The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is the coordinating body of Canada's National Standards System, a coalition of independent, autonomous organizations working towards the further development and improvement of voluntary standardization in the national interest. SCC accredits organizations that develop standards in Canada, verifying that these organizations have the competence necessary to carry out a specific function. SCC's accreditation programs are based on internationally recognized guides and standards.

SCC also approves National Standards of Canada, a designation that indicates a standard is the official Canadian standard on a particular subject. National Standards of Canada may be developed in Canada or adopted, with or without changes, from international standards. Internationally, SCC manages Canada's participation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), two of the world's largest voluntary standardization bodies, and in regional standards organizations. It also encourages the adoption and application of international standards in Canada.

The principal objects of the SCC are to foster and promote voluntary standardization as a means of advancing the national economy, benefiting the health, safety, and welfare of the public, assisting and protecting the consumer, facilitating domestic and international trade, and furthering international cooperation in the field of standards. A National Standard of Canada (NSC) is a standard prepared or reviewed by an accredited Standards Development Organization (SDO) and approved by the SCC according to the requirements of CAN-P-2. Approval does not refer to the technical content of the standard; this remains the continuing responsibility of the SDO. An NSC reflects a consensus of a number of capable individuals whose collective interests provide, to the greatest practicable extent, a balance of representation of general interests, producers, regulators, users (including consumers), and others with relevant interests, as may be appropriate to the subject in hand. It normally is a standard which is capable of making a significant and timely contribution to the national interest.

The responsibility for approving standards as National Standards of Canada rests with the Standards Council of Canada located at 270 Albert Street, Suite 200 Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6N7 Canada. www.scc.ca