Safer products and services
Consumers of all types (i.e. parents, employers, workers, athletes) list health and safety as their top consumer concerns. Adherence to standards and third-party conformity assessment gives the public confidence that the products or systems they purchase will not cause harm when used as intended.
Enhanced purchasing power
In addition to increased confidence in the safety and quality of their purchases, consumers benefit from efforts to make standardized products stand out in the marketplace. Manufacturers are responding to consumer demands by making their products more user-friendly, multi-functional, and even less expensive than the competition.
Simplicity and compatibility
Standards provide consumers with greater assurance that the various components they purchase will be easy to use, and that components (i.e. audio-visual equipment, car parts, computer software) will work together.
Improved social and economic well-being
Standardization not only impacts the quality and safety of individual items or services, it also plays an integral role in improving the overall health and safety of Canadians, and of their physical environment.