CSA Directives and guidelines governing...

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CSA-SDP-2.1-14 CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization, Part 1: Participants and organizational structure

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CSA-SDP-2.1-14

CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization, Part 1: Participants and organizational structure

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CSA-SDP-2.1-14September 2014

Title: CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization, Part 1: Participants and organizational structure

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CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization, Part 1:

Participants and organizational structure

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ContentsPreface 5

0 Introduction 60.1 Procedural documentation 60.2 Proposals for change to this Part of the CSA Directives and guidelines 6

1 Scope 61.3 Terminology 6

2 Definitions and abbreviations 72.1 Definitions 72.2 Abbreviations 8

3 Committee structure and composition (matrix) 83.1 Scope 83.2 Committee organizational structure 83.2.1 General 83.2.2 Process governance level - Standards Policy Board (SPB) 93.2.3 Strategic leadership level - strategic steering committees (SSCs) 93.2.4 Technical development level - technical committees (TCs) 93.3 Committee composition (matrix) 93.3.1 Matrices and interest categories 93.3.2 Minimum and maximum 93.3.3 Interest categories 103.3.4 Balance of representation 103.3.5 Size of committees 103.3.6 Approval of the matrix 103.3.7 Criteria for approval of a matrix 11

4 Participation and responsibilities 114.1 Scope 114.2 Participation 114.2.1 General 114.2.2 Committee membership 114.2.3 Stakeholders 114.2.4 Conformity assessment organizations 114.2.5 Consumer representation 114.2.6 CSA staff 124.2.7 Staff from other standards development organizations (SDOs) 124.3 Responsibilities of all participants 124.3.1 Competition policy 124.3.2 Ethics and conflict of interest 124.3.3 Sensitive material and personal information 124.3.4 Respecting copyright 124.3.5 Support for achieving consensus 124.3.6 Member indemnity 12

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4.4 Role and responsibilities of chairs 134.5 Responsibilities of vice-chairs 134.6 Responsibilities of project managers 134.7 Responsibilities of committee secretaries 14

5 Standards Policy Board (SPB) 145.1 Scope 145.2 SPB role 145.3 SPB responsibilities 14

6 Strategic steering committees (SSCs) 146.1 Scope 146.2 Establishing new SSCs 156.3 SSC terms of reference 156.4 Rules of operation 156.5 Executive committee 166.6 Responsibilities of SSCs 166.6.1 General responsibilities 166.6.2 Responsibilities concerning TCs 166.7 SSC chairs 176.7.1 General 176.7.2 Nomination of SSC chairs 176.7.3 Criteria for selection of SSC chairs 176.7.4 Appointment of SSC chairs 176.7.5 Term of appointment of SSC chairs 176.7.6 Specific responsibilities of SSC chairs 176.7.7 Removal of an SSC chair 186.8 SSC vice-chairs 186.9 Project manager 186.10 SSC members 186.10.1 Appointment of SSC members 186.10.2 SSC voting members 186.10.3 SSC nonvoting members 196.10.4 Members changing employment or affiliation 206.10.5 Termination of membership 206.11 Alternates 206.12 Regulatory authority committee 206.13 Liaison 216.14 Frequency of SSC meetings 216.15 Merging or disbanding SSCs 216.15.1 General 216.15.2 Disbanding an SSC 22

7 Technical committees (TCs) 227.1 Scope 227.2 Establishing new TCs 227.3 TC terms of reference 227.4 Executive committee 237.5 Responsibilities of TCs 23

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7.6 TC chairs 237.6.1 General 237.6.2 Nomination of TC chairs 237.6.3 Criteria for selection of TC chairs 247.6.4 Appointment of TC chairs 247.6.5 Term of appointment of TC chairs 247.6.6 Specific responsibilities of TC chairs 247.6.7 Removal of a TC chair 247.7 TC vice-chairs 247.8 TC committee secretaries 247.9 Project manager 257.10 TC members 257.10.1 Appointment of TC members 257.10.2 TC voting members 257.10.3 TC nonvoting members 267.10.4 Members changing employment or affiliation 267.10.5 Termination of membership 267.11 Alternates 267.12 Regulatory authority committee 277.13 Technical subcommittees and task forces 277.14 Liaison 277.15 Frequency of TC meetings 287.16 Reports to the SSC 287.17 Merging or disbanding TCs 287.17.1 General 287.17.2 Disbanding a TC 28

8 Technical subcommittees (TSCs) 288.1 Scope 288.2 General 298.3 Responsibilities of TSCs 298.4 TSC chairs 298.4.1 Appointment of TSC chairs 298.4.2 Removal of TSC chairs 298.5 TSC membership 298.6 Merging or disbanding TSCs 29

9 Other committees and councils 309.1 Scope 309.2 Task forces (TFs) 309.3 Consultation mechanisms and peer groups 309.4 Second level review committee 319.5 Advisory councils 319.5.1 General 319.5.2 Responsibilities 31

10 Operation of committees 3210.1 Scope 3210.2 Communications/Promotion 32

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10.2.1 External communications 3210.2.2 Press/Media relations 3210.3 Distribution of committee documents 3210.3.1 General 3210.3.2 Distribution of drafts 3310.3.3 Distribution of minutes 3310.4 Coordination 3310.5 Conducting business electronically 3310.5.1 General 3310.5.2 Electronic distribution of committee documents 3310.5.3 Public and restricted information 34

Annex A (normative) — Guidance on compliance with competition laws 35Annex B (normative) — Harmonized committees and TFs 39Annex C (normative) — Official records 41Annex D (informative) — SSC model terms of reference 42Annex E (informative) — TC model terms of reference 45

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Preface This is the third edition of CSA-SDP-2.1, CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization, Part 1: Participants and organizational structure. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 1999 and 2011.

CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization, Part 1: Participants and organizational structure was developed by the Standards Policy Board under the authority of the CSA Board of Directors and was approved by the Standards Policy Board on 2014-04-24. Interested parties may request copies from CSA staff.Notes: 1) Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.2) All inquiries regarding this publication should be addressed to CSA Group, 178 Rexdale Blvd., Toronto, Ontario,

Canada M9W 1R3.

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0 Introduction

0.1 Procedural documentationTogether with CSA-SDP-1, the CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization (CSA-SDP-2.2, CSA-SDP-2.3, and this Part) set forth the policies and procedures of the CSA consensus standards development process. The CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization are hereinafter referred to as the CSA Directives and guidelines.

0.2 Proposals for change to this Part of the CSA Directives and guidelinesProposals for change to this Part of the CSA Directives and guidelines should be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the CSA Standards Policy Board.

1 Scope

1.1 This Part of the CSA Directives and guidelines sets forth the policies and procedures of the CSA consensus standards development process regarding participation in CSA standards development activities. This includes the selection, appointment, roles, and responsibilities of the participants.

1.2 This Part of the Directives and guidelines also sets forth requirements and guidelines for the organization and operation ofa) the Standards Policy Board;b) strategic steering committees;c) technical committees; andd) technical subcommittees.

1.3 TerminologyIn this Part of the CSA Directives and guidelines, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Directives and guidelines; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Directives and guidelines; and “can” is used to express possibility or capability. Where the term “authorize” has been used, a motion by the appropriate committee, or permission by designated CSA staff, is required. Where the term “approve” has been used, a ballot or recorded vote is required.

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Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

2 Definitions and abbreviations

2.1 DefinitionsThe following definitions apply in this Part of the CSA Directives and guidelines:

Alternate — an individual who is authorized to act for a member of a committee in that member’s absence. Note: See Clauses 6.5.2 and 7.11 for restrictions on alternates.

Committee member — an individual or the representative of a company, government agency, or organization that supports the scope of the committee, and who has been appointed to a committee because of special knowledge/expertise. A committee member’s status may be designated voting or nonvoting.

Nonvoting — a committee member who participates in all aspects of committee activity, with the exception that he/she does not have a vote on ballots, recorded votes, and motions.

Voting — a committee member who participates in all aspects of committee activity, and has a vote on ballots, recorded votes, and motions.

Committee secretary — an individual authorized by CSA staff to assist with administrative services for a committee, e.g. preparation of minutes and agendas.

Consensus — substantial agreement. Consensus implies much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity.

Consensus process — the development and approval procedures followed to achieve consensus. A consensus process includes applying the following four principles underlying consensus processes: a) inclusive, not exclusive, participation*;b) respect for diverse interests;c) accountability; andd) consensus achievement.* In applying the principle of “inclusive, not exclusive, participation”, consideration must be given to resources, balancing of interests, and timely publication.

Interest — the perspective of a committee member in the context of the purpose and scope of the committee.

Matrix — the total voting membership of a committee expressed in terms of interest categories (e.g. producer, user, regulatory authority, general) rather than specific names or affiliations. A minimum and maximum number of voting members is given for each interest category.

Project manager — the CSA staff person assigned responsibility for the operation of a committee and for administering the committee membership and development activity as set out in the relevant clauses of the Directives and guidelines.

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Proxy — a voting member of a committee who has been appointed by another voting member of the committee to vote on the latter’s behalf at a committee meeting. Note: See Clause 7.3.6, Directives and guidelines, Part 2, for restrictions on proxies.

Quorum — at least 50% of the voting members of a committee or their alternates.

