Informational bulletins related to Standards Council of Canada accreditation programs are listed below. Bulletins provide critical information about a program or sub-program, and are important for continued adherence to accreditation requirements.
Accreditation Bulletins
2024/02/22
Action required
Criteria for SQF Certification Bodies (Edition 9.1) was reissued in April 2023 and comes into effect April 1, 2024. Certification bodies (CBs) shall audit their customers to the relevant criteria as of April 1st, 2024.
Affected customers... Read more
Affected program(s): Product, Process and Service Certification (all programs)
2024/02/21
Action required
Customers and applicants that have a project registered with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program shall use VCS Standard, version 4.5.
Customers are responsible for keeping up with the minor revisions of the VCS scheme required documents as per... Read more
Affected program(s): Validation/Verification
2024/02/14
Action required
Customers, applicants and assessors in the Validation and Verification Accreditation Program (VVBAP, formerly the Greenhouse Gas Accreditation Program) shall use ISO 14066: 2023 Environmental information Competence requirements for teams validating... Read more
Affected program(s): Validation/Verification
2024/02/08
Action required
IAF MD 11:2023, Issue 3, IAF Mandatory Document for the Application of ISO/IEC 17021-1 for Audits of Integrated Management Systems (PDF) was issued in 2023.
MSAP customers with integrated management systems will be assessed against this... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems (all programs)
2024/02/07
Action required
All customers will be assessed against IAF MD 9:2023, Issue 5, Application of ISO/IEC 17021-1 in the Field of Medical Device Quality Management Systems (ISO 13485) (PDF) at their next office assessment, and the SCC scopes of accreditation will be... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems - Medical Devices (ISO 13485)
2024/02/07
Action required
The CanadaGAP Program Management Manual will be reissued with revisions effective April 1, 2024 Certification Bodies (CBs) shall audit their customers to the relevant CanadaGAP Program Management Manual as of April 1st, 2024.
Affected... Read more
Affected program(s): Product, Process and Service Certification (all programs)
2024/02/07
Action required
All affected customers will be assessed against IAF MD 1:2023, Issue 3, IAF Mandatory Document for the Audit and Certification of a Management System Operated by a Multi-Site Organization (PDF) at their next office assessment, and the SCC scopes of... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems (all programs)
2024/01/26
Action required
Two SCC Requirements and Guidance documents used within the Laboratory Accreditation Programs have been updated as a result of the recent transition to the 4th edition of ISO 15189:2022 Medical laboratories — Requirements for quality and competence... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2024/01/18
Action required
IAF MD 25:2023 Criteria for Evaluation of Conformity Assessment Schemes is a new mandatory document issued by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) for all accreditation bodies (ABs) that are a signatory to the IAF. New procedures by an AB may... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2024/01/16
Action required
Take note that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has released IAF MD 7:2023 IAF Mandatory Document for the Harmonization of Sanctions and Dealing with Fraudulent Behaviour earlier this year.
Affected customers
All SCC-... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2023/11/06
Action required
Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) customers are required to transition their accreditation to ISO 22003-1:2022 Food safety — Part 1: Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of food safety management systems.
Accredited... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems - Food Safety Management Systems (ISO 22000)
2023/10/03
Action required
None
Affected customers
All Certification Body Accreditation Program (CBAP) conformity assessment bodies (CABs) requesting to become approved bodies in the United Kingdom.
Background
On behalf of their respective governments, the... Read more
Affected program(s): Product, Process and Service Certification (all programs)
2023/09/26
Action required
All accredited proficiency testing (PT) providers shall review their quality management system against the requirements of the new standard and prepare for their assessment against this standard based on the schedule outlined below.
Assessors... Read more
Affected program(s): Proficiency Testing Providers
2023/09/25
Action required
Take note of the updated Good Laboratory Practice Program (GLP) document from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Affected customers
SCC GLP-recognized facilities, applicants, and inspectors.
... Read more
Affected program(s): Good Laboratory Practice
2023/08/29
Action required
Organizations that are already accredited to perform inspections against CSA Z7396.1 should be aware that the 2022 version of the standard has been published.
Organizations that want to offer inspections against CSA Z7396.1-22 can apply for a... Read more
Affected program(s): Inspection - Medical Gas Piping Systems
2023/06/14
Action required
Accredited laboratories shall review their existing quality system and prepare for their first assessment against the ISO 15189:2022 according to the timeline described below.
Assessors for this program shall be formally qualified to the new... Read more
Affected program(s): Medical Testing Laboratory
2023/06/12
Action required
Take note that a new version of IAF MD 26 Transition Requirements for ISO/IEC 27001 (PDF) was released in February 2023.
Affected customers
All SCC-accredited Information Security Management Systems Certification Bodies, applicants, assessors... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems (all programs)
2023/04/20
Action required
All accredited Product, Process and Service Certification Bodies that are currently certifying organizations to CanadaGAP are required to transition to CanadaGAP version 10 of the CanadaGAP® food safety manuals for fresh fruits and vegetables and... Read more
Affected program(s): Product, Process and Service Certification (all programs)
2023/03/20
Action required
Take note of the changes in the revised Accreditation Program Overview.
