The Standards Development Process
at the Canadian General Standards Board
The Standards Council of Canada defines standards as "publications
that establish accepted practices, technical requirements and terminologies
for products and services."
The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has published over
1,600 standards in Canada -- in English and in French -- covering
a wide range of products and services including petroleum, protective
clothing, the transport of dangerous goods and organic agriculture.
CGSB administers the standards-development process using balanced
committees to arrive at voluntary consensus standards.
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 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.1
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% must return their ballots and
at least 50% 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.
More about CGSB
An organization within the federal department of Public Works and
Government Services Canada, CGSB offers a wide range of standardization
and conformity assessment services to meet client needs and support
the Government of Canada's economic, trade, regulatory, procurement,
environmental, health and safety, and quality interests.
1 Sometimes the standards-development
process is conducted through an electronic
discussion area called SiteScape Forum where a draft document
may be posted for review and comment by Committee members.
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