SCC and UKAS strengthen relations for Canada-UK accreditation systems

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) have strengthened our cooperation arrangement, marking a new chapter in SCC and UKAS’s history of collaboration. The renewed agreement signals a refocus on Canada-UK relations within the context of accreditation and conformity assessments, which can play a key role in facilitating trade between Canada and the UK.

“Accreditation is a critical driver of economic prosperity,” says Chantal Guay, CEO of SCC. “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with UKAS and are excited that our organizations will continue working closely to further strengthen our relationship and the links between our respective accreditation systems.  Accreditation helps to underpin the credibility, safety, and performance of goods and services. High-quality accreditation services create market confidence at home and internationally by helping conformity assessment bodies conform to national and international standards.”

Matt Gantley, UKAS CEO also welcomes this development: “UKAS is very pleased to strengthen our ties with SCC in this important cooperation arrangement, which places emphasis on quality and technical competence – providing confidence in international trade between our two nations. We look forward to working together to provide accreditation which supports the products and services we all rely upon.”

Through this partnership, both organizations will strive to:

• support the strengthening of Canada-UK trade through accreditation and conformity assessments;
• undertake activities to promote awareness and enhance understanding of the other countries’ accreditation system, with the aim of improving market access and boosting Canada-UK trade and competitiveness;
• share resources and best practices, exchange views, and collaborate within international and regional accreditation organizations, such as the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the lnternational Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC)

About the Standards Council of Canada

Established in 1970 as a federal Crown corporation, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is Canada’s voice on standards and accreditation on the national and international stage. SCC works closely with a vast network of partners to promote the development of effective and efficient standards that protect the health, safety and well-being of Canadians while helping businesses prosper. As Canada’s leading accreditation organization, SCC creates market confidence at home and abroad by ensuring that conformity assessment bodies meet the highest national and international standards. SCC advances Canada’s interest on the international scene as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) by connecting thousands of people to global networks and resources, opening a world of possibilities for Canadians and businesses.

About the United Kingdom Accreditation Service

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom. UKAS is recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide conformity assessment activities including certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.

UKAS is a leading partner in the United Kingdom Quality Infrastructure (UKQI) and provides the highest national level of oversight for quality, safety, health and consumer protection across all sectors of the economy.  UKAS works with government departments, the devolved administrations, agencies, regulators, professional bodies and trade associations, providing an impartial assessment that the requisite standards or regulations have been met.