Canada pushes for global e-com standard
Canada is among the countries pushing for an international standard for e-commerce, in hopes that it will encourage more Canadians to embrace online shopping.
On March 29, Industry Minister John Manley released the Canadian Standards Strategy, an eight-page document that outlines, in general terms, the direction Canada should take in developing standards for protecting health, safety and the environment, as well as promoting trade and economic competitiveness. Of interest to industry is a suggestion in the document that standardization – particularly voluntary standards – can help reduce the costs of regulation. In announcing the strategy, Manley singled out e-commerce as one area where Canada hopes to persuade other countries to adopt international standards.
The Standards Council of Canada will now work to develop an implementation plan, which will outline how the strategy is to proceed.