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PASC XXX – COPANT 2007Joint COPANT-PASC MeetingApril 25, 2007

COPANT – An OveriewPeter Clark, President

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AgendaAgenda

About COPANT The COPANT Strategic Plan Challenges and Successes

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About COPANTAbout COPANT

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What is COPANTWhat is COPANT

private not-for-profit association that promotes standardization and related activities in its member countries

Executive Secretariat : Caracas, Venezuela, since 1989 Legal entity in Buenos Aires, Argentina 27 active members from North, Central, South America & Caribbean Its origin – dates back to 1947

– 1947 – Meeting of UPADI in Quitandinhas - The technical integration required standards at Panamerican level

– 1956 – creation of Pan American Committee of Technical Standards (CPANT) - meeting Río de Janeiro

– 1961 – working committee to create - meeting in Montevideo– 1964 – creation of COPANT - meeting in New York

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Principal ObjectivePrincipal Objective

To promote the development of technical standardization and related activities in its member countries

with the aim of promoting their commercial, industrial, scientific and technological development

in benefit of the economic and commercial integration and the exchange of goods and services,

while facilitating cooperation in the intellectual, scientific, economic and social spheres

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COPANT – What it DoesCOPANT – What it Does

Develops standards Promotes coordination Promotes use of international standards Coordinating body Information Exchange Training Certification system development Harmonization of Policies with International

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COPANT- COPANT- Management & AdministrationManagement & Administration

AssemblyPresident, Vice-President, Treasurer, Executive Secretary & accredited delegates - meets ordinarily once a year

Board of DirectorsPresident, Vice-President, Treasurer, Executive Secretary & a Director from each of the 8 standards bodies (active members) or duly accredited representatives – meets twice a year.

Executive SecretariatRepresented by Executive Secretary - serves according to the provisions of the currently valid Statutes and Rules of Procedure, and to the resolutions adopted by the Assembly and the Board of Directors.

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COPANT Authorities COPANT Authorities 2007-20092007-2009

President - Peter Clark, Canada

Vice-president - Pablo Benia, Uruguay

Treasurer - Mario Wittner, Argentina

Executive Secretary - Manuel Díaz Portocarrero

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Membership CategoriesMembership Categories

Active members national standards bodies of American countries that have been

recognized by the Assembly as representative of their nations.

Adherent members International, regional and sub-regional standards bodies; National standards bodies of non-American countries; Scientific, technical, commercial, industrial, agricultural and

cattle-related entities.

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Active Members - 27Active Members - 27

IRAM • Argentina BNSI • Barbados IBNORCA • Bolivia ABNT • Brazil SCC • Canada ICONTEC • Colombia INTECO • Costa Rica NC • Cuba INN • Chile INEN • Ecuador CONACYT • El Salvador ANSI • United States GDBS • Grenada

Guatemala • COGUANOR Guyana • GNBS Honduras • COHCIT Jamaica • JBS Mexico • DGN Nicaragua • MIFIC Panama • COPANIT Paraguay • INTN Peru • INDECOPI Dominican Republic • DIGENOR Saint Lucia - SLBS Trinidad and Tobago • TTBS Uruguay • UNIT Venezuela • FONDONORMA

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Adherent Members - 6Adherent Members - 6

Spain - AENOR France - AFNOR Italy - UNI Portugal - IPQ Cooperación Interamericana de Acreditación - IAAC South Africa - SABS

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Technical BodiesTechnical Bodies

Technical Standardization Committees

Management Commissions

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Technical CommitteesTechnical Committees

CT 112: Conformity Assessment CT 120: Quality Management CT 125: Milk and Dairy Products CT 130: Fish and Fishing Products CT 142: Metrology CT 143: Accesibility of Individuals to the Physical Environment CT 146: Occupational Safety and Improvement of Work

Environment and Conditions CT 148: Environment CT 149: Tourism Services CT 150: Terminology CT 151: Electrotechnical CT 152: Energy Efficiency

