• What is the role of the SSC compared to that of other standards organizations that I'm familiar with?
• What's the difference between the SCC and government regulators such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada and Transport Canada?

What is the role of the SSC compared to that of some other standards organizations that I'm familiar with?

The Standards Council of Canada accredits organizations in Canada as standards development organizations, conformity assessment bodies, or both. Conformity assessment is the verification that standards are being applied properly.

Consumers often hear a lot about organizations that both develop standards for consumer products and services as well as ensure standards related to them are followed. The public seldom hears about the Standards Council itself, or other standards organizations with low public visibility.

For example, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is an organization well-known by consumers. It is accredited by the Standards Council as a standards development organization and a conformity assessment body. It may therefore develop standards and verify that standards are being followed within the scope of the Standards Council accreditation.

The Standards Council coordinates the National Standards System, which comprises organizations and individuals involved in voluntary standards development, promotion and implementation in Canada. Stakeholders within the National Standards System include business and industry, government, and consumers.

What's the difference between the SCC and government regulators such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, and Transport Canada?

The main difference between Standards Council and government regulators is that the Standards Council promotes the use of voluntary standards, whereas government regulators use mandatory regulations that require others to follow a set of obligations.

The voluntary standards promoted by Standards Council are developed through consensus among stakeholders in a particular field. Stakeholders may include industry, government, and the public.

One example of a voluntary standard in action is the plug. Electronics manufacturers agree to use the same kind of plug on their equipment. This way, no matter what stereo you buy, the plug will fit in the outlet and you can listen to your music.

An example of a mandatory regulation would be the regulation requiring a nutritional information label on packaged food. The label is there because of a regulation from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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