The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is designed to strengthen economic relations and business development between the European Union and Canada. CETA includes a chapter on technical barriers to trade that encourages cooperation in the areas of accreditation and conformity assessment in order to facilitate the free movement of goods between the EU and Canada.
Accordingly, CETA includes a Protocol on the Mutual Acceptance of the Results of Conformity Assessment (the CA Protocol). This Protocol establishes mutual recognition of European and Canadian National Accreditation Bodies and Conformity Assessment Bodies to accept the results of each other’s conformity assessment.
To facilitate this mutual recognition, the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) signed a Bilateral Cooperation Agreement (BCA). The agreement establishes the conditions and procedures for cooperation between EA and SCC for technical support of activities aimed at mutual recognition of National Accreditation Bodies (NAB) and accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies operating in the EU and Canada.
SCC and EA renewed on 29th September 2022 this agreement to strengthen the implementation of the Protocol, in particular for more product sectors.
“We are very pleased to work with the Standards Council of Canada to implement mutual recognition, which is key for the implementation of CETA and the free movement of goods between the EU and Canada,” says Andreas Steinhorst, EA Executive Secretary. “Our renewed partnership builds momentum and an opportunity for us to serve the bilateral trading relationship through accreditation and conformity assessment.”
“The agreement between SCC and EA has allowed us to lay the foundation of cooperation and confidence building for this work and contribute to the economic prosperity and health and safety of Canada and the EU,” says Chantal Guay, CEO of SCC. “We look forward to our ongoing work to implement more product categories under the Protocol.”
About the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA)
EA is the Association of National Accreditation Bodies of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of candidate countries for membership to the EU and EFTA, of Member States of the Council of Europe and of countries identified by the EU in the European Commission’s Neighbourhood Policy as a country of particular importance.
EA is officially recognised by the European Commission according to Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 as the European Accreditation Infrastructure.
EA’s mission is to provide effective and reliable accreditation services through its members, fulfilling at best the needs of the European economy and society. EA members carry out accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 and international standards.
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 standardization 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.