FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2001-04-23

New Canada-US Arrangement Adds Value to Laboratory Accreditation

Termination of SCC-NACLA Bilateral Recognition Agreement »

OTTAWA - Standards Council of Canada accredited testing and calibration laboratories will now have their accreditation recognized in the United States, thanks to its signing of a bilateral recognition arrangement with the U.S. National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA).

NACLA is a nonprofit corporation established to coordinate laboratory accreditation activities within the United States and to serve as the U.S. link to the worldwide lab accreditation system. In essence, NACLA is a voluntary partnership of the public and private sectors. Three U.S. accreditation bodies are currently signatories to the NACLA accreditation Mutual Recognition Arrangement: the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), the International Conference of Building Officials Evaluation Service (ICBO ES), and the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

The SCC-NACLA Bilateral Recognition Arrangement will mean an increase in the bottom line for laboratories in Canada and the U.S. that operate in both countries given that it has the potential to reduce redundant accreditation and the costs of associated assessment activities. It will also promote mutual acceptance of testing and calibration results in both countries.

"By signing the Arrangement, the SCC and our Program for the Accreditation of Laboratories - Canada (PALCAN) are facilitating trade through the support of NAFTA principles and the reduction of technical barriers", said Peter Clark, executive director of the Standards Council. "That saves Canadian exporters the expense of retesting their products every time they want to sell their products in the U.S."

Laboratory accreditation is the formal recognition of the competence of a testing or calibration laboratory to perform particular tests. Many clients and regulators require laboratories to be accredited before they will accept their test results. "This Arrangement is a major accomplishment because it represents NACLA's first step into the international recognition arena", says Don Heirman, President of NACLA.

The Standards Council of Canada is the federal Crown corporation that oversees the National Standards System. Its Program for Accreditation of Laboratories - Canada (PALCAN) has accredited over 250 laboratories in a variety of general testing and specialty areas.

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