Stakeholder — an individual, group, or organization that is or will be directly and demonstrably affected by a CSA Standard to be developed by a CSA committee. Participating stakeholder interests are consistent with the categories defined in the committee matrix, e.g. producer, user, government/ regulator, supplier, etc.

2.2 AbbreviationsThe following abbreviations apply in this document:IEC —

IInternational Electrotechnical Commission

ISO — I

International Organization for Standardization

SCC — I

Standards Council of Canada

SDO — I

Standards Development Organization

SPB — I

Standards Policy Board

SSC — I

Strategic steering committee

TC — I

Technical committee

TF — I

Task force

TSC — I

Technical subcommittee

3 Committee structure and composition (matrix)

3.1 ScopeThis clause describes the committee structure and composition (matrix), including procedures for the preparation of and approval of matrices.

3.2 Committee organizational structure

3.2.1 GeneralCSA standards development activity is conducted through a formal committee structure consisting ofa) the SPB;b) SSCs; andc) TCs.

Where appropriate, this structure may be complemented by other groups such as TSCs, working groups or TFs, or regulatory authority committees.

This committee structure reflects three key roles: process governance, strategic leadership by industry/ business/social sector, and technical development.

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3.2.2 Process governance level - Standards Policy Board (SPB)The process governance level (the SPB) provides leadership and strategic direction for standards development. It also develops, maintains, and governs the implementation of procedural documentation for the standards development consensus process.

3.2.3 Strategic leadership level - strategic steering committees (SSCs)The strategic leadership level (the SSCs) provides broad-based direction for standardization in cohesive industry/business/social sectors to ensure that the strategic direction of standards development within each sector is consistent with the needs of society and the marketplace.

3.2.4 Technical development level - technical committees (TCs)The technical development level (the TCs) provides the expertise to understand the subject matter and ensure the technical integrity of published standards.

Figure 1 Committee organizational structure

SPB

Taskforces

Second LevelReview

Committee

SSCs

TCs

TSCs

Processgovernance level

Strategicleadership level

Technicaldevelopment level

3.3 Committee composition (matrix)Note: See Annexes D and E for sample committee matrices.

3.3.1 Matrices and interest categoriesThe composition (matrix) of SSCs and TCs shall be set with the objective of ensuring that all points of view pertinent to the subject matter are represented in reasonable proportion, and that any lack of balance of representation is immediately apparent.

3.3.2 Minimum and maximumThe matrix shall stipulate the minimum and maximum numbers of voting members for each interest category and shall be established on the basis of the following principles:a) the matrix shall provide for a reasonable balance of representation; andb) the chair shall be considered part of the matrix.Note: An appropriate balance of representation is determined in each individual case, depending on the subject, purpose, and application of the proposed program of work.

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3.3.3 Interest categories

3.3.3.1 A committee matrix shall comprise interest categories appropriate for the committee’s scope and shall be consistent with Clause 3.3.1.

3.3.3.2 For many committees responsible for CSA Standards specifying requirements for products, most materials, and some services, the following interest categories are suitable:a) Producer interest — those who are predominantly involved in production (i.e., manufacture),

promotion, retailing, or distribution of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s).b) User interest — those who predominantly represent consumer interests or end users of the

subject product(s), material(s), or service(s), and who are not involved in any way in production or distribution of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s).

c) Regulatory authority — those who are predominantly involved in regulating the use of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s).

d) General interest — those who are not associated with production, distribution, direct use, or regulation of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s) but who have demonstrated relevant expertise or credentials. This category may include representatives of academic and scientific interests.

3.3.3.3 Different descriptions of interest categories or categories additional to the above, or both, may be required. Where required, explanatory comments and/or direction shall be provided under each interest category heading to define more clearly those who should be included in that specific interest category. This information shall be documented in the committee’s terms of reference.

3.3.4 Balance of representation

3.3.4.1 The actual number of voting members in any one interest category shall not be more than the sum of the actual number of voting members in the two smallest interest categories.

3.3.4.2 Whenever balance of representation is not met, the situation should be rectified promptly.

3.3.4.3 There shall be balance of representation when a ballot or recorded vote is taken.

3.3.5 Size of committeesThe size of a committee shall be determined within limits (minimum and maximum) that ensure thata) necessary interests are represented;b) balance of representation is maintained; andc) the committee is able to function efficiently.

3.3.6 Approval of the matrixAn SSC matrix shall be approved by the SPB. A TC matrix shall be approved by the responsible SSC.

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3.3.7 Criteria for approval of a matrixThe criteria for approval of a matrix shall be thata) the interest categories are appropriate for the committee’s scope;b) the minimum and maximum numbers of voting members for each interest category provide for a

reasonable balance of representation and will allow the committee to function efficiently; andc) lack of balance of representation through attrition will be immediately apparent.Note: The requirement in Item c) is intended to ensure that the minimums and maximums of a matrix are set so as to make it obvious when the requirements of Clause 3.3.4.1 are not being met.

4 Participation and responsibilities

4.1 ScopeThis clause describes the responsibilities of participants in the standards development process.

4.2 Participation

4.2.1 GeneralThe CSA consensus process provides an opportunity for stakeholders to participate in it. Participants shall be supportive of the process and be willing to invest the necessary time and effort.

4.2.2 Committee membershipCommittee membership is not restricted to Canadians.Note: Members who are not residents of Canada or representatives of Canadian organizations should have demonstrated support for or interest in the Canadian National Standards System.

4.2.3 StakeholdersStakeholders shall be identified at the beginning of a project. They shall be provided with the opportunity to participate in accordance with Clauses 3.3.4 and 3.3.5. In addition to participating committee members, additional stakeholders may be identified at various stages in the process for the purpose of consultation and public review. See Clause 9.3.

4.2.4 Conformity assessment organizationsNo employee or representative of a third-party conformity assessment organization (such as one accredited by the Standards Council of Canada or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States) shall have voting status on any CSA SSC or TC, except as permitted below:a) The TC in question is not responsible for developing or approving CSA Standards utilized in a

program of the conformity assessment organization, orb) It is demonstrated that conformity assessment is not the sole or primary line of business of the

individual’s organization, and that conformity assessment is not the individual’s primary area of responsibility in the organization.

4.2.5 Consumer representationThe appointment of a consumer representative (normally as a voting member) should be considered to ensure that consumer views are represented in the development of CSA Standards for consumer products and services. Consumer representatives are nominated by CSA Member and Consumer Services after consultation with the appropriate project manager.

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Note: CSA’s Consumer Services Program coordinates public involvement activities and assists consumer representatives to present the consumer position.

4.2.6 CSA staffCSA shall provide staff with the necessary expertise on CSA policies and processes to provide CSA committees with appropriate support in the standards development process. CSA staff shall not be designated voting members of CSA committees.

4.2.7 Staff from other standards development organizations (SDOs)Staff or representatives from other SDOs shall not be designated as voting members of CSA committees.

4.3 Responsibilities of all participants

4.3.1 Competition policyIt shall be the responsibility of every member and CSA staff to comply with relevant laws regarding anti- competitive behaviour in all Association activities as further stated in CSA policy document CSA-SDP-1. Guidance on achieving compliance is provided in Annex A.

4.3.2 Ethics and conflict of interestCommittee members and CSA staff alike are expected to carry out their activities in an ethical manner, to establish the very best possible relationships with people locally, nationally, and internationally. It is the responsibility of committee members and CSA staff to disclose to CSA management actual or potential conflicts of interest connected with their role on a committee.

4.3.3 Sensitive material and personal informationIn the course of standards development activity, it is possible that CSA staff and committee members will be given access to sensitive corporate material identified as confidential, private, or proprietary. Providers shall indicate the level of sensitivity of such material. CSA staff and committee members are expected to respect this sensitivity at all times. See Clause 4.2.6 of CSA policy document CSA-SDP-1. In addition, the distribution of committee minutes shall be in accordance with Clause 7.3.10.3 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2.

4.3.4 Respecting copyrightCSA staff and committee members shall respect CSA Group’s, each other’s as well as third parties’ copyright on all material used in the course of their standards development activities. See Clause 4.3.5 of CSA policy document CSA-SDP-1 and Directives and guidelines, Parts 2 and 3.

4.3.5 Support for achieving consensusCommittee members are expected to conduct themselves in a collaborative manner with the aim of achieving consensus. Inherent in this process is an obligation to:a) allow all members the opportunity to have their viewpoints expressed,b) respect the opinions presented during committee deliberations,c) refrain from behaviours that obstruct the progress of the work, andd) adhere to the requirements found in CSA Directives.

4.3.6 Member indemnityThe By-Laws to govern the organization and activities of Canadian Standards Association include a provision for indemnification of committee members involved in CSA activities.

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4.4 Role and responsibilities of chairs

4.4.1 Chairs have an obligation to the committee to act impartially and to ensure that the process operates impartially. If at any time a chair finds himself/herself in an actual or potential conflict of interest, he/ she shall disclose this to the committee. Substantiated allegations of conflict of interest by a chair shall be cause for his/her removal as chair. See Clause 7.3.9.1.3 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2.

4.4.2 Chairs shalla) ensure that all members of the committee have the opportunity to express their viewpoints;b) conduct periodic reviews of the membership (see Clauses 6.10.2.1 and 7.10.2.1) and recommend

changes as necessary;c) monitor the work program of the committee, including progress against agreed target dates;d) assist the committee in establishing the necessary TFs and other subsidiary committees and

discharge the same upon completion of their work; Note: TSCs are considered permanent (standing) committees.

e) assist the committee in establishing nominating committees as necessary; andf) continuously monitor other standards development activities and establish liaisons where

appropriate.

