FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2006-12-19

Revised standard for accreditation of management systems certification bodies

OTTAWA – The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) issued a new standard for evaluating the competence of bodies providing certification of management systems. The standard is designed to increase confidence in management system certification, placing rigorous requirements for competence and impartiality on the accredited bodies offering certification to standards like ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).

CAN-P-16 Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, is an adoption of the joint standard of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC 17021:2006. It replaces and improves upon two separate documents, ISO/IEC Guide 62:1996 and ISO/IEC Guide 66:1996, which respectively gave the requirements for certification bodies practicing quality and environmental management system certification.

SCC will begin assessing clients against the requirements of CAN-P-16 as of May 01, 2007. The transition period for conformity to the new standard ends September 15, 2008, at which time certification bodies unable to meet this deadline will be have their accreditations suspended until conformity can be confirmed. 

Accredited clients may direct inquiries to the Manager, Certification Body Accreditation at [email protected]. Additional information regarding the migration to the new standard will be posted to the SCC website as it becomes available.

The Standards Council of Canada is a federal Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective standardization in Canada with the goal of enhancing Canada’s economic competitiveness and social well-being. SCC is Canada’s representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is responsible for coordinating Canadian participation in the development of international standards. It also accredits standards development and conformity assessment organizations.

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