The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Instituto de Normas Técnicas de Costa Rica (INTECO) have renewed their cooperation arrangement to advance international standards development and conformity assessment. This milestone marks a new chapter in SCC and INTECO’s history of collaboration. 

“Standards are a critical driver of economic prosperity,” says Chantal Guay, CEO of SCC. “Our relationship has created lasting impacts in the facilitation of trade and capacity building. As a leader on the global stage, SCC is delighted to continue working closely with INTECO to better harmonize cross-border requirements and unlock the potential of emerging markets in the years to come.” 

SCC and INTECO entered into a cooperation arrangement in 2016. Their relationship stretches back several years before the first arrangement was signed. This renewal strengthens their work in promoting the value and benefits of standardization. 

“As the national standards body of Costa Rica, INTECO is a key player in advancing standardization across Central America and the Caribbean,” says Mauricio Céspedes Mirabelli, Executive Director of INTECO. “Through our work with SCC, we are able to seize new opportunities to improve efficiencies in the standardization world. The efficiencies brought about through standards and conformity assessments enable regional businesses and industry regulators achieve a competitive advantage.” 

Under the renewed arrangement, both national standards bodies will cooperate on issues of mutual interests. This includes organizing bilateral activities, enhancing each other’s knowledge of the Costa Rican and Canadian standardization systems, and facilitating arrangements for INTECO to obtain third-party assurance that their standards development process complies with SCC’s attestation requirements.  

The benefits of standards and conformity assessment are everywhere. This renewed collaboration strengthens Canada and Costa Rica’s ability to predict, respond and adapt to today’s rapidly changing environment.  

About the Standards Council of Canada

Established in 1970 as a federal Crown corporation, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is Canada’s voice on standards and accreditation on the national and international stage. SCC works closely with a vast network of partners to promote the development of effective and efficient standards that protect the health, safety and well-being of Canadians while helping businesses prosper. As Canada’s leading accreditation organization, SCC creates market confidence at home and abroad by ensuring that conformity assessment bodies meet the highest national and international standards. SCC advances Canada’s interest on the international scene as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) by connecting thousands of people to global networks and resources, opening a world of possibilities for Canadians and businesses.

About the Instituto de Normas Técnicas de Costa Rica

The Instituto de Normas Técnicas de Costa Rica (INTECO) is an independent association that was constituted in 1987. It is a private, non-profit body with representatives from the public and private sectors of the Costa Rican economy. INTECO seeks to consistently improve standards-related activities with a view to promoting the quality of goods and services manufactured, produced or offered for sale within the country. The Government of the Republic recognizes INTECO as the National Standards Body. INTECO provides training and certification services for management systems, verification and inventory of greenhouse gases and product certification.