4.4.3 With the concurrence of the project manager, chairs shalla) authorize the appointment of all members to the committee;b) review all requests from guests to attend meetings and decide who should be permitted to attend

(see Clauses 7.3.5.2 and 7.3.9.6 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2); andc) authorize the issuance of ballots and review the ballot results on draft CSA Standards, taking the

necessary action to address comments and to deal with any negative votes.

See also Clauses 6.7.6 and 7.6.6.

4.5 Responsibilities of vice-chairsVice-chairs shall act for the chair whena) the chair cannot attend a meeting;b) the chair wishes to participate in the discussion and therefore must relinquish the chair in order to

maintain its neutrality;c) dispositioning a negative vote cast by the chair; ord) otherwise requested by the chair or CSA staff to do so.

4.6 Responsibilities of project managersThe responsibilities of project managers regarding the management of committees shall includea) encouraging consideration of strategic alternatives to committees;b) ensuring the efficient and effective operation and conduct of the committee;c) ensuring that the policies and procedures are followed;d) creating business plans that respect CSA’s available resources; ande) providing meeting management support.

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4.7 Responsibilities of committee secretaries

4.7.1 The responsibilities of committee secretaries shall includea) arranging meetings and preparing agendas, in consultation with the chair;b) recording meeting discussions; andc) distribution of drafts.Note: It is important for non-staff committee secretaries to forward any correspondence relating to membership to the project manager for processing. Ballots are issued and recorded votes recorded by CSA staff.

4.7.2 Committee secretaries shall ensure that minutes are distributed in accordance with Clause 7.3.10.3 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2, and that copy of all material related to committee activities is forwarded to CSA staff for CSA files.

5 Standards Policy Board (SPB)

5.1 ScopeThis clause describes the role and responsibilities of the Standards Policy Board (SPB).Note: More information on the SPB can be found in its terms of reference, which are available on request.

5.2 SPB roleThe SPB is a process governance committee for standards development established by, and reporting to, the Board of Directors.

5.3 SPB responsibilitiesThe SPB provides leadership, strategic direction, and governance of the consensus standards development process. This includesa) approving standards development principles, policy and processes;b) approving major additions to CSA standards development subject areas (see Directives and

guidelines, Part 2);c) establishing SSCs, and approving the merging or disbanding of them;d) approving the matrix and terms of reference for all SSCs, and any revisions thereto;e) approving, or authorizing by motion, chairs and vice-chairs of SSCs; andf) handling appeals (see Directives and guidelines, Part 2).

6 Strategic steering committees (SSCs)

6.1 ScopeThis clause describes the procedures for establishing and maintaining strategic steering committees, including preparation of their terms of reference and defining their structure and membership, and procedures for merging or disbanding them. It also describes the responsibilities of SSCs.

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6.2 Establishing new SSCsSSCs shall be established under the authority of the SPB in broad areas of CSA standardization activity. If a new SSC is necessary, the terms of reference of the SSC, including a matrix, shall be prepared by CSA staff in consultation with the chair of the SPB, and referred to the SPB for approval.Note: An SSC model terms of reference is attached as Annex D.

6.3 SSC terms of reference

6.3.1 Amendments to an SSC’s terms of reference shall be prepared by CSA staff, in consultation with the executive committee, chair, or chair-designate of the SSC, and referred to the SPB for approval.

6.3.2 SSC terms of reference shall includea) a note indicating that the terms of reference are supplementary to the Directives and guidelines;b) a scope (i.e., subject area to be covered). It should be sufficiently specific to avoid overlap or

duplication of subject areas assigned to other SSCs. A description that merely provides a listing of TCs tends to be limiting and should not be used;

c) broad objectives of the SSC’s field of standards development activity with respect to one or more of the following: i) safety;ii) performance;iii) design;iv) product compatibility;v) quality of work;vi) general standardization (e.g., standard sizes, definitions, symbols, etc);vii) user information;viii) quality or environmental management;ix) effective application and acceptance of CSA Standards; andx) other;

d) broad responsibilities with respect to i) the organization and operation of TCs under the jurisdiction of the SSC;ii) the areas of priority, promotion of CSA Standards, and government consultation; andiii) liaison with other CSA committees; and

e) the term of appointment of members to the SSC.

6.3.3 Each SSC terms of reference shall be reviewed and updated as necessary at least every five years.

6.4 Rules of operationSubject to the approval of the Secretary, SPB, each SSC may establish additional rules of operation, provided they are consistent with these Directives and guidelines. They shall be documented in the SSC’s terms of reference.

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6.5 Executive committee

6.5.1 Each SSC may choose to establish an executive committee to undertake functions such asa) administration;b) timely handling of SSC work;c) liaison with the project manager;d) appointment of members; ande) ensuring the proper functioning of the SSC based on its terms of reference.

6.5.2 The executive committee shall consist of the chair, vice-chair(s), project manager, and a small number of committee members chosen by the members of the SSC. Alternates shall not be permitted in the executive committee (see Clause 6.11).

6.5.3 Decisions of the executive committee shall be subject to ratification by the SSC as a whole.

6.6 Responsibilities of SSCs

6.6.1 General responsibilitiesSSC responsibilities shall includea) providing leadership and guidance in identifying the needs and priorities of, and developing

effective strategies within, the sector;b) assessing and providing feedback on the effectiveness of the standards development program in

meeting the needs of the sector stakeholders;c) in consultation with CSA management, establishing technical committees and work programs,

monitoring progress, and assigning standards activities within the sector (each technical committee has full responsibility for the technical content of its CSA Standards);

d) together with CSA management, coordinating sector activities and establishing and maintaining continuing liaisons as appropriate;

e) identifying potential financial resources for standards development and, in consultation with CSA management, endorsing the business case for major projects; and

f) encouraging the promotion and use of those standards and publications coming within its terms of reference and offering input concerning such promotional activities.

6.6.2 Responsibilities concerning TCs

6.6.2.1 Each SSC shall be responsible for the establishment, with the concurrence of the project manager, of TCs (see Clause 7.2) in specific areas to prepare CSA Standards within the SSC’s terms of reference. Specific assignments should be made for each TC to avoid duplication of effort.

6.6.2.2 For those TCs under its authority, each SSC shall be responsible for the approval of thea) TC terms of reference (including scope of activity and matrix); andb) appointment of the chair and vice-chair(s) (see Clause 7.6.4).

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6.7 SSC chairsNote: For the purpose of this clause, the term “chair” includes vice-chairs.

6.7.1 GeneralEach SSC shall have a chair and at least one vice-chair, each of whom should represent a different interest category within the matrix. SSC Chairs and vice-chairs are voting members.Note: A CSA staff person may be named as acting chair on a temporary basis when necessary to continue or complete urgently needed work, when a chair from the voting members cannot be found on short notice, or when the product/service interests of the members make it difficult to find a neutral chair. In such cases the CSA staff person acting as chair is not a voting member. See Clause 4.2.6.

6.7.2 Nomination of SSC chairsSSC chairs may be nominated by, in order of preference,a) the SSC membership or a duly organized nominating committee using an open process;b) CSA staff in consultation with the stakeholders; orc) the SPB.Notes: 1) The term “open process” is one characterized by a notice of availability of the position to the committee

members, an opportunity for nominations from various stakeholders, and a defined process for determining the successful nominee.

2) Normally the chairs for newly organized SSCs will be selected by the SPB in consultation with CSA staff.

6.7.3 Criteria for selection of SSC chairsThe evaluation for the selection of SSC chairs shall ensure that the candidates area) able to be objective and act neutrally;b) knowledgeable in the subject concerned;c) progressive persons who are interested in the development of the CSA Standard(s);d) able to provide leadership through effective group-dynamics skills;e) familiar with the standardization process and project management; andf) prepared to devote the time and resources necessary to meet the requirements of the program.

6.7.4 Appointment of SSC chairsThe appointment of an SSC chair shall be approved, or authorized by motion, by the SPB.Note: Pending final approval, a nominee should be recorded as the acting chair.

6.7.5 Term of appointment of SSC chairsSSC chairs shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term not to exceed three years. Reappointments shall use an open process. Any SSC chair appointment beyond the two-term limit shall be authorized by the Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group.

6.7.6 Specific responsibilities of SSC chairsIn addition to the general responsibilities of all chairs set forth in Clause 4.4, SSC chairs or the executive shall, with the concurrence of CSA staff,a) continuously monitor the activities of the subsidiary TCs and take any steps necessary to ensure

the orderly development of CSA Standards;b) ensure that the handling of minority views and negative votes is in accordance with the Directives

and guidelines;

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c) provide direction to TC chairs with respect to questions raised by, or problems encountered by, TCs;d) continuously monitor the SSC’s field of activity to ensure that the overall program is in step with

technological developments and the needs of the community;e) develop committee policy papers to resolve issues that may arise among TCs;f) assist in the promotion of those CSA Standards under the jurisdiction of the SSC;g) recommend the establishment of new TCs as necessary and assist in the organization of such TCs;h) assist with the preparation of annual reports for the SPB if required; andi) monitor the performance of TC chairs and, where progress is deemed inadequate, recommend

appropriate action, which may involve a review of the program, replacement of the TC chair, or both.

6.7.7 Removal of an SSC chairRegardless of the term of office, a chair may be removed from office if, in the opinion of the SSC or the SPB, such action is warranted in the best interests of the program and CSA.

The Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group, has the authority at his/her discretion to remove any chair; the removed party may appeal to the SPB.

6.8 SSC vice-chairsA vice-chair should not be considered the principal potential successor to the chair, as this tends to establish a line of succession that restricts the action of subsequent nominating committees. See Clause 4.5.

6.9 Project managerCSA shall assign a Standards Development staff person to act as the project manager for each SSC. The project manager shall be nonvoting.

6.10 SSC members

6.10.1 Appointment of SSC members

6.10.1.1 SSC members shall be appointed by the executive committee or the chair, with the concurrence of the project manager, in accordance with the approved matrix or subject to ratification of the matrix by the SPB. The member shall be notified of his/her appointment.Note: Responsibility for the appointment of members should be assigned to the executive committee where one has been established.

6.10.1.2 All SSC members should be appointed for a specific term and shall be eligible for reappointment.

6.10.2 SSC voting members

6.10.2.1 Each SSC shall have voting members in accordance with its approved matrix and these Directives and guidelines.

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When they join a committee, voting members shall be categorized by the chair, with the concurrence of the project manager. Categorization shall be on the basis of the member’s predominant interest in the activities of the committee.

The chair shall conduct periodic reviews of the membership from the point of view of expertise, balance, geographical representation, and individual contribution, taking into account changes in the nature of the committee’s scope and/or changes in the interests of its members.

6.10.2.2

6.10.2.2.1 SSC voting members shall be selected based on their expertise in, knowledge of, and familiarity witha) the subject matter;b) the development, management, and application of CSA Standards and management concepts in

general; andc) the analysis, evaluation, and management of business, government, and nonprofit entities.

6.10.2.2.2 SSC voting members shall be selected to meet the following criteria:a) adequate representation of all major areas of activity within the committee’s terms of reference

and consistent with the approved matrix; andb) suitable geographical representation.

6.10.2.3 An organization should not be represented by more than one voting member on the SSC. However, the SSC may sometimes be better served by having more than one representative from the same organization. In such cases, each representative shall be from a separately identifiable segment of that organization, the organization shall provide CSA staff with its rationale for having multiple representation, and it should identify each segment of the organization to be represented.Note: An organization may be, for example, an association, a corporation, or an institution.

6.10.2.4 No individual should be classified as a voting member of more than two contiguous levels of the formal committee structure.

6.10.3 SSC nonvoting members

6.10.3.1 The chairs of those TCs under the jurisdiction of the SSC may be appointed as nonvoting members of the SSC if they are not serving as voting members in some other capacity.

6.10.3.2 Liaison members from other committees shall be classified as nonvoting members unless they are serving as voting members in some other capacity.

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6.10.4 Members changing employment or affiliationWhen members retire or change employment or affiliation, their committee membership shall be reviewed by the chair. This could result in change of matrix category, removal of voting rights, or termination of membership.

6.10.5 Termination of membershipIn consultation with CSA staff and after inquiry, the chair (on behalf of the committee) or executive should recommend that an SSC member be removed from the committee if the member has failed toa) attend three consecutive meetings;b) respond to three consecutive ballots; orc) be actively and effectively involved in the work and responsibilities of the committee (see Clause

4.3.5).

Notice of pending termination should be sent to that member by CSA staff.

Subsequent failure to comply with the requirements should result in termination as directed by the Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group or Program Director, Standards Development.

6.11 Alternates

6.11.1 When unable to attend a meeting, a member may nominate an alternate to attend that meeting and to vote on his/her behalf. The alternate shall represent only one voting member*. The alternate’s expertise should correspond to the member’s category within the matrix. The project manager shall be notified in writing of such nominations and shall refer the request to the chair for authorization. The alternate may attend the meeting provided permission has been granted before the meeting.* This means that an alternate may not carry a proxy.Note: Alternates are not permitted in the executive committee. See Clause 6.5.2.

6.11.2 Alternates should be considered only on a meeting-by-meeting basis.

6.11.3 The alternate may represent the member on all topics or may be restricted to specific subjects.

6.11.4 It is the responsibility of the member to brief his/her alternate and to provide appropriate documentation before the meeting, and to debrief the alternate after the meeting so as to be properly informed of the participation made on his/her behalf. The minutes should not be considered a substitute for this debriefing.

6.12 Regulatory authority committee

6.12.1 An SSC may establish a regulatory authority committee to provide advice to the SSC when any of the CSA Standards prepared under its jurisdiction are likely to be adopted or referenced by regulatory authorities and thus become mandatory.

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6.12.2 The membership of regulatory authority committees shall be limited to persons directly representing a regulatory agency of government, whether federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal, and to other representatives acceptable to these authorities.Note: When a CSA advisory council (see Clause 9.5) serves a specific field, the advisory council should, in addition to its other responsibilities, fulfil the role of the regulatory authority committee in that specific field.

6.12.3 The function of the regulatory authority committees shall be to review proposals for new or revised CSA Standards and advise as to their suitability for adoption by the various regulatory agencies.

6.13 Liaison

6.13.1 Each SSC may establish liaisons or a liaison committee, as required, for coordination in those areas where its activities overlap those of other SSCs or of other national or international bodies (e.g., SCC Mirror Committees to IEC or ISO).

6.13.2 A liaison member from a committee should be nominated by that committee. Such liaison members should be formally identified and charged with carrying out the liaison duties with the designated SSC.

6.14 Frequency of SSC meetingsSSCs should meet at least once annually. Such meetings may be face-to-face or by teleconference or videoconference, as appropriate.

6.15 Merging or disbanding SSCs

6.15.1 General

6.15.1.1 Merging or disbanding an SSC should be considered whena) the overall support for the subject area has diminished to the point of being uneconomic;b) it is no longer serving a useful function;c) it is inactive; ord) the purpose of the SSC would be better served by another existing SSC or by merging with another

existing SSC.

6.15.1.2 When the SSC in question is active, the proposal for disbanding it or merging it with another SSC should be discussed at a meeting or distributed for input from the members. All responses should be taken into account, and the proposal revised as necessary, before proceeding.

6.15.1.3 The merging or disbanding of SSCs shall be approved by the SPB.

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6.15.2 Disbanding an SSCProvided that the SPB supports disbanding the SSC, the following steps shall be taken, as appropriate:a) For those CSA Standards being maintained within the CSA system, formal agreement shall be

obtained from another SSC to accept responsibility for the CSA Standards. Once this has been achieved, the TC (and, where appropriate, TSC) members shall be advised of the change.

b) For those CSA Standards being withdrawn (including those being transferred outside the Association), the actions required by Directives and guidelines, Part 2 shall be taken and the TC (and, where appropriate, TSC) members shall be so advised.

7 Technical committees (TCs)

7.1 ScopeThis clause describes the procedures for establishing and maintaining technical committees (TCs), including preparation of their terms of reference and defining their structure and membership, and procedures for merging or disbanding TCs. It also describes the responsibilities of TCs.

7.2 Establishing new TCsWith the concurrence of the SSC and CSA staff, TCs shall be established under the authority of the SSC in each specific, well-defined area of standardization falling within the broad jurisdiction of the SSC and for which there is a demonstrated need for a CSA Standard (s) and for which resources can be identified.

A new TC shall have a matrix and terms of reference prepared by CSA staff in consultation with the executive committee or chair of the SSC and be referred to the SSC for approval. All amendments thereto require SSC approval. See Clause 7.3.3.Notes: 1) Normally the terms of reference and matrix are developed prior to the first meeting of the TC. In such cases

the matrix and terms of reference should be reviewed with the chair immediately after his/her appointment has been made.

2) A TC model terms of reference is attached as Annex E.

7.3 TC terms of reference

7.3.1 TC terms of reference shall include a description of the subject(s) to be covered and should include a statement of the TC’s objectives.

7.3.2 The description of the subject(s) to be covered shall be sufficiently specific to avoid overlap with other TCs.

7.3.3 Amendments to a TC’s terms of reference shall be prepared by CSA staff, in consultation with the executive committee, chair, or chair-designate of the TC, and referred to the SSC for approval.

7.3.4 Each TC terms of reference shall be reviewed and updated as necessary at least every five years.

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7.4 Executive committee

7.4.1 A TC may appoint an executive committee. Such an executive shall include the chair, the vice-chair, a small number of members, and the project manager. Alternates shall not be permitted in the executive committee (see Clause 7.11).

7.4.2 Decisions of the executive committee shall be subject to ratification by the TC as a whole.

7.5 Responsibilities of TCsEach TC shall have full responsibility for the technical content of all CSA Standards under its jurisdiction and in addition shall be responsible fora) complying with CSA policy document CSA-SDP-1 and the Directives and guidelines;b) establishing, together with CSA staff, detailed work programs and priorities consistent with the

direction assigned to it by the SSC;c) ensuring that each CSA Standard is consistent with the scope assigned by the SSC;d) scheduling its activities to ensure the timely completion of its proposed CSA Standard (s);e) establishing liaisons as appropriate;f) identifying the need for additional consultation with affected parties on the issues at hand;g) reviewing published CSA Standards under its jurisdiction on a continuing basis with the objective of

keeping them up to date and technically valid, and at least once every five years for reaffirmation, preparation of a new edition or amendment, or withdrawal (see Directives and guidelines, Part 2);

h) providing interpretations of published CSA Standards within its portfolio; andi) developing practical experience with the CSA Standards and providing feedback on their

effectiveness.

7.6 TC chairsNote: For the purpose of this clause, the term “chair” includes vice-chairs.

7.6.1 GeneralEach TC shall have a chair and at least one vice-chair, each of whom should represent a different interest category within the matrix. TC Chairs and vice-chairs are voting members.Note: A CSA staff person may be named as acting chair on a temporary basis when necessary to continue or complete urgently needed work, when a chair from the voting members cannot be found on short notice, or when the product/service interests of the members make it difficult to find a neutral chair. In such cases the CSA staff person acting as chair is not a voting member. See Clause 4.2.6.

7.6.2 Nomination of TC chairsTC chairs may be nominated by, in order of preference,a) the TC membership or a duly organized nominating committee using an open process;b) the SSC; orc) CSA staff in consultation with the stakeholders.Notes: 1) The term “open process” is one characterized by a notice of availability of the position to the committee

members, an opportunity for nominations from various stakeholders, and a defined process for determining the successful nominee.

2) Normally the chairs for newly organized TCs are selected by the SSC executive or chair with the concurrence of CSA staff.

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7.6.3 Criteria for selection of TC chairsThe evaluation for the selection of TC chairs shall ensure that the candidates area) able to be objective and act neutrally;b) knowledgeable in the subject concerned;c) progressive persons who are interested in the development of the CSA Standard(s);d) able to provide leadership through effective group-dynamics skills;e) familiar with the standardization process and project management; andf) prepared to devote the time and resources necessary to meet the needs of the committee.

7.6.4 Appointment of TC chairsThe appointment of a TC chair shall be approved, or authorized by motion, by the SSC.Note: Pending final approval, a nominee should be recorded as an acting chair.

7.6.5 Term of appointment of TC chairsTC chairs shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term not to exceed three years. Reappointments shall use an open process. Any TC chair appointment beyond the two-term limit shall be authorized by the Director, Standards.

7.6.6 Specific responsibilities of TC chairsThe TC chair should:a) continuously monitor the published CSA Standard with the objective of keeping it up to date and

arrange for technical review of the CSA Standard as necessary (see Directives and guidelines, Part 2);

b) prepare periodic status reports for review by the SSC;c) provide assistance to CSA staff to ensure that the technical content of CSA Standards is consistent

with the intent of the TC; andd) provide assistance to CSA staff in handling negative ballots (see Directives and guidelines, Part 2).

7.6.7 Removal of a TC chairRegardless of the term of office, a chair may be removed from office if, in the opinion of the TC, SSC, or SPB, such action is warranted in the best interests of the project and CSA.

The Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group, or Program Director, Standards Development has the authority at his/her discretion to remove any chair; the removed party may appeal to the SSC.

7.7 TC vice-chairsA vice-chair should not be considered the principal potential successor to the chair, as this tends to establish a line of succession that restricts the action of subsequent nominating committees. The selection and appointment of the vice-chair(s) shall be in accordance with Clauses 7.6.3 to 7.6.5. See Clause 4.5.

7.8 TC committee secretariesThe committee secretary’s duties are normally carried out by the project manager but to assist in the operation of a TC, TSC, or TF, CSA staff maya) request a TC, or one of its subsidiary committees, to appoint a committee secretary from its

membership;b) ask an appropriate association or organization to provide the services of a committee secretary,

subject to approval by the committee; or

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c) contract with a competent individual to act as committee secretary.

The committee secretary (other than CSA staff) may be a voting or a nonvoting member.Note: See Clause 7.10.2.3 for information concerning multiple memberships from one organization.

7.9 Project managerCSA shall assign a Standards Development staff person to act as the project manager for each TC and its subsidiary committees.

7.10 TC members

7.10.1 Appointment of TC members

7.10.1.1 TC members shall be appointed by the executive committee or the chair, with the concurrence of the project manager, in accordance with the TC matrix. The member shall be notified of his/her appointment.Note: Responsibility for the appointment of members should be assigned to the executive committee where one has been established.

7.10.1.2 All TC members should be appointed for a specific term and shall be eligible for reappointmentNote: The term specified in the SSC’s terms of reference applies to the SSC itself and all its subsidiary committees unless otherwise specified in their terms of reference.

7.10.2 TC voting members

7.10.2.1 Each TC shall have voting members from the appropriate interest categories (see Clause 3.3.3), in accordance with its approved matrix and these Directives and guidelines.

When they join a committee, voting members shall be categorized by the chair, with the concurrence of the project manager. Categorization shall be on the basis ofa) the member’s predominant interest in the activities of the committee; andb) accordance with the matrix.

The chair shall conduct periodic reviews of the membership from the point of view of expertise, balance, geographical representation, and individual contribution, taking into account changes in the nature of the committee’s scope and/or changes in the interests of its members.

7.10.2.2 TC voting members shall be selected based on their technical expertise in, knowledge of, and familiarity with the subject matter.

They shall be selected to meet the following criteria:a) adequate representation of all major areas of activity within the committee’s terms of reference

and consistent with the approved matrix;b) provision for liaison with other committees in related fields where necessary;c) relevance to Canadian needs; and

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d) suitable geographical representation.

See Clause 4.2.4.

7.10.2.3 An organization should not be represented by more than one voting member on the TC. However, the TC may sometimes be better served by having more than one representative from the same organization. In such cases, each representative shall be from a separately identifiable segment of that organization, the organization shall provide CSA staff with its rationale for having multiple representations, and it should identify each segment of the organization to be represented.Note: An organization may be, for example, an association, a corporation, or an institution.

7.10.3 TC nonvoting members

7.10.3.1 The chairs of TSCs under the jurisdiction of the TC may be appointed as nonvoting members of the TC if they are not serving as voting members in some other capacity.

7.10.3.2 Liaison members from other committees shall be classified as nonvoting members unless they are serving as voting members in some other capacity.

7.10.4 Members changing employment or affiliationWhen members retire or change employment or affiliation, their committee membership shall be reviewed by the chair. This could result in change of matrix category, removal of voting rights, or termination of membership.

7.10.5 Termination of membershipIn consultation with the project manager, the chair (on behalf of the committee) or executive should recommend that a TC member be removed from the committee if the member has failed toa) attend three consecutive meetings;b) respond to three consecutive ballots; orc) be actively and effectively involved in the work and responsibilities of the committee (see Clause

4.3.5).

Notice of pending termination should be sent to that member by CSA staff. Subsequent failure to comply with the requirements should result in termination as directed by the Program Director, Standards Development.

7.11 Alternates

7.11.1 When unable to attend a meeting, a member may nominate an alternate to attend that meeting and to vote on his/her behalf. The alternate shall represent only one voting member*. The alternate’s expertise should correspond to the member’s category within the matrix. The project manager shall be notified in writing of such nominations and shall refer the request to the chair for authorization. The alternate may attend the meeting provided permission has been granted before the meeting.* This means that an alternate may not carry a proxy.

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7.11.2 Alternates should be considered only on a meeting-by-meeting basis.

7.11.3 The alternate may represent the member on all topics or may be restricted to specific subjects.

7.11.4 It is the responsibility of the member to brief his/her alternate and to provide appropriate documentation before the meeting, and to debrief the alternate after the meeting so as to be properly informed of the participation made on his/her behalf. The minutes should not be considered a substitute for this debriefing.

7.12 Regulatory authority committee

7.12.1 A TC may establish a regulatory authority committee to provide advice to the TC when any of the CSA Standards prepared under its jurisdiction are likely to be adopted or referenced by regulatory authorities and thus become mandatory.

The TC should consult with its SSC to coordinate the responsibilities of its regulatory authority committee, where the SSC has already established one.

7.12.2 The membership of regulatory authority committees shall be limited to persons directly representing a regulatory agency of government, whether federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal, and to other representatives acceptable to these authorities.

7.12.3 The function of the regulatory authority committees shall be to review proposals for new or revised CSA Standards and to advise as to their suitability for adoption by the various regulatory agencies.

7.13 Technical subcommittees and task forcesWith the concurrence of the project manager, TCs may establish TSCs to draft a CSA Standard(s) or a significant portion of a CSA Standard. See Clause 8.

TCs may also establish TFs as necessary to carry out specific assignments within the TC’s mandate. See Clause 9.2.

7.14 Liaison

7.14.1 Where liaison between the TC and other committees is important, a formal liaison should be established. The member(s) for liaison from a committee should be nominated by that TC. Such a member(s) should be formally identified and charged with carrying out the duties involved in liaison with another designated TC.

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7.14.2 Liaison procedures, such as the exchange of minutes (see Clause 7.3.10.3 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2) between TC chairs, should be established as appropriate.

7.15 Frequency of TC meetingsMeetings should only be called when it has been clearly established that sufficient business is at hand.

7.16 Reports to the SSCEach TC shall report to its SSC on its organization and activities as directed by the SSC.

7.17 Merging or disbanding TCs

7.17.1 General

7.17.1.1 TCs shall be merged or disbanded by the responsible SSC, with the concurrence of CSA staff. The merging or disbanding of TCs shall be approved by the appropriate SSC.

