Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)

The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is the Canadian federal standards organization that develops national standards, specifications, manuals and guides. It also provides conformity-assessment and related listing services that support government procurement and other public-sector requirements. Its French name is Office des normes générales du Canada (ONGC). PSPC describes CGSB as serving economic, regulatory, procurement, health, safety and environmental interests.

CGSB was part of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and was accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a standards-development organization, as noted in the Treasury Board policy framework. For suppliers, the name matters most because CGSB standards are written into technical requirements, and CGSB listings can be a condition of bidding.

CAN/CGSB designations and the standards they cover

CGSB standards are generally identified with the designation CAN/CGSB followed by a number. Two examples show the range. CAN/CGSB-32.310 covers organic production systems, and CAN/CGSB-86.1 covers care symbols on textile products. CGSB's work has also touched fuels and other regulated or technical goods. The full list of published standards sits in the CGSB catalogue, and the organic agriculture page covers one of its best-known areas.

What CGSB services included

According to the CanadaBuys Supply Manual glossary, CGSB services included developing standards, specifications, manuals and guides, maintaining listings of prequalified products and services, and providing quality-management services. In practice, its work fell into four groups:

• Standards development
• Conformity assessment
• Prequalified product and service listings
• Quality-management services

How federal buyers use CGSB in procurement

CanadaBuys guidance on standards and quality assurance directs buyers to use recognized Canadian standards or specifications for goods and services unless the purchase justifies an exception. Where no Canadian standard is available, buyers should use Canadian specifications from a recognized standards-writing organization where possible. Buyers may also consult CGSB when assessing the suitability of United States or international standards or specifications.

The same guidance says CGSB and the Department of National Defence (DND) developed and maintained lists of products or services that meet recognized performance standards or specifications. When a listing program is used, the notice of proposed procurement, the solicitation and the contract must state that the offeror or contractor, and its product, must be listed in the applicable listing. This is how CGSB shows up in defence-related buying.

A DND request for proposals for rosettes shows the standards route. It required the contractor to ensure that care symbols complied with CAN/CGSB-86.1, as specified in the technical data and item description.

Change to CGSB services from April 1, 2026

The Government of Canada states that CGSB would cease offering standards-development and conformity-assessment services as of April 1, 2026. The standards catalogue would remain available. Existing CAN/CGSB standards can therefore still be cited in solicitations, so suppliers should read the referenced standard in the bid documents rather than assume a requirement has lapsed. The PSPC CGSB page is the place to confirm current status.

What CGSB means for a supplier bidding on Canadian public contracts

When a solicitation cites a CAN/CGSB standard, you must meet the version and requirements it specifies. You must also provide any evidence, certification, listing or conformity documentation the solicitation requires. If the solicitation invokes a CGSB listing program, both your company and the offered product may need to appear on the applicable list. Check the technical data, item description and mandatory criteria early, and confirm any listing requirement before the bid closing date.