What is the Canadian General
Standards Board (CGSB)?
The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), a part
of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC),
is an accredited member of Canada's National Standards
System, the system for voluntary standards development
and conformity assessment coordinated by the Standards
Council of Canada.
What does the CGSB do?
In business since 1934, CGSB develops National Standards
of Canada in a broad range of subject areas and offers
conformity assessment services, including programs for
certification of suppliers meeting product and services
standards, registration of quality and environmental
management systems conforming to ISO (International
Organization for Standardization) standards, and related
services. These services are provided in support of
Canada's economic, regulatory, procurement, health,
safety and environmental interests.
CGSB promotes the quality of Canadian goods and services
by providing the following standardization services:
- developing standards for a wide range of products
and services, including petroleum products, textiles,
protective clothing, construction products, food and
organic agriculture as well as non-destructive testing,
the transport of dangerous goods and food labelling;
- assessing products and services, certifying that
they meet required standards and authorizing suppliers
to display the CGSB certification mark on their products;
- establishing and providing lists of approved products,
services and suppliers for governmental purchasing
bodies and for the private sector;
- assessing and registering organizations that conform
to quality management systems standards (ISO 9001);
- assessing and registering organizations that conform
to environmental management systems standards (ISO 14001)
and occupational health and safety standards (OHS 18001).
The CGSB's standards development
services are used to:
- facilitate the purchase of goods and services;
- harmonize diverse standards;
- provide a sound quality base for products and services;
- support the CGSB and other conformity assessment
programs
- help Canadians compete internationally;
- support stakeholders' economic, regulatory, health,
safety and environmental interests.
Conformity Assessment Services:
Product Certification:
To get the best value for their purchasing dollar,
public and private sector buyers need to identify suppliers
committed to quality. They need to know that the goods
and services they purchase will perform as expected
every time and meet standards and requirements. Since
1979, the CGSB has delivered independent product certification
and qualification programs.
CGSB may conduct an independent and impartial facility
audit, service verification and/or product testing to
attest compliance with current industry-recognized standards.
This provides objective evidence that products and services
meet nationally recognized standards of quality and
performance.
Once the certification process is complete, the company
name and its qualified products or services are displayed
on the program list on-line. This site, used extensively
by private and public sector buyers, major Canadian
corporations, and consumers, will provide the company
with a level of visibility unavailable in any other
forum.
CGSB certification and qualification programs cover
the following products and services:
- Carpets and underlay
- Construction materials
- Medical products
- Office furniture
- Packaging
- Paints and coatings
- Protective clothing
- Security personnel
- Testing services (Laboratory Acceptance Program)
- Toner cartridges
Management Systems Registration:
The CGSB's Quality Management System (QMS) Registration
Program offers registration of quality systems conforming
to ISO 9001, the standard that has become the most
important international quality standard for many government
and business organizations. With over ten years experience,
the CGSB has registered quality management systems of
over 300 government and private sector organizations
in a broad range of sectors.
The CGSB's Environmental Management System (EMS) Registration
Program was developed to distinguish organizations that
wish to demonstrate, through third-party registration,
their conformance to ISO 14001, the world's most
recognized EMS standard. The program is based on compliance
with environmental legislation and other requirements,
prevention of pollution and a commitment to continual
improvement.
To become registered, an organization must demonstrate
that it has a fully functioning QMS or EMS. The registration
process consists of reviewing the organization's QMS
or EMS documentation, assessing the level of management
commitment to improved quality or environmental performance,
and assessing the implementation of the organization's
management system procedures through an on-site audit
process. After registration, follow-up audits are carried
out, usually on an annual basis. These audits assure
the CGSB and others that the QMS or EMS continues to
conform to international standards.
Recently the CGSB launched two companion management
systems certification programs:
- Occupational Health and Safety Program
(OHS): The CGSB offers certification of OHS management
systems for conformance to OHS 18001; and
- HACCP Advantage Program: In the field of food safety,
the CGSB offers certification to the new standard
of the Government of Ontario.
Standards Development:
The CGSB develops standards which facilitate the purchase
of goods and services, harmonize standards and establish
quality standards for products and services. Standards
make it easier to identify the products and services
required, ensure consistency for similar or comparable
products and services and help organizations compete
internationally.
The CGSB develops standards through a consensus process.
The CGSB administers more than 300 technical committees
whose work is supported by 4,000 volunteers from public
and private sectors, academia, consumer groups and the
general public. Standards products include National
Standards of Canada (NSC), CGSB standards, specifications
and Government of Canada (GC) forms.
CGSB has published over 1,500 standards in Canada
covering products and services in more than 100 subject
areas, including fuel and energy products, non-destructive
testing, office furniture and office supplies, information
handling and storage, health care technology, technology
and public safety, security guard services and training
for at-sea fisheries observers.
What is the difference between
a voluntary and a mandatory standard?
The CGSB is not a regulatory authority. It develops
voluntary standards by consensus among interested groups.
Standards are not mandatory unless required by a third
party, such as a regulator or a purchasing organization.
How is a standard developed?
The Standards Committee:
Membership on a Standards Committee is derived from
three main groups of stakeholders: producers; users;
and general interest. Membership on a Standards Committee
is open to individuals and representatives or organizations
who are technically qualified or otherwise knowledgeable
in the subject area of the committee.
Committee activity begins with an invitation from CGSB
to individuals and organizations calling for members.
The list of potential members is compiled from many
different sources, including various levels of government,
lists of associations, and Internet searches. Replies
to this invitation may contain suggestions for other
potential members. Still other individuals or groups
may indicate their interest by contacting CGSB directly.
A Committee comprises two types of members: voting
members and information (non-voting) members. Committee
voting membership is reasonably balanced so no single
category of interest represented (producer, user, general
interest) can dominate the Committee.
Deliberations:
Deliberations by a Standards Committee begin with a
draft outline or draft preliminary standard on the product
or service. Following discussion among Committee members,
a Draft Standard is developed by CGSB. The Committee
members review this Draft Standard and CGSB compiles
their comments for further discussion at subsequent
Committee meetings. Whenever possible, CGSB uses recognized
international standards as the basis for National Standards
of Canada. Several meetings may be required to develop
a Draft Standard upon which consensus can be achieved.
Approval by Consensus:
Approval of the Draft Standard is achieved by consensus,
which is defined as substantial agreement by those involved
in the preparation of the standard. Consensus implies
much more than a simple majority, but it is not necessarily
unanimity. In addition, an attempt must be made to resolve
all objections to the Draft Standard.
Of the voting members, at least 60 percent must return
their ballots and at least 50 percent of all the Committee's
voting members must be in favour of the Draft Standard.
In addition, comments can be included with the ballots.
Non-voting members may also submit comments for consideration.
Besides managing the standards-development process,
CGSB must ensure that all applicable standards-development
policies and procedures have been followed. Then the
Standards Council of Canada reviews the process before
approving the Draft Standard as a National Standard
of Canada.
For further information please visit CGSB.
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