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About Notice of Approval
What is a Notice of Approval?
Why is an approval required?
Who can apply to obtain an approval?
I hear different expressions when referring to Notices of Approval (NOA). What do they mean?
What is a device?
"Approval Examination", "Initial Verification", "Inspection", "Sealing" -- What do these terms mean?
Is the information contained in a Notice of Approval confidential?
Can a Notice of Approval (NOA) be revoked?
Who are the Technical Coordinator that provide information on the legal requirements applicable to my device?
Is an approval an indication of the total quality of a device?
Some noncompliances have been found in my device, what must I do?
What happens if I am unable to correct the noncompliance within the set time limit?
How much does it cost to obtain an approval?
What is a Notice of Approval?
A "Notice of Approval" (also referred to as a "NOA") is a legal document issued by Measurement Canada to inform the general public that the design, composition, construction and performance of a given model, type or class of a measuring device has been found to meet all of the requirements of either the Weights and Measures Act (and its associated Regulations and Specifications) or the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act (and its associated Regulations and Specifications).
Why is an approval required?
Some of the legislated requirements for measuring instruments cannot practically be verified once the device (i.e., the measuring instrument) has been installed and is ready for use in trade. Consequently, both the Weights and Measures Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act include provisions requiring that a representative sample of any device to be used in trade must first be submitted to the Approval Services Laboratory for examination.
The evaluation and testing of the device in a laboratory setting permits an extensive and intensive examination under controlled conditions, free from the physical, financial and time constraints which may be encountered in a commercial or industrial environment.
Upon the successful completion of these tests and evaluation, the laboratory issues a Notice of Approval to indicate that the device can be used in trade.
Who can apply to obtain an approval?
Anyone. Typically, the applicant for approval is the manufacturer of a device, the importer or the user.
Unlike a patent (which is issued to the inventor), a NOA is issued as a public notice in relation to the device itself, not the applicant.
I hear different expressions when referring to Notices of Approval (NOA). What do they mean?
A "Notice of Approval" (also referred to as a "Full Approval") is issued when there are no time limitations involved. The Notice of Approval may include conditions of use or installation.
A "Conditional Notice of Approval" (previously called Temporary Approval) is an NOA with an expiry date, after which the device is no longer approved. A Conditional Notice of Approval may contain additional conditions limiting the number of devices to be installed, their location, capacity, etc. Conditional NOAs allow a device to be installed and used in trade during its evaluation period if it is physically too large, its capacity too great or if its performance is intrinsically linked to installation conditions which cannot be duplicated or simulated in the laboratory.
A "Revision" to a Notice of Approval may be issued in order to effect substantial and significant changes to a NOA.
It is used to:
- add to the list of approved models;
- allow specific changes to the design, composition, construction, features and characteristics of the device; or
- correct significant mistakes that may inadvertently have found their way into a NOA.
A "Mutual Recognition Approval" applies to devices included in the scope of a joint Canada/U.S. program introduced in 1994, known as the Canada-US Mutual Recognition of Type Evaluation Program. Under this program, a manufacturer may submit an application for approval in only one of the two countries and, based on the evaluation and test results obtained, receive approvals from both countries. (In the US, the Notice of Approval is called a "Certificate of Conformance"). Although the scope may change over time, mutual recognition approval is currently limited to some types of weighing devices.
A Modification Approval Letter or "MAL" is issued to recognize minor changes to a device; changes which do not warrant the time and expense required to prepare and distribute a "Revision" to a NOA.
What is a device?
"Device" is a term used by Measurement Canada when referring to a measuring instrument (for example a scale, a fuel dispenser, an electricity or natural gas meter, or an accessory which is to be used in conjunction with a measuring instrument). Devices must meet the requirements of either the Weights and Measures Act or the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.
"Approval Examination", "Initial Verification", "Inspection", "Sealing" -- What do these terms mean?
An "Approval Examination" is the process of testing the performance and examining the metrological features of a sample of a new or newly modified model of a measuring instrument. This is done before the model is mass produced and sold for use in the marketplace. With a few exceptions, the "Approval Examination" is normally performed in a laboratory setting.
An "Initial Verification" is the inspection which occurs when a measuring instrument is first installed, and prior to its first use in trade. For certain types of devices, this "Initial Verification" may take place at the factory after manufacturing.
An "Inspection" refers to any metrological verification of a measuring device which is done after the "Initial Verification".
"Sealing" is the action of securing the adjustments and configuration of a measuring device in order to detect or prevent unauthorized changes to the device. Traditionally, this is done by preventing access to the interior of the measuring instrument using a suitably placed wire and lead seal. Nowadays, some electronic measuring instruments incorporate an approved means of electronically detecting and recording changes to configuration as part of the physical seal.
Initial verification, inspection and sealing are performed either by Measurement Canada inspectors or by private organizations accredited to perform these services on behalf of Measurement Canada.
Is the information contained in a Notice of Approval confidential?
No. Notices of Approval are public documents available to anyone on demand. However, the technical information submitted to support the application is held in confidence. See the index of existing NOAs issued by Measurement Canada.
Can a Notice of Approval (NOA) be revoked?
Yes. It can be revoked if:
- it is found that, at the time of approval, the applicant withheld crucial information which would have otherwise prevented the issuance of a NOA;
- the applicant does not pay the amount owed for approval services rendered; or
- the type or model manufactured is significantly different from the sample submitted for approval.
Is an approval an indication of the total quality of a device?
No. The Approval Services Laboratory is concerned strictly with measurement accuracy and minimizing opportunities for incorrect transactions. The laboratory does not normally investigate safety or durability considerations.
Some noncompliances have been found in my device, what must I do?
The applicant must correct the noncompliances and resubmit the device within the time frame specified in the notice of noncompliance.
What happens if I am unable to correct the noncompliance within the set time limit?
The applicant will be granted an extension if so requested.
If the noncompliance has not been corrected by the end of the set time frame and an extension has not been requested, the approval project will be closed (i.e., administratively, the file is closed and tagged as being inactive). The sample will be returned to the applicant along with an invoice to cover the cost of approval work performed up to that point.
Once closed, an approval project is no longer in the "queue" or waiting line of projects for processing. This is the only consequence resulting from the closure of an approval project.
An approval project can be reactivated at any time at the convenience of the applicant.
How much does it cost to obtain an approval?
Approval services are charged for on the basis of time spent processing an application. The hourly fee for devices evaluated under the Weights and Measures Act is $60.00, and $50.00 for a device evaluated under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.
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