SCC supports developing countries is through its work with international standardization and conformity assessment bodies. The SCC is an active participant in:

• International Organization for Standardization Committee on Developing Country Matters (ISO/DEVCO) 
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Affiliate Country Programme
• Joint Committee on Assistance to Developing Countries in Metrology, Accreditation and Standardization (JCDCMAS)

Nationally, the SCC supports the Canadian Advisory Committee on Developing Country Matters (CAC-DEVCO) - a subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Trade (ACT). The subcommittee represents Canada's interests in ISO/DEVCO and also monitors and reports on developments in this area and provides policy advice to the SCC Council.