One-stop evaluation of Québec laboratories! Thanks to an agreement made between the BNQ and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), it is possible for Québec laboratories to prove their competencies to their clientele just once. This agreement allows laboratories to acquire accreditation from the SCC without having to undergo multiple evaluations or comply with different series of criteria. Under this agreement, the BNQ’s qualified personnel can evaluate the laboratories seeking SCC accreditation under the SCC's accreditation program. The purpose of this program is to validate the laboratories’ competence in testing. It allows recognition of the laboratories’ compliance with the following standards:
- ISO 15189;
- ISO/IEC 17025;
- ISO 17034;
- ISO/IEC 17043.
The SCC’s accreditation programs are based on international criteria that contribute to the recognition of laboratories both in Canada and abroad. The national and international recognition conferred by the SCC's accreditation program is a substantial value-added benefit, because it can favour free trade of goods and services in the context of market globalization.
Laboratories have varied evaluation expertise under the accreditation program. For example, it covers construction materials, mineral analysis, legal sciences, the agri-food industry, environmental management, biomedicine, electrical and electronic products, and calibration. Multiple testing fields are also covered, including biology, chemistry, physics, mechanics, optics and thermodynamic.
