At a recent meeting in Mexico City, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) signed an updated memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) that pledges to facilitate ongoing cooperation, and recognizes the desirability of the global use of international standards.
The organizations are committed to ensuring that their national standards do not present technical barriers to trade, especially within the framework of the anticipated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) modernization.
In signing the MoU, SCC and ANSI agree to:
-Exchange views on the activity, operations and program of work of various international and regional standardization and conformity assessment organizations, including but not limited to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT), and the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC):
-Share each other's views and, where feasible, work to develop mutually supportive positions relating to those organizations;
-Exchange information and consider joint initiatives in the areas of standards or conformity assessment to support the Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC), as appropriate, to better align Canada- U.S. regulatory systems and boost North American trade and competitiveness generating a range of benefits for manufacturers, retailers and consumers; and
-Encourage timely and effective communication between both parties and designate one individual each as their representative for the MoU, and apprise the other party of their representative changes.
ANSI's vice president of international policy Joseph Tretler and SCC's vice president of standards and international relations Chantal Guay will serve as the designated representatives for the MoU.
ANSI president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia and SCC CEO John Walter signed in Mexico City on March 15 during the ANSI-SCC bilateral meeting.
"The MOU between ANSI and SCC is a great reflection of continued efforts to enhance communication related to areas of standardization and conformity assessment," said Bhatia.