./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.265
4 June 1999
(99-2265)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Industry
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:   National enquiry point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [     ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [ X  ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Testing laboratories
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed Amendment
to the Telecommunications Act and the Radiocommunications Act (pages 1563-1564,
English and French)
6. Description of content:   Notice No. SMSE-008-99 - Procedures for the Designation and
Accreditation of Testing Laboratories by Industry Canada.
Notice is hereby given that Industry Canada is releasing the "Procedure for the
Designation of Testing Laboratories by Industry Canada and the Procedure for the
Accreditation of Testing Laboratories by Industry Canada".  Designation is the process bywhich Industry Canada accepts an accredited testing laboratory as competent to test to
Canadian or foreign requirements.  Accreditation is the procedure by which an authoritative
body gives formal recognition that a testing laboratory or person is competent to carry out
specific testing.
These two procedures will become effective on 1 June 1999.  At that time, the
existing procedure, entitled "Procedure for the Approval of Testing Facilities by IndustryCanada in Accordance with the Provision of the Terminal Attachment Program" and
"Interim Procedure for the Designation of Testing Laboratories by Industry Canada" will be
revoked.  These new procedures are required to enable designation and accreditation by
Industry Canada of Canadian testing laboratories to Canadian and foreign requirements.
Under the Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) Canada has with the European Union,the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies and Switzerland, the Canadian
testing laboratories designated and accredited by Industry Canada which use these
procedures will be able to seek recognition from these countries to test to their
requirements.  These procedures are applicable to the telecommunications equipment, radio
equipment and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) sectoral annexes of these MRAs.G/TBT/Notif.99.265
Page 2
6. Description of content (cont'd):  In order to submit test reports to Industry Canada or a
foreign authority, a Canadian testing laboratory must first be accredited for a specific scope
of competence by the Standards Council of  Canada (SCC) or by Industry Canada in
accordance with "ISO/IEC Guide 25:  1990, General requirements for the competence of
calibration and testing laboratories".  Subsequent designation by Industry Canada completesthe process.  Foreign testing laboratories which by agreement require Canadian approval
will also be subject to these procedures.
Canadian and foreign testing laboratories that have already been approved under the
revoked approval procedure to perform compliance testing to Canadian requirements as of
1 June 1999, will retain their approval status until 1 June 2000.  After this date, these testing
laboratories will be required to be accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 25 and
designated by Industry Canada.  During the period from 1 June 1999, to 1 June 2000, new
or existing testing laboratories wishing to expand the scope of their current approval must
apply for accreditation and designation for both the current and expanded scope by using
the new procedures, except as otherwise specified in an MRA.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Facilitate trade
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette, Part I, 29 May 1999
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Not stated
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 June 1999 for new applicants;  1 June 2000 for
laboratories already accredited by Industry Canada.
10. Final date for comments:   28 July 1999
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body: