Setting the standard for Canadian Standards Development

2011-11-29

By Pilar Castro, SCC Director, Stakeholder Relations

Take a peek behind the curtain of any number of modern conveniences and well-functioning infrastructures, from products to systems to services, and you’ll find one common element: standardization. How standards are developed and implemented or “standardization”, plays a vital role in almost every aspect of society. It keeps the machinery of our lives running smoothly and provides the necessary foundation for innovation and advancement.

The way in which standards are developed influences their viability in the marketplace, how widely they will be used, and whose interests they will serve. Standards that follow a formal standards development process, one that pursues balanced stakeholder representation, consensus and transparency, will have broader applicability and greater potential to address the goals of multiple groups such as industry, governments, academia and consumers.

Most standards, including many that contribute to safeguarding the health and safety of Canadians, are voluntary. In other words, the process for developing those standards was not undertaken or led by a legal or regulatory authority. However although they may have been initiated or developed through a “voluntary” system, many standards are made mandatory by either being referenced in government legislation, or because of marketplace and consumer demand.

In Canada, the mandate for coordination and oversight of standardization-related activities is held by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). SCC accredits standards development organizations (SDOs) as well as organizations that verify conformity to specific standards. Accreditation by SCC provides formal recognition that an organization has the competence to perform the work for which they are accredited. To achieve and maintain accreditation, SCC requires that organizations meet specific procedural requirements. All of SCC’s accreditation programs are based on internationally recognized criteria, which in-turn provides confidence and credibility in those programs across Canada and abroad.

For an SCC-accredited standards development body, the process begins with evaluation and approval of the concept-standard that is to be developed, followed by a public notice of their intent. Once a standards development committee of experts is formed (consisting of interested/affected stakeholders), the group can move forward with producing the content for that specific standard. Once drafted, the standard is subjected to a public review, and the committee must then strive to reach consensus on the input received. A quality review is conducted prior to the committee approving the content, and then following procedural approval the standard is published and disseminated.

Each SCC-accredited SDO must ensure that the standards they develop are reviewed over the years so as to ensure they remain current and applicable. Using the same rigorous process, a balanced committee of stakeholders is brought together to determine what if any changes are required. For standards that are withdrawn, a public notice must be issued by the applicable SDO.

Once finalized, some standards are submitted to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for evaluation and approval as National Standards of Canada (NSC). Approval as an NSC heightens the profile of a standard and provides assurance of its pertinence to Canada. The SCC criteria for approval of a standard as an NSC, includes requirements for adoptions or adaptations of international standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The impetus for the development of a standard can come from any number of stakeholders. An industry association, individual, business or group of users may identify a standardization gap or may seek to pursue work in an emerging sector where standardization is limited. Stakeholders may approach an accredited SDO with their idea/suggestion or contact the Standards Council of Canada ([email protected]). Determining which SCC-accredited SDO will work on a standard is based on a number of factors including their access to relevant subject matter experts, interest and availability.

As part of SCC’s formal requirements of SDOs, a key consideration for deciding whether a Canadian standard should be developed is to determine whether a comparable standard already exists either regionally or internationally. If no suitable standard is available, an SDO can initiate development of a unique Canadian standard. However, the SDO must ensure that the standard developed does not create unnecessary obstacles to international trade.

In the case of Canada’s national standard for the protection of first responders from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events, (CAN/CGSB/CSA-Z1610-10) for example, the standard was jointly developed by two SCC-accredited standards development organizations (CSA and CGSB) in response to the needs of Canada’s emergency services personnel. This particular national standard is intended to provide consistency, across Canada, in the selection, use and care of protective equipment for front-line emergency workers. Having a standard that is recognized across jurisdictions is a way to help guide and protect those who selflessly deliver vital emergency services, and to positively contribute to the betterment of Canada’s public safety and national security objectives.

To be eligible for accreditation by the SCC, standards development organizations must demonstrate that they adhere to a “standardized” process for standards development, which is open, transparent and inclusive. While the requirements are rigorous, to expect anything less would be to compromise the standardization machinery we so often take for granted.

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Pilar Castro is Director of Stakeholder Relations within the Policy and Stakeholder Relations branch of the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). In her current role, she is responsible for providing leadership and direction to a team of senior policy analysts, program managers and communications officers that deliver value-added standardization solutions for government and industry stakeholders. Through leadership of Canada’s national standardization infrastructure, the SCC promotes the use of standards, the verification of conformity of those standards, and the incorporation of standardization into regulatory measures (as part of policy and trade considerations) in support of Canada’s social and economic priorities.

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