7.17.1.2 Merging or disbanding a TC should be considered whena) the overall support for the subject area has diminished to the point of being uneconomic;b) it is no longer serving a useful function;c) it is inactive; ord) the purpose of the TC would be better served by another existing TC or by merging with another

existing TC.

7.17.1.3 When the TC in question is active, the proposal for disbanding it or merging it with another TC should be discussed at a meeting or distributed for input from the members. All responses should be taken into account, and the proposal revised as necessary, before proceeding.

7.17.2 Disbanding a TCProvided that the SSC supports disbanding the TC, the following steps shall be taken, as appropriate:a) For those CSA Standards being maintained within the CSA system, formal agreement shall be

obtained from another TC to accept responsibility for the CSA Standards. Once this has been achieved, the TC (and, where appropriate, TSC) members shall be advised of the change.

b) For those CSA Standards being withdrawn (including those being transferred outside the Association), the actions required by Directives and guidelines, Part 2 shall be taken and the TC (and, where appropriate, TSC) members shall be so advised.

8 Technical subcommittees (TSCs)

8.1 ScopeThis clause describes the procedures for establishing and maintaining technical subcommittees (TSCs), and for merging or disbanding them. It also describes the role of TSCs.

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8.2 GeneralTSCs complement the technical development level (i.e., the work of the TCs). TSCs are considered permanent (standing) committees of experts. TSCs are established by TCs to draft a CSA Standard(s) or a significant portion of a CSA Standard.

8.3 Responsibilities of TSCsEach TSC shall, within the scope of its activities, support their TC in fulfilling its responsibilities as outlined in Clause 7.5.

8.4 TSC chairs

8.4.1 Appointment of TSC chairsThe chairs of all TSCs shall be appointed by the chair of the TC or by the committee as a whole, with the concurrence of the project manager.Note: It is recommended that the chairs of TSCs be members of the TC and be appointed for a three-year term.

8.4.2 Removal of TSC chairsRegardless of the term of office, a chair may be removed from office if, in the opinion of the TSC, TC, or SSC, such action is warranted in the best interests of the project and CSA.

The TC chair has the authority at his/her discretion to remove any chair; the removed party may appeal to the SSC.

8.5 TSC membership

8.5.1 Members of TSCs shall be appointed by the chair of the TSC, with the concurrence of the project manager.

8.5.2 It is a responsibility of the TSC chair to strive to include members from the interest categories in the matrix of the TC. Where appropriate and practical, TSCs should have a reasonable balance of membership.Note: A TSC is not required to have a matrix and as such members are not classified as voting or non-voting.

8.6 Merging or disbanding TSCs

8.6.1 TSCs shall be merged or disbanded by the responsible TC, with the concurrence of CSA staff. The merging or disbanding of TSCs shall be authorized by the appropriate TC.

8.6.2 Merging or disbanding a TSC should be considered whena) the overall support for the subject area has diminished to the point of being uneconomic;b) it is no longer serving a useful function;c) it is inactive;d) the TC has been merged or disbanded; or

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e) the purpose of the TSC would be better served by another existing TSC or by merging with another existing TSC.

8.6.3 When the TSC in question is active, the proposal for disbanding it or merging it with another TSC should be discussed at a meeting or distributed for input from the members. All responses should be taken into account, and the proposal revised as necessary, before proceeding.

9 Other committees and councils

9.1 ScopeThis clause describes the roles and responsibilities of task forces (TFs), peer groups, the Second Level Review committee, and advisory councils.

9.2 Task forces (TFs)

9.2.1 A committee or CSA staff may establish a TF for specific assignments (e.g., to study specific problems, create draft seed material, etc.) as required. TFs may include individuals having expertise not available within the committee. The TF shall continue to exist only until that assignment is completed.Note: Should it be necessary to readdress the same subject after the TF has been disbanded, consideration should be given to appointing the same members to the new TF, where possible.

9.2.2 TFs may be managed by CSA staff or through the use of a chair. The chairs of all task forces shall be appointed by CSA staff, the committee chair or by the committee as a whole, with the concurrence of the project manager.

9.2.3 TF members are appointed by the project manager with the concurrence of the TF chair.Note: A TF is not required to have a matrix.

9.2.4 Members of TFs need not necessarily be members of the committee, but the TF chair should be.

9.3 Consultation mechanisms and peer groupsIn some cases it may be desirable or necessary for public and stakeholder consultation to be broadened to include input from other experts, even though the final technical decisions are made by the committee.

CSA staff, or a committee with the concurrence of CSA staff, may develop a list of technical experts and peer groups (including other SDOs known to be developing standards in a similar field) who can act as reviewers of drafts. Such lists shall be maintained by CSA staff.

In addition, a committee may wish to use a variety of consultative mechanisms during the standards- development process to obtain additional technical or user input. This could include advisory groups, focus groups, public consultation forums, electronic discussion groups, or survey research. These public

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involvement activities may assist in identifying issues and needs, reviewing draft documents, determining implementation approaches, and raising awareness of standards development activity.

Consideration shall be given to the resources associated with expanded consultation (eg, committee members’ and CSA staff time and extended development time).

9.4 Second level review committee

9.4.1 The Second Level Review committee operates under the authority of, and shall be appointed by, the Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group.

9.4.2 The Second Level Review chair has the responsibility of ensuring that:a) new CSA Standards,b) new editions of current CSA Standardsc) amendments of current CSA Standardsd) reaffirmations of current CSA Standards, ande) withdrawals of CSA Standards

meet the established criteria and that the procedures in the Directives and guidelines have been followed up to the end of the TC approval stage.

9.5 Advisory councils

9.5.1 GeneralCSA advisory councils operate under the authority of the CSA Board of Directors.Note: Within the National Standards System of Canada, the Standards Council of Canada also establishes Canadian Advisory Councils.

9.5.2 Responsibilities

9.5.2.1 CSA advisory councils act as forums for discussing the technical, social, economic, and regulatory aspects of developing and implementing CSA standards and associated conformity assessment programs related to a specific field.

9.5.2.2 CSA advisory councils act in an advisory capacity toa) the CSA Board of Directors on general policy matters related to their field;b) CSA International on matters related to conformity assessment; andc) the CSA Standards Policy Board in establishing programs and priorities for standards.

9.5.2.3 CSA advisory councils should serve as regulatory authority committees to the relevant SSCs (see Clauses 6.12 and 7.12) if so required, recognizing that other federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal departments may have to be consulted.

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10 Operation of committees

10.1 ScopeThis clause describes the rules of operation for committees, including communications; the distribution of committee documents; and conducting business electronically.

This clause applies to all levels of the committee structure.

10.2 Communications/Promotion

10.2.1 External communicationsInquiries made to committee members about a committee or its activities shall be directed to the project manager. Information to the general public or stakeholder group concerning CSA committee activities shall be done only with the explicit consent of CSA staff.

10.2.2 Press/Media relationsCSA Corporate Communications media relations activities include the following:a) issuing press releases;b) writing and/or reviewing articles for trade publications*;c) responding to media inquiries† about committee work or requests for interviews with committee

members;d) identifying a spokesperson‡ for media interviews;e) providing background information; andf) handling any other communications that could result in media coverage of CSA, its divisions, and

the work of its committees.* The term “trade publications” is intended to include commercial periodicals and association newsletters. It does not include internal corporate and organization newsletters.† Prior to discussing committee work with the media, members should contact CSA Corporate Communications.‡ It is important that any spokesperson discussing issues with the media identify himself/herself as either a member of a CSA committee or as CSA staff.

To ensure accuracy and the consistency of corporate approach and messaging, external publicity, including reporting of CSA committee activities to the media (whether business and/or consumer media), shall be reviewed by and coordinated with CSA staff. This is not intended to restrain members from promoting CSA in their normal activities. Prior to discussing committee work or related CSA activities with the media, members shall contact CSA’s corporate Media Relations Officer.

In the event that, due to publication timelines, it is not possible to have a draft article reviewed by or on behalf of CSA Corporate Communications before publication, it shall be advised of the title of the article, the name of the publication, and the expected publication date.

10.3 Distribution of committee documents

10.3.1 General

10.3.1.1 Committee documents shall be made available to the media only with the consent of the committee, and only with the explicit concurrence of CSA staff. See also Clauses 10.2.2 above, and 7.3.10.3 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2.

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Note: In this clause, the term “committee documents” is not intended to include published CSA Standards or public review drafts.

10.3.1.2 Committee documents shall be distributed through the project manager to all individuals listed on the committee membership list. See Clause 10.5.

10.3.1.3 Committee documents shall be distributed to specific individuals. It is that individual’s responsibility to see that the contents are not used for any purpose other than the work of the committee. For briefing purposes, it is permissible for that individual to distribute documents to other individuals within his/her organization who have a bona fide interest.

10.3.1.4 Originators of committee documents wishing to distribute them more widely shall advise the project manager of their intentions.

10.3.2 Distribution of draftsSee Directives and guidelines, Part 2 regarding copyright and distribution of drafts.

10.3.3 Distribution of minutesSee Clause 7.3.10.3 of Directives and guidelines, Part 2.

10.4 CoordinationAdequate liaison should be maintained with other standards developers, etc, as appropriate, to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and to permit complementary activities.