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Management CommissionsManagement Commissions

Name Coordinator

Technical Management Commission (TMC) – ABNT

ABNT

Policy Management Commission (PMC) ICONTEC – not active

Informatics Management Commission (IMC) ANSI – not active

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Cooperation AgreementsCooperation Agreements

International Standardization Bodies : ISO, IEC Regional Integration Bodies: ALADI, CAN (before JUNAC) / RAN Sectorial Regional Associations: MERCOSUR (AMN), CONSEJO

DE NORMAS DE CARICOM (today CROSQ)

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NAFTANAFTA

MERCOCENMERCOCEN

CARICOMCARICOM

COMUNIDAD COMUNIDAD ANDINAANDINA

MERCOSUR MERCOSUR

COPANTCOPANTINTEGRATION OF FREE TRADE AREASINTEGRATION OF FREE TRADE AREAS

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ISO and IEC MembershipISO and IEC Membership

ISO– Signed cooperation agreement in 1994– All COPANT members are ISO members

IEC– Signed cooperation agreement in 1994– Full members (5): ABNT (Brazil), ANSI (USA), DGN (Mexico), SCC

(Canadá), IRAM (Argentina)– Associate members (1) ICONTEC – Colombia; voting on NC (Cuba)– Affiliate Members (17)

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The COPANT Strategic PlanThe COPANT Strategic Plan

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COPANT Strategic PlanCOPANT Strategic Plan2005-2009 2005-2009

MissionCOPANT supports facilitation of global trade, improvement of quality, safety, security, environmental and

consumer protection, as well as the rational use of natural resources,

global dissemination of technologies and good practices, all of which contribute to economic and social progress.

through the network and collaboration of its national member bodies, international liaisons, regional cooperation and partner organizations, COPANT develops regional COPANT standards, whenever a need exists, and constitutes the leading platform in the Americas for the support of globally and market relevant international standards development and conformity assessment activities.

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COPANT Strategic PlanCOPANT Strategic Plan2005-2009 2005-2009

VisionCOPANT's leadership and support of the processes of regional

standardization and harmonization in the Americas, based upon the principles of transparency and consensus, enable it to efficiently articulate a coherent regional voice toward the fulfilment of its mission and to be recognized and relied upon by industry, public authorities, consumers and other stakeholders. In this way, COPANT contributes to the competitiveness of the region, the well-being of its citizens, and a more efficient and sustainable world economy

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COPANT Strategic PlanCOPANT Strategic Plan2005-2009 2005-2009

Strategic ObjectivesThe strategic objectives of COPANT are the following:

1. Improve COPANT’s leadership as the driving force for the coordination and harmonization of the regional standardization processes and for ensuring the development and use of COPANT standards

2. Foster COPANT member participation in international standardization

3. Prioritize human resource training

4. Make efforts to improve the infrastructure of COPANT member organizations, especially for those that are less developed

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COPANT Strategic PlanCOPANT Strategic Plan2005-2009 2005-2009

Strategic Objectives - continued

5. Promote conformity assessment activities in the region.

6. Achieve better visibility for COPANT

7. To be considered the principal body for reference in the Americas in the areas of Standardization and Conformity Assessment

8. To improve the value of COPANT to its members and increase their participation in COPANT activities

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Some Challenges AheadSome Challenges Ahead

Harmonizing regional standards to increase use of international standards

Enhancing COPANT participation in ISO and IEC Communicating and effectively engaging all members, especially

those with limited resources.

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SuccessesSuccesses

COPANT Tag Groups: Social Responsibility, TC 207, TC 176, CASCO

Pilot Project on Electrical Certification - established April 1999 in Cartagena, Colombia – leader is IRAM

On-going training initiatives Budgets now allow simultaneous translation for Board of

Directors meetings in three languages (lower burden on host) More streamlined reporting, and minutes COPANT statutes recently revised

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Thank youThank youpclark@scc.capclark@scc.ca

For more information, visit For more information, visit www.copant.orgwww.copant.org