The Canadian Standards Association, now formally called CSA Group and commonly called just CSA, is responsible for certifying consumer products, and providing standards. CSA is a private, not-for-profit corporation focused on enhancing safety, the environment, and trade. CSA often tests products, and certifies ones which meet appropriate standards. CSA certification symbols can be found on things such as eye protection, industrial footwear, protective clothing, and many others.
CSA is divided into three separate divisions, each with its own board of directors:
The Canadian Standards Association division is the organization that helps the production and publication of standards. CSA is forbidden from writing standards; instead, it helps industry experts, consumer advocated, and other external representatives write standards. Each standard is written by a team of representatives called a Technical Committee, which designs a standard and then votes to authorize it as a legitimate CSA standard.
CSA International is the division that actually conducts physical tests on products and inspects production facilities to ensure adherence to standards.
QMI, formerly the Quality Management Institute, is the division that deals with registering management systems, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, TS 16949, OHS, CSMS, TAPA, and many others.
CSA is not owned by shareholders, but rather is controlled by the votes of several thousand associate members.
CSA is based in Toronto, Ontario, with its head office and main laboratories on Rexdale Drive. Despite the name, CSA is in fact an international organization, with offices in the United States, Mexico, Europe, and the Far East. (This is, in fact, why the company is formally branded as CSA Group.)
The current President of CSA is Robert Griffin.
CSA competes with, and to some extent also cooperates with, its American equivalent, Underwriters Laboratories.
