Setting the Standard

Global sensitivity to the importance of our environmental resources has led to an increased need for better management of our environment. Integral to the responsible stewardship of these vital resources is the availability of reliable test data - data which have been produced according to the highest standards of quality.

Inherent in all our activities is the goal of improving the quality of environmental information in Canada and worldwide.

Benchmarks of Performance: Accreditation & Proficiency Testing

Since 1994, the CAEAL Accreditation Program conducts site audits and evaluates each laboratory's performance at regular intervals, and grants accreditation to the laboratory based on a decision of the CAEAL Accreditation Council.

To safeguard the quality of environmental data, we assess participating laboratories to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17011 standard. The granting of CAEAL accreditation requires a laboratory to successfully complete an initial site assessment and to maintain accreditation the laboratory must successfully complete a site visit a year following the initial visit and every two years thereafter.

Laboratories are evaluated through inter-lab comparisons minimally twice a year in CAEAL's Proficiency Testing Program. Accreditation requires the laboratory to participate in CAEAL proficiency testing where it is offered and where CAEAL does not offer PT, participate in alternate PT, including programs from approved PT providers. Each laboratory must undertake any corrective actions within a specified period of time and to the satisfaction of a scientific panel, the CAEAL Advisory Panel.

Site visits are conducted by highly trained volunteer assessors who are selected for their strong analytical backgrounds. Each assessor must undergo comprehensive and formal training on both ISO and Canadian requirements.

International Recognition and Canadian Accrediting Body

CAEAL is a signatory member of Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and is a signatory to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and the APLAC MRA. These international agreements provide mutual recognition between almost 60 accrediting bodies in 40 countries in Africa, the Asia Pacific region, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. The main aim of these agreements is increased worldwide use and acceptance by both industry and government of results from accredited laboratories – “a product tested once and accepted everywhere”.

The CAEAL programs are endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, and enjoy the support of federal and provincial governments, as well as private sector companies who provide volunteer staff and work with us to enhance the quality of information available for making environmental decisions. To this end, we encourage government agencies, private sector organizations and professional associations across Canada to participate in the review and evaluation of issues relating to the quality of Canadian testing in environmental analytical laboratories.

Committed to Responsibility

We are committed to working with the laboratory community and their clients to achieve and demonstrate the value of implementing the highest quality standards of testing in Canadian environmental laboratories.

In our efforts to enhance services to both members and their clients, we will continue to expand our existing programs to cover a wider array of environmental tests. This effort is complemented by CAEAL's training courses and specialized studies. We will also seek further efficiencies in our programs in order to reduce costs to participating laboratories and encourage broader participation within the laboratory community. Finally, we will continue our international efforts both in the interest of promoting good science and ensuring that Canadian companies can meet the environmental requirements of international trade agreements.

Membership Information

Membership in the Canadian Association for Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL) is open to individuals, user groups, institutions, consultants, industrial organizations, regulatory agencies, laboratory equipment suppliers, and others interested in the work being carried out in environmental analytical laboratories. To become a member, please fill out a membership application. To learn more about our programs and how you can participate in CAEAL, please contact: