Who we are
Our activities
Our strategic priorities
Who we are
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is a federal Crown corporation responsible for promoting standardization in Canada. Located in Ottawa, SCC has a 13-member Governing Council and a staff of approximately 112. It reports to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
We lead and facilitate the development and use of national and international standards and accreditation services in order to enhance Canada's competitiveness and well-being.
Our mission involves working with our stakeholders and customers to promote efficient and effective standardization that strengthens Canada’s competitiveness and social well-being. Everything we do is aimed at improving Canadians’ quality of life.
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History of the SCC
Mandate, mission and vision
Our activities
SCC leads the Canadian standardization network.
We are Canada’s member body to ISO and IEC and represent Canada’s voice on standards-related matters at an international level.
Standardization is the development and application of standards publications that establish accepted practices, technical requirements and terminologies for products, services and systems.
Standards help to ensure better, safer and more efficient methods and products, and are an essential element of technology, innovation and trade.
SCC carries out a variety of functions intended to ensure the effective and coordinated operation of standardization in Canada. It also represents Canada's interests on standards-related matters in foreign, regional and international forums.
Learn more about standardization.
SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body.
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is Canada’s national accreditation body. SCC accredits conformity assessment bodies, such as testing laboratories and product certification bodies, to internationally recognized standards. Conformity assessment is the practice of determining whether a product, service or system meets the requirements of a particular standard.
We ensure conformity assessment bodies operate at the highest possible level. Simply put, we test the testers.
Learn more about accreditation.
SCC drives prosperity and well-being for Canada through innovative standardization strategies.
These strategies embrace standards development, standards use and conformity assessment through accreditation services. We work directly with stakeholders from industry, government and consumer organizations to deliver standardization strategies that support Canadian innovators to help them grown their business, break down internal trade barriers by aligning regulations across Canada and facilitate international trade to help Canadian businesses compete internationally by levelling the playing field and helping them overcome barriers to trade.
Standardization is at the cutting edge of many new opportunities facing Canadian business. From unique opportunities with the legalization of cannabis, to understanding the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, SCC can help.
With environmental changes creating new challenges for how we build and maintain our infrastructure, SCC’s standardization strategies help Canada adapt to our changing climate as well as ensure the methods and products we depend on are reliable, protecting Canadians health and safety.
Learn more about how SCC delivers value to Canada by accessing our Annual Report.
Our strategic priorities
Each year, SCC’s Corporate Plan is developed to guide SCC’s strategic direction. Over the coming year, SCC will continue to provide value to Canada by promoting an efficient, effective, and strong standardization network that fosters innovation, while at the same time advancing our economy, protecting consumers, facilitating trade, supporting sustainable development, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of Canadians.
To achieve these goals, SCC will focus on the following three strategic priorities in 2018-2019:
Innovation
SCC enables Canadian innovators to lead the development and use of standards that will shape the marketplace and help them compete, to deliver economic growth for Canada.
Canadian Leadership
SCC creates opportunities for Canada by leading nationally, regionally and internationally to deliver on Canada’s priorities.
Culture of Excellence
SCC leads Canada’s standardization network, through effective governance, to deliver relevant and responsive standardization strategies that benefit the economic and social well-being of Canadians.