The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) have renewed their bilateral cooperation agreement, which includes extending the review period from three to five years.

The cooperation agreement, first signed in 2016, establishes the framework for collaboration between both organizations when implementing the Protocol on the mutual acceptance of conformity assessment results under the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Through this protocol, recognized conformity assessment bodies in Canada and the EU can certify products to each other’s technical requirements, enabling a faster and more cost-effective pathway to access foreign markets, while upholding consumer confidence.

The agreement enhances cooperation and supports trade diversification, enabling businesses to expand into new markets with confidence that their accredited results will be accepted on both sides of the Atlantic.

The amendment is a strong signal of the deepening relationship between the two organizations and highlights their shared, long-term commitment to advancing accreditation and the use of conformity assessments to make trade easier for Canadian and EU businesses.

Quote from the Standards Council of Canada CEO:
“Renewing this agreement with an extended five-year term reflects our long-term commitment to strengthening Canada–Europe cooperation in accreditation. By working closely with EA, we are reinforcing trust in conformity assessment and supporting Canadian businesses as they reach new markets and grow globally.”
— Chantal Guay, Chief Executive Officer, Standards Council of Canada

Quote from the European co-operation for Accreditation Executive Secretary:
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with SCC for the next five years. Accreditation is fundamental to trusted trade, and this agreement underlines our joint commitment to ensuring reliable conformity assessment results. Together, we will continue to support safe, competitive and open markets for industry and consumers in both regions.”
— Dr. Andreas Steinhorst, Executive Secretary, European co-operation for Accreditation

As SCC and EA look ahead, the strengthened agreement reinforces the importance of trusted partnerships in supporting economic growth, reducing trade barriers and building confidence in accredited results worldwide.