Canadian Experience with MRA Implementation

Canada currently participates in both Phases of the Inter-American Mutual Recognition Agreement (CITEL MRA). The Regulatory Authority in Canada is Industry Canada (IC), and the Accreditation Authority is the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The scope of Canada’s participation is terminal equipment (i.e. equipment that is wired-connected to the public switched network) and radio equipment.

The first step that Canada had to take in the implementation of the MRA was to obtain the necessary regulatory authority: the Radio and Telecom Regulations were amended in 2001 to allow the use of private conformity assessment bodies (CABs). Secondly, Canada had to develop procedures for the designation and recognition of CABs, as well as CAB training workshops to ensure a proper transfer of knowledge.

This update focuses on Phase II of the MRA, that is, the recognition of certification bodies (CBs) and mutual acceptance of equipment certificates issued by those CBs. In Canada’s case, the technical regulations covered by Phase II of the MRA are: Radio Standards Specifications (RSS) and Broadcasting Equipment Technical Standards (BETS) in the Category I Equipment list.

Canada has developed the following procedures for Phase II of the MRA:

• REC-CB: Procedure for the Recognition of Foreign Certification Bodies by Industry Canada;

• CB-02: Recognition Criteria and Administrative & Operational Requirements applicable to Certification Bodies;

• CB-03: Requirements for the Certification of Radio Equipment to Industry Canada’s Specifications. 

These procedures are available at the following website:

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf06138e.html

REC-CB specifies the procedures Canada would like other Designating Authorities to use when submitting a designation to Industry Canada. A CB designation should include the following documents:

• covering letter;

• signed application (Appendix I of REC-CB);

• copy of the certificate of accreditation to ISO/IEC Guide 65;

• copy of the certificate of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025;

• copy of certification procedures (based on CB-03), and

• copy of auditing procedures.

Upon the receipt of a designation, IC verifies that the information provided is complete, issues a letter of recognition to the Designating Authority, and adds the new CB to the list of recognized CBs.

CB-02 contains all the requirements that prospect CBs must meet. CBs are required to:

1. have at least one permanent location in the MRA partner territory;

2. develop their own certification and audit procedures; 

3. meet the requirements of the assessment guidance in Appendix I of CB-02;

4. be accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 65 to at least one of two scopes:

a)   Radio - All Radio Standards Specifications (RSS) in the Category I Equipment Standards List;

b)  Broadcasting - All Broadcasting Equipment Technical Standards (BETS) in the Category I Equipment Standards List, and

5. maintain technical competence and expertise by having an in-house testing laboratory, accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, or by having a contractual arrangement with a recognized testing laboratory.

Once recognition is granted, CBs have to maintain certain operational and administrative requirements. These requirements include:

1. publishing and maintaining their certification procedures;

2. updating their scope of recognition to include new RSS or BETS within one year of publication;

3. monitoring the products they certify;

4. addressing complaints; and

5. maintaining a list of products certified and certification files for a period of ten years.

CB-02 also specifies that CBs should not:

• assign company numbers (this is done by Industry Canada);

• waive any applicable requirements;

• subcontract the certification function, or

• advertise outside their scope of recognition.

Industry Canada is in the process of establishing a National Equipment Compliance and Enforcement Centre (NECEC) to promote equipment compliance, perform market surveillance of radio and terminal equipment at the national level, and coordinate import monitoring.

In summary, Canada has gained some valuable experience implementing the MRA: regulations had to be changed, designation and recognition procedures had to be developed and there are others being developed for the on-going administration of MRA transactions; there were unforeseen delays that required cooperation from our partners. But in the end, the MRA is working well, and has been a worthwhile experience for Canada. 

Efrain Guevara
Manager, Interconection Standards,
Telecommunications Engineering and Certification
Industry Canada