Coordinating ongoing standards activity, minimizing duplication, and avoiding conflicting CSA Standards are the joint responsibility of SSCs, TCs, and CSA staff.

10.5 Conducting business electronically

10.5.1 GeneralCSA may use electronic technology to enhance and accelerate the development process. See Clause 10.5.3.

Access to committee information available via the Internet, such as a CSA member website, shall be restricted to authorized individuals.

10.5.2 Electronic distribution of committee documents

10.5.2.1 Committee documents may be distributed via electronic means with restricted access that CSA may elect to use (see Clause 10.5.3) as follows:a) Drafts shall be distributed in accordance with Directives and guidelines, Part 2, Clause 6.4.2; andb) Minutes shall be distributed by the project manager subject to the requirements of Clause 7.3.10.3

of Directives and guidelines, Part 2.

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Note: Notification of the document’s availability in an electronic shared workspace is deemed equivalent to sending or distributing the document.

10.5.2.2 Ballot responses returned by e-mail shall clearly indicate thea) name of the voterb) ballot number;c) committee identifier;d) purpose of the ballot (e.g. approval of standard, chair, etc.); ande) vote (i.e., affirmative, affirmative with comment, or negative with reason).

CSA staff shall acknowledge receipt of e-mail ballot responses.

10.5.3 Public and restricted informationThe development and maintenance of committee web sites/pages shall be under the jurisdiction of CSA Standards Development.

Appropriate care shall be exercised to avoid the inclusion of personal information such as members’ names and addresses or comments attributable to specific individuals.

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Annex A (normative)Guidance on compliance with competition lawsNote: This annex is a mandatory part of these Directives and guidelines.

A.1 General

A.1.1 This annex is intended to assist CSA’s staff and members in complying with applicable laws relating to marketplace competition. CSA is committed to complying with the law in letter and in spirit. Both CSA staff and members share responsibility for compliance with the law. CSA has developed this Annex in order to assist employees and members in understanding expectations for meeting competition law requirements that could affect standards development activities and knowing when to seek advice.

A.1.2 All staff and members are encouraged to ask questions or report conduct that they believe may contravene applicable competition law or CSA policies, including this Directive and Annex. Questions and issues concerning this policy should be directed to the office of the:

General Counsel, Canadian Standards Association, 178 Rexdale Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, M9W 1R3

The information in this Annex shall not be regarded as definitive legal advice, or as a substitute for the legal assistance and guidance that is available from CSA.

A.2 Competition law – high level overview

A.2.1 PurposeThe purpose of competition law is to maintain and encourage effective competition in the market place. There are a range of laws in both Canada and the United States that address these issues. Although the specifics may differ, the basic principles are the same in that both countries have laws to protect a competitive marketplace by prohibiting certain activities that might reduce or prevent competition or harm consumers.

A.2.2 ScopeCompetition laws in both countries govern most business conduct. In particular they address certain advertising practices and set out certain rules and limits regarding how competitors may deal and cooperate with each other, as well as how businesses are permitted to treat their suppliers and customers.

A.2.3 Competition law and standards development activitiesTwo key types of issues that could lead to compliance problems in the standards development process are collusion and exclusion.

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A.2.3.1 Collusion (improper cooperation between competitors)Standards development activities provide a forum in which market competitors have direct contact with each other to cooperate in consensus-based processes to achieve the worthwhile goals of standards development. CSA, its staff and its members shall ensure that the opportunity for direct contact between competitors that is provided by standards development activities is based on the specific goals of standards development and does not stray into anti-competitive agreements or activities.

A.2.3.2 Exclusion (inappropriate barriers to competition)Standards development activities should not unreasonably exclude or limit marketplace competition or create unreasonable barriers to market entry for new or innovative products. Standards set technical requirements. Any standard may therefore result in competitive advantage for some and disadvantages for others. Any such competitive effect should result from a standards-based decision on reasonable and sound technical grounds within the TC’s scope.

A.2.4 PatentsIf a standard is written in a way that a patented technology is necessary in order for users to establish compliance, then it may create a monopoly for the patent owner. Sometimes the patented technology really is the best choice, but this decision should be made by the committee with a full understanding of the existence of the patent and the implications of including it in the standard, as well as the written agreement of the patent holder to make the patented technology available to all on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

CSA is not responsible for determining the fairness, reasonableness and non-discrimination of such terms and conditions, or settling related disputes. CSA is also not responsible for identifying patents which may be included in a standard. CSA requires all participants in the standards development process to disclose any patent which it owns or is owned by others, which may be included, in whole or in part, in a standard to the committee in writing as they become aware of such patents, and prior to the publication of the draft for public review.

A.2.5 Preventing entry into the marketplaceAbuse of dominant position is a situation where one or more persons substantially or completely control a class of business and engage in a practice of anticompetitive acts that may substantially reduce competition in a market. Anticompetitive acts are defined to include the adoption of product specifications that are incompatible with products produced by a competitor and are designed to prevent entry into, or eliminate competition from, a market. When a TC is considering requirements in a standard that may have the result of reducing access of some competing products to the marketplace, they must be mindful of this impact and only make such a decision where a consensus of the committee determines that this is the best technical resolution to achieve the proper goals and spirit of the standard and its scope. These reasons should be carefully documented.

A.3 Competition law compliance

A.3.1 SeverityIn addition to CSA’s firm commitment to support the principle of competition served by competition laws, the penalties and/or remedial orders that may be imposed upon both CSA and its individual and corporate members involved in any violation of the law are so severe that every effort should be made to avoid any such violation. Any individual or organization that is found to have knowingly misused their access to the standards development process to take an action that violates a relevant competition law may not be covered by CSA’s indemnity for members.

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A.3.2 Standards development processAdherence to the standards development process is key to demonstrating compliance with applicable competition laws. For example, carefully following the balance and voting requirements for TC’s is critical to being able to establish that the process was appropriately inclusive and did not block participation from stakeholders that had an interest in the result.

Any deviation from CSA process shall be promptly reported to CSA staff.

A.3.3 Inappropriate activitiesThe following list is designed to assist CSA, its staff and members comply with applicable competition laws. This section provides examples only and is not exhaustive.

A.3.3.1 CSA, its boards, committees, or other organizational activities, including CSA-sponsored social events, shall not be used for the purpose of:a) bringing about any agreement among competitors with regard to prices, terms or conditions of

sale, distribution, volume of production, territories, or customers;b) discussing prices or pricing methods, production quotas, terms and conditions, or other limitations

on either the timing or volume of production or sale or the allocation of territories or customers;c) exchanging, collecting and distributing among competitors any information regarding prices,

pricing methods, or cost data without prior approval of CSA; andd) discussing costs for the purpose of

i) increasing, maintaining, or stabilizing prices; orii) reducing competition in the marketplace with respect to the range or quality of products or

services offered.

A.3.3.2 No CSA activity or communication shall include any discussion that might be seen as an attempt to prevent any person or organization from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services, or to prevent any person or organization from obtaining a supply of goods or otherwise purchasing goods or services freely in the market.

A.3.3.3 Subject to other requirements for committee membership, no person shall be unreasonably or arbitrarily excluded from participation in any CSA activity, board, or committee where such exclusion may impair that person’s ability to compete effectively in any industry.

A.3.3.4 The primary purpose of standards development should not be the goal of blocking market access of new or competitive products.

If the standard has a valid purpose (safety, for example), is preferably related to performance rather than design specifications, is developed by CSA’s accredited processes following our accredited rules for representation and adequate consideration of all pertinent points of view, then the likelihood of a competition law problem should be minimal. Care shall be taken to ensure that such standards are reasonable and cannot be employed as a device to fix prices, effect a boycott, exclude competitors, or control production.

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A.3.4 Government requests for information and investigationsAny requests from government representatives to interview with any person or to seek data shall be forwarded to the office of the Executive Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Secretary. Copies of all documents removed from the premises by investigators shall be retained in CSA files.

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Annex B (normative)Harmonized committees and TFsNote: This annex is a mandatory part of these Directives and guidelines.

B.1 Harmonization with Canadian international standards committeesNote: National participation at the international level is organized under the auspices of the SCC. Integration of national and international activities is therefore a cooperative effort of CSA Group and the SCC.

B.1.1 GeneralCanadian international standards work is carried out by Canadian mirror committees to IEC and ISO under the authority of the SCC.

B.1.2 Harmonization/Liaison of CSA committees and Canadian mirror committees

B.1.2.1 Single harmonized committeeWherever appropriate and practical, a single committee should be established to respond to the demands of both national and international standards work.

B.1.2.2 LiaisonWhere it is not practical or appropriate to establish a single harmonized committee, every effort should be made to involve the CSA committee in the international work to the greatest extent possible.

Liaison between the CSA committee and the Canadian mirror committee should be established and diligently maintained. Such liaison should include membership by key members of the CSA committee on the Canadian mirror committee.

B.1.3 Management of harmonized committeesIn general, the management and harmonization of committee work of CSA committees harmonized with Canadian mirror committees is a CSA responsibility.

B.1.4 Procedures for harmonized committeesNational work undertaken by harmonized committees shall be in accordance with CSA policy document CSA-SDP-1 and the CSA Directives and guidelines. International work shall be undertaken in accordance with the latest edition of the Standards Council of Canada’s documents CAN-P-1005, CAN-P-7, and CAN- P-2018.

