For all customers of SCC’s Inspection Body Accreditation Program,

As you are aware, SCC has made significant changes to its Quality Management System and its organizational structure over the past couple of years, and today we are informing you of more changes. One of the goals of this modernization plan has been to bring consistency across all SCC conformity assessment programs. Now that all programs are using the same process for their assessments, it is time to create a new document that will replace the existing handbook CAN-Ps. This new document is called the Accreditation Program Overview, and it is available at https://www.scc.ca/en/about-scc/publications/criteria-and-procedures/inspection-bodies

The main body of the document outlines the entire accreditation process from start to finish. As well, it includes information on complaints, withdrawals, suspensions, and appeals, as the Accreditation Program Overview will also replace CAN-P-15. At the end of the document are ten appendices, one for each of our programs, which go into more program-specific detail on topics such as witness audits, accreditation cycles, and classification of nonconformities.

With the publication of the Accreditation Program Overview, the following CAN-Ps and handbook become obsolete and will not be used anymore in the IBAP program:

• CAN-P-15:2014 - Policy for the Suspension and Withdrawal of Accreditation and the Resolution of Complaints and Appeals
• Accreditation Programs: Application and Accreditation Maintenance Procedures for Inspection Bodies - Companion Handbook to CAN-P-8

The Accreditation Program Overview is effective immediately.

SCC has also updated its existing program requirement CAN-P documents to improve their clarity and consistency. For Inspection Bodies, the existing requirements document CAN-P-1608 has been re-aligned to the main standard (ISO/IEC 17020) so that, as much as possible, each additional Canadian requirement corresponds with a clause in the main standard. The new document, Requirements and Guidance – Accreditation of Inspection Bodies, is available now here https://www.scc.ca/en/about-scc/publications/criteria-and-procedures/inspection-bodies. As there are no substantial changes to the requirements themselves, the document is in effect immediately.

If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Milito, Director, Accreditation Services