./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99.156
9 April 1999
(99-1431)
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 Radiocommunication Act (pages 760-762;  English
and French)
6. Description of content:  Notice No. SMSE -003-99 - Interim Procedure for the Designation
of Testing Laboratories by Industry Canada.
Notice is hereby given that Industry Canada is releasing the Interim Procedure for
the Designation of Testing Laboratories by Industry Canada for public comment.
Designation is the process by which Industry Canada accepts an accredited testinglaboratory as competent to test to Canadian or foreign requirements.  This Interim
Procedure, which comes into effect immediately, is required to enable designation by
Industry Canada of Canadian testing laboratories to Canadian and European Union (EU)
requirements.  It will allow Canadian testing la boratories seeking approval to test to the
EU's requirements of the Canada-EU multi-sector Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)signed 14 May 1998, to be designated by Industry Canada and subsequently recognized by
the EU.  This Interim Procedure is applicable to the Telecommunications and
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) sectoral annexes of that MRA.  The existing
"Procedure for the Approval of Testing Facili ties by Industry Canada in Accordance with
the Provision of the Terminal Attachment Program" for Canadian requirements will remain
in effect until it is amended, replaced, or repealed.
During the current Canada-EU MRA "Transition Period" which is intended to build
confidence on both sides, each party has agreed to accept test reports from the exporting
party's designated testing laboratories that have  been approved by the exporting party to the
importing party's technical and legislative requirements.
In order to submit test reports, a testing laboratory must be designated by Industry
Canada for a specific scope of competence against Canadian or European requirements.  ForEU requirements, compliance with the requirements of the MRA itself, as well as any rules
or procedures established by the joint Canada-EU Committee overseeing the MRA is
required.G/TBT/Notif.99.156
Page 2
6. Description of content (cont'd):  To be designated by using the interim designation
procedure for Canadian or EU requirements, a testing laboratory must first have been
accredited for a specific scope of competence by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
with the agreement of the Department, in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 25:  1990,
General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories.Accreditation is the process by which an aut horitative body, such as the SCC, gives formal
recognition that a testing laboratory is competent to carry out testing.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:
Facilitate trade
8. Relevant documents:  Canada Gazette, Part I, 20 March 1999
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } Not stated
10. Final date for comments:  19 May 1999
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body:           