B.2 Harmonization with other national standards work

B.2.1 GeneralIn order to develop trinational, binational, or regional standards as CSA Standards, it may be practical and appropriate to establish harmonized (or joint) committees or TFs with one or more (as applicable) other SDOs.

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B.2.2 Agreements

B.2.2.1 Before proceeding with the establishment of a harmonized committee or TF, the SDOs involved shall prepare a written agreement covering the items in Clause B.2.2.2. The written agreement shall be reviewed by the Secretary, SPB, and the Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group, and the CSA Corporate Secretary. It shall be signed by the SDOs involved and the Executive Director, Standards, CSA Group.

B.2.2.2 The agreement shall cover the following items:a) roles of the parties involved;b) level of support and responsibilities of the SDOs involved (eg, secretariat);c) organization and structure of the committee or TF;d) membership; ande) copyright and distribution regarding minutes.

See Directives and guidelines, Part 2.

A copy of the signed agreement shall be provided to the Secretary, SPB, for retention.

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Annex C (normative)Official recordsNote: This annex is a mandatory part of these Directives and guidelines.

C.1 Records management

C.1.1 GeneralThis annex defines criteria intended to ensure that all necessary records are retained to document the status and authority of committees and the operation of committees while, at the same time, keeping storage needs to a minimum.

C.1.2 Staff responsibilityCSA staff shall ensure that appropriate records of membership and committee activity are produced and retained in accordance with internal operating procedures. See Clause B.2.2.2 and Directives and guidelines, Part 2, Clause 7.3.10.4.

C.1.3 Committee secretary responsibilityIn cases where the committee secretary is not CSA staff, he/she shall ensure that meeting notices, agendas, minutes, and membership information distributed to the committee are copied to CSA staff for the record.

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Annex D (informative)SSC model terms of referenceNote: This annex is a mandatory part of these Directives and guidelines.

DRAFTING NOTE: ALL PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE MUST BE REVIEWED BY THE SECRETARY, SPB PRIOR TO FINALIZING WITH THE COMMITTEE.

File No.

Strategic Steering Committee on ________________________Terms of reference

Note: This document is supplementary to the CSA By-Laws, CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization (CSA-SDP-1), and CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization (CSA-SDP-2, Parts 1, 2, and 3), which are based on the principles of the consensus process. These terms of reference were approved by the Standards Policy Board on 20XX-XX-XX, SPB ballot number or minute reference _________.

1. Authorization 1.1

The Strategic Steering Committee on __________________________ (hereinafter called the Committee) operates under the authority of the Standards Policy Board.

1.2

Amendments to these terms of reference shall be prepared by CSA staff, in consultation with the executive committee, chair, or chair designate, and referred to the SPB for approval.

2. Mandate and objectives The Committee shall provide leadership and broad-based direction for standardization in the field of __________________________________.

3. Scope 3.1

The Committee shall be responsible for standards developed within the ____________ sector. These shall include the development of standards for the following:a) ___________ ;b) ___________ ; andc) ___________.

3.2

The scope of the Committee does not include those standards which ____________________________.

4. Responsibilities

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The Committee’s responsibilities shall include the following:a) providing leadership and guidance for TCs in identifying the needs and priorities of, and

developing effective strategies within, the sector;b) assessing and providing feedback on the effectiveness of the standards development program in

meeting the needs of the sector stakeholders;c) in consultation with CSA management, establishing TCs and work programs, monitoring progress,

and assigning standards activities within the sector (each TC has full responsibility for the technical content of its CSA Standards);

d) together with CSA management, coordinating sector activities and establishing and maintaining continuing liaisons as appropriate;

e) identifying potential financial resources for standards development and, in consultation with CSA management, endorsing the business case for major projects; and

f) encouraging the promotion and use of those Standards and publications coming within its terms of reference and offering input concerning such promotional activities.

5. Committee structure 5.1 Categories

Members shall represent the following categories on the basis of their predominant interest in the products or services detailed in Clause 3.1 of these terms of reference:

DRAFTING NOTE: THIS CLAUSE IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY TO ADD A CATEGORY OR TO MODIFY THE DESCRIPTION OF THESE CATEGORIES TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.a) Producer interest — this category shall include those who are predominantly involved in

production (ie, manufacture), promotion, retailing, or distribution of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s);

b) User interest — this category shall include those who predominantly represent consumer interests or end users of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s), and who are not involved in any way in production and/or distribution of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s);

c) Regulatory authority — this category shall include those who are predominantly involved in regulating the use of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s); and

d) General interest — this category shall include those who are not associated with production, distribution, direct use, or regulation of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s). This category may include representatives of academic and scientific interests.

5.2 Matrix

The matrix of the Committee shall be as follows:DRAFTING NOTE: THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM NUMBERS WILL DEPEND ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMITTEE.

Committee matrix

Code Interest categories Minimum Maximum

PI Producer interest 2 4

UI User interest 2 4RA Regulatory authority 2 4

GI General interest 2 4

5.3 Nonvoting members A limited number of suitably qualified individuals may be appointed as nonvoting members

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if participation by such members would help the Committee carry out its responsibilities.

DRAFTING NOTE: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE SSC SET A MAXIMUM FOR THE NUMBER OF NONVOTING MEMBERS — FOR EXAMPLE: “THE NUMBER OF NONVOTING MEMBERS SHALL NOT EXCEED ____” OR “THE NUMBER OF NONVOTING MEMBERS SHALL NOT EXCEED THAT PERMITTED FOR THE SMALLEST CATEGORY OF VOTING MEMBERS”. WHEN SETTING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE NUMBER OF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND ANY OTHER LIAISONS WHO SHOULD BE NONVOTING MEMBERS.

6. Qualification of members Membership shall be based on the individual’s expertise in, knowledge of, and familiarity with the subject matter (see Clause 3.1 of these terms of reference); the development, management, and application of standards and management concepts in general; and the analysis, evaluation, and management of business, government, and non-profit entities. The individual shall possess proven decision making experience and a demonstrated ability to think strategically. The individual shall commit to working within the consensus process.

7. Terms of appointment SSC members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Review shall be in accordance with the Directives and guidelines, Part 1.

8. Liaisons The Committee may establish liaisons or liaison committees to coordinate the implementation of the provisions of Clauses 3 and 4 of these terms of reference together with CSA management.

DRAFTING NOTES:1) AN ADDITIONAL PARAGRAPH MAY BE ADDED LISTING APPLICABLE LIAISONS, EG, THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON _________________, THE STRATEGIC STEERING COMMITTEE ON _______________, AND OTHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CANADIAN MIRROR COMMITTEES TO ISO/IEC COMMITTEES CONCERNED WITH STANDARDS RELATED TO THE COMMITTEE’S ACTIVITIES.2) IF ADDITIONAL OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE REQUIRED, THEY MAY BE ADDED AS AN ANNEX. CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE POLICIES, DIRECTIVES, AND GUIDELINES. A NOTE SHOULD BE ADDED STATING THAT THE ANNEX FORMS A PART OF THE COMMITTEE’S TERMS OF REFERENCE.

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Annex E (informative)TC model terms of referenceNote: This annex is not a mandatory part of these Directives and guidelines.

DRAFTING NOTE: ALL PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE MUST BE REVIEWED BY THE SECRETARY, SPB PRIOR TO FINALIZING WITH THE COMMITTEE.

File No.

Strategic Steering Committee on ________________________Terms of reference

Note: This document is supplementary to the CSA By-Laws, CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization (CSA-SDP-1) and CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization (CSA- SDP-2, Parts 1, 2, and 3), which are based on the principles of the consensus process. These terms of reference were approved by the Strategic Steering Committee on 20XX-XX-XX, SSC ballot number or minute reference _________.

1. Authorization 1.1

The Technical Committee on _____________________________ (hereinafter called the Committee) operates under the authority of the Strategic Steering Committee on _____________________________.

1.2

Amendments to these terms of reference shall be prepared by CSA staff, in consultation with the executive committee, chair, or chair designate, and referred to the SSC for approval.

2. Scope 2.1

The Committee shall be responsible for developing and maintaining standards related toa) ___________ ;b) ___________ ; andc) ___________.

2.2The scope of the Committee does not include those standards which ____________________________.

3. Committee structure 3.1 Categories

Members shall represent the following categories on the basis of their predominant interest in the products or services detailed in Clause 2.1 of these terms of reference:

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DRAFTING NOTE: THIS CLAUSE IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY TO ADD A CATEGORY OR TO MODIFY THE DESCRIPTION OF THESE CATEGORIES TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.

a) Producer interest — this category shall include those who are predominantly involved in production (ie, manufacture), promotion, retailing, or distribution of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s);

b) User interest — this category shall include those who predominantly represent consumer interests or end users of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s), and who are not involved in any way in production and/or distribution of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s);

c) Regulatory authority — this category shall include those who are predominantly involved in regulating the use of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s); and

d) General interest — this category shall include those who are not associated with production, distribution, direct use, or regulation of the subject product(s), material(s), or service(s). This category may include representatives of academic and scientific interests.

3.2 Matrix

The matrix of the Committee shall be as follows:

DRAFTING NOTE: THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM NUMBERS WILL DEPEND ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMITTEE.

Committee matrix

Code Interest categories Minimum Maximum

PI Producer interest 4 6

UI User interest 4 6RA Regulatory authority 4 6

GI General interest 4 6