Registration authorities and maintenance agencies are the administrative bodies that assign globally unique codes or numbers to organizations and documents based on international standards. 

The bodies that assign codes are known as registration authorities. Bodies that maintain lists of codes, but have no responsibility for their content are called maintenance agencies.  There are both national and international registration authorities and maintenance agencies.

One of the best known examples of this system is International Standard Book Numbering (ISBN). Based on an ISO developed standard, ISBN provides a numbering system for all books, once they have been published. Each book is given a unique code that distinguishes it from all other books. It is the job of a registration authority to assign the numbers and ensure there are no duplications.

SCC, as Canada's member body to the ISO has the responsibility for overseeing the work of the majority of registration and maintenance agencies in Canada.

In some cases, like Issuer Identification Number/Bank Identification Number issuance (see description below), SCC is the registration authority. In other cases like open systems interconnection (OSI), SCC appoints another organization as the registration authority or maintenance authority.

Issuer Identification Number/Bank Identification Number

The role of a unique Issuer Identification Number (IIN) or Bank Identification Number (BIN) is to correctly identify a card issuer in an international interchange environment. Each issuer may have only one IIN/BIN. The IIN/BIN is used to identify the card issuer; it is not used to differentiate between products, services or geographical location.

Canadian Open Systems Interconnection Registration Authority (COSIRA)

The Canadian Open Systems Interconnection Registration Authority (COSIRA), is administered by the Government Telecommunications and Informatics Services (GTIS) sector of Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC). It assigns and registers numeric and alphanumeric name values for organizations that wish to have these names known publicly and registered at the national level for the purpose of open systems communication.  

There are also a couple of independent national registration authorities and maintenance agencies separate from SCC, such as the:

• Canadian Internet Registration Authority,
• Statistics Canada,
• Canada Revenue Agency business number
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
• National Library of Canada