Affected customers
All customers, applicants, assessors and inspectors in all SCC accreditation and recognition programs.
Background
As part of a... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2023/01/19
Action required
Customers shall integrate the updated definitions and clarifications to their management system and adjust operations accordingly.
Affected customers
Customers, applicants and assessors in the Forensic Program Specialty Area of the... Read more
Affected program(s): Testing Laboratory - Forensic
2023/01/12
Action required
Take note that SCC is resuming on-site activities for all office assessments for all programs, and that on-site assessments will take place at least every two years, especially for re-assessment visits.
All assessments that are already confirmed will... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/12/20
Action required
Take note that ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Information Security, cybersecurity and privacy protection – Information security controls is published.
Affected customers
All SCC Accredited CyberSecure and Information Security Management System... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems (all programs)
2022/12/20
Action required
Take note that the following are published:
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection — Information security management systems — Requirements
IAF MD26:2022 Transition Requirements for ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (PDF... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems (all programs)
2022/12/12
Action required
None
Affected customers
SCC Product, Process and Service Certification Program customers and applicants.
Background
The UKCA mark is the new product marking for specified goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (... Read more
Affected program(s): Product, Process and Service Certification (all programs)
2022/12/08
Action required
Take note of the changes in the revised Accreditation Program Overview.
Affected customers
All customers, applicants, assessors and inspectors in all SCC accreditation and recognition programs.
Background
As part of a... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/12/06
Action required
Take note of the updated Good Laboratory Practice Program (GLP) documents from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Affected customers
SCC GLP-recognized and applicant facilities, and inspectors.
... Read more
Affected program(s): Good Laboratory Practice
2022/11/24
Action required
Take note that the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is implementing changes to the accreditation process.
Affected customers
All accredited CBAP, IBAP, MSAP, VVBAP, CPAP, and SDOAP customers and assessors.
Background
To... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/11/18
Action required
Effective January 1, 2023, all accredited certification bodies in the CyberSecure Canada scheme are required to certify all new clients to CAN/CIOSC 104:2021 National CyberSecure standard Baseline cyber security controls for small and medium organizations... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems - CyberSecure Canada
2022/11/18
Action required
Existing customers and new applicants for registering a project in the Verified Carbon Standard Program shall use VCS Standard, v 4.3, published 22 June 2022 (2022-06-22).
Affected customers
Existing SCC Verification and Validation... Read more
Affected program(s): Validation/Verification
2022/10/20
This bulletin no longer applies. Please refer to Bulletin 2022-24 for the updated dates and information.
Action required
None
Affected customers
SCC Product, Process and Service Certification Program accredited and applicant certification... Read more
Affected program(s): Product, Process and Service Certification (all programs)
2022/10/14
Action required
None.
Affected customers
SCC customers expanding scope of accreditation and applicants seeking accreditation.
Background
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is a signatory member of the International Accreditation Forum,... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/08/29
Action required
All Inspection Bodies (IBs) accredited to conduct inspections under CSA B149.3 shall update their inspection labels.
The Scope of Accreditation (SOA) shall be updated to reflect the latest applicable label design and content accordingly... Read more
Affected program(s): Inspection (all programs)
2022/08/25
Action required
Note the updated Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Advisory Document on Quality Assurance and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and the new position paper on quality improvement tools.
Affected customers
GLP... Read more
Affected program(s): Good Laboratory Practice
2022/07/26
Action required
Effective the date of release of this bulletin, all customers are required to note the changes in the revised Accreditation Program Overview.
Affected customers
All customers and applicants in all SCC accreditation and recognition programs... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/07/19
Action required
Take note that the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is resuming on-site activities, while maintaining a service delivery model that includes both remote and on-site activities.
Effective immediately, SCC plans to conduct the following activities on-... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/06/07
Action required
Effective the date of release of this bulletin, all customers are required to note the changes in the revised Accreditation Program Overview.
Affected customers
All customers and applicants in all SCC accreditation and recognition... Read more
Affected program(s): All accreditation programs
2022/05/20
Action required
Transition to IAF MD9:2022.
Accredited management systems certification bodies that are currently certifying organizations to ISO 13485: 2016 - Medical devices - Quality management systems - Requirements must transition to the new version of IAF... Read more
Affected program(s): Management Systems (all programs)
2022/05/11
Action required
Effective Immediately, all Inspection Bodies (IBs) shall include, in their Scopes of Accreditation (SOA), all Fixed Office Location(s) (FOL) that operate(s) under the Inspection Body. FOL can be located in Canada or abroad.
The IB shall apply for a... Read more
Affected program(s): Inspection (all programs)
2022/04/27
Action required
IAF MD 4:2022 – IAF Mandatory Document for the Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Auditing/Assessment Purposes, Issue 2, Version 3 (PDF) was released on February 1, 2022.
Although using information and communication technology... Read more
Affected program(s):
2022/04/27
Action required
All SCC-accredited Laboratories and Proficiency Testing Providers shall conform to the latest edition of the SCC Requirements and Guidance for the Presentation of Laboratory Scope of Accreditation, v3.
This document covers the presentation of... Read more
Affected program(s): Testing Laboratory (all programs)