FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2003-05-08

Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada voluntarily withdraws SCC accreditation

OTTAWA - Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) has voluntarily withdrawn its SCC accreditation for their quality management systems registration program - also referred to as ISO 9000 registration.

The voluntary withdrawal of SCC accreditation for quality systems is unrelated and does not affect other ULC accreditations with the SCC. As such, SCC-accredited services for Standards development, product certification and laboratory testing will continue unchanged.

Canadian based clients formerly registered with ULC have been transferred to ULI - also an SCC accredited registration body. Under the ULI accreditation, former ULC clients will continue to maintain accreditation in the Canadian market under the SCC. The transfer of registrations has been performed in accordance with the IAF Guidance on the application of ISO/IEC guide 62 Issue 2, Annex 4, Transfer of accredited certification/registration. For additional information regarding this document, please visit http://www.accreditationforum.com/pdf/FG62_2pub.pdf.

The ISO 9000 series of standards were developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and have recently been revised to form the new ISO 9000:2000 series. The voluntary consensus standards describe the administrative elements that must be in place so that an organization can effectively manage its quality system. Registration is a means of demonstrating to clients, the public, regulators and other interested parties that a quality management system conforms to ISO 9000.

Standards Council accredited registrars assess and register companies to quality system standards. To become accredited, a registrar must meet the Standards Council's criteria related to such issues as qualified staff, the existence of a documented functioning quality system, proper record keeping, continual improvement, and freedom from conflicts of interest. To further a more global approach to registration, the SCC bases its accreditation program criteria documents on international standards and guides.

The Standards Council of Canada is a Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective standardization, and is Canada's representative at ISO. For more information on the Standards Council's accreditation programs visit www.scc.ca, or contact the Standards Council's Conformity Assessment Branch via e mail at [email protected].

Established in 1920 and headquartered in Scarborough, Ontario, Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) is one of North America's most widely recognized third-party certifiers in a number of electrical and fire protection related categories.

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