The need for harmonized standards in a global marketplace

Manufacturers and consumers have access to more markets today than ever before thanks to major advances in transportation and technology. But while globalization presents businesses with many lucrative opportunities, it also comes with significant hurdles. That is why internationally harmonized standards are key to making global trade more accessible and economical, according to a whitepaper by CSA Group.

The need

Companies face added complexity and costs when selling their products to different countries that have their own set of requirements. To comply with multiple safety standards, companies often end up designing and testing multiple versions of their products — a task which slows down production and time to market. However, harmonized standards allow companies to design and test a product to a single set of standards adopted by many countries, saving them both time and money.

The advantages

Jointly developed by multiple entities, harmonized standards reduce complexity by minimizing redundant and conflicting standards. They also contribute to boosted product quality and safety, as the process requires leveraging the technical expertise of standards development organizations (SDOs) across the globe.

Many industries are already enjoying the benefits of harmonized standards. For example, laptop manufacturers can sell the same laptop all over the world, thanks to the globally harmonized IEC 62368 standard (Safety of electronic equipment within the field of audio/video, information technology and communication technology).

CSA Group’s role

CSA Group works with SDOs around the world to develop harmonized standards. The organization has helped facilitate the globalization of many important standards for hazardous location (HazLoc) equipment, power tools, electro-medical devices, and more. For example, CSA Group’s strong participation in the development of the IEC 60079 Series of standards for equipment used in hazardous areas helped to ensure that the final standards were largely suitable for the Canadian market, with a minimum number of national deviations.

Contact CSA Group and download the free whitepaper to learn more about harmonized standards.

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