Standards benefit consumers, businesses, regulators and the Canadian economy.
Standards make everyday life work for Canadians. For businesses, they open a world of possibilities. For regulators, they help promote competitive businesses and the safety of Canadians.
Standards ensure the products, services and systems we all depend on are safe, reliable and perform the way they are meant to perform.
Standards touch nearly every aspect of our lives. Without standards, we couldn’t trust that the water we drink is clean, the toys our children play with are safe, and so much more.
Benefits for consumers
Standards increase consumers’ confidence and improve their quality of life.
Safer products and services
When companies follow standards and third parties check that standards are being met, it gives the public confidence. It means consumers know the products and services they use meet certain safety, measurement and quality levels, and they will not cause harm when used as intended.
Enhanced purchasing power
Consumers benefit from efforts to make standardized products stand out in the marketplace. Manufacturers respond to consumer demands by making their products more user-friendly, multi-functional and less expensive than the competition.
Improved simplicity and compatibility
Consumers’ participation in standards development helps manufacturers make their products easier to use and multi-functional. Standards give greater assurance about components that consumers purchase, like audio-visual equipment, car parts and computer software.
Improved social and economic well-being
Standardization helps improve the health and safety of Canadians, and enhance everyone’s physical environment.
Benefits for businesses and the economy
Standards don’t just keep Canadians safe. They also fuel the Canadian economy
Foster innovation
Standards create a common language for new concepts and technologies. They help companies get their products to market faster by providing a framework for drawing up patents. Standards accelerate an organization’s success by providing credibility, attracting investment and stimulating research and development.
Give companies a competitive advantage
Standards help companies compete on a level playing field. A product or service that conforms to a standard represents a trusted symbol of safety, dependability and interoperability.
Standards help companies improve the quality and safety of products, services and systems. They also help to reduce compliance costs, cut red tape and speed up time to market.
Reduce barriers to trade
Standards remove unnecessary barriers to international trade, an important feature for Canadian businesses. Harmonized standards make market access easier by reducing compliance costs and time to market. Many international trade agreements require signatories to use international standards in their technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Using harmonized standards allows Canadian businesses to sell their products and services around the globe. This increases opportunities for growth and fuels our economy.
Save time and money
Standards help businesses reduce costs, enhance performance and boost productivity. Standards deliver internal business improvements, cost savings in regulatory compliance and more efficient productivity.
Manage business risk
Certification to a standard proves that your product or service meets current national and international standards. Standards set out clear specifications and help mitigate legal risk to a business when you bring a service, product or process to market.
Benefits for regulators
Standards help governments oversee a regulatory environment that helps Canadian businesses to be competitive and helps keep Canadians safe.
Ensure a reliable and credible development process
The standards development process is well established and trusted by Canadians. It meets many requirements of Canada’s regulatory processes. Standards development organizations (SDOs) that are accredited by SCC work together to reach consensus with affected parties. Regulators are assured that the resulting standards and/or regulations reflect the diverse needs of Canadians.
Satisfy trade requirements
When National Standards of Canada developed by an SCC-accredited SDO are referenced in regulation, businesses can be confident that these will not introduce unnecessary barriers to trade. SCC’s accreditation procedures require SDOs to use the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade Code of Good Practice for standards development. This global practice helps reduce trade barriers and enhance the safety and quality of products and services.
Can be adapted in a constantly changing world
The needs of clients change, and new technologies emerge. All standards have a built-in review cycle that ensures they remain relevant to the organizations and individuals they impact. This means that standards referenced in regulations remain current and avoid extra costs to the body responsible for reviewing and revising.
Are cost-effective
Referencing existing standards can save time and money when regulations and codes are drafted. Accredited conformity assessment services are publicly trusted and efficient, and in many cases are cheaper than inspection or verification by the government. Regulators rely on accredited conformity assessment bodies for other certification services.
Foster economic growth and competitiveness
By decreasing the burden of regulatory compliance on industry, governments can contribute to increased economic growth and competitiveness. In many cases, when a regulator references an existing standard, businesses are already voluntarily meeting the requirements.
Explore more
Find and buy standards
Browse our database to search for published National Standards of Canada and international standards. You can also search for Other Recognized Documents. Find out where to buy the standards you need.
Get involved in standards development
By participating in standardization and shaping the standards of tomorrow, you can become a global leader at the very forefront of your industry, while helping to advance the health, safety and economic well-being of all Canadians.
Explore our training courses
Find out more about the value of standardization and how standards are developed and used in our series of orientation modules.