What is the RCC?
Launched in 2011, the United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) brings together regulators from both United States and Canadian departments with health, safety, and environmental protection mandates to reduce unnecessary differences between their regulatory frameworks. The RCC’s work is coordinated and monitored by the RCC Secretariat, composed of the United States Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
The Council provides a forum for stakeholders, including industry, consumers, and non-government organizations, to discuss regulatory barriers and identify opportunities for regulatory cooperation between the United States and Canada.
Just Released RCC Work Plans
The U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council released a new set of RCC Work Plans for the 2019-2020 cycle. The development of the RCC Work Plans was greatly influenced by the input received from interested stakeholders like you. The United States and Canada received 89 submissions from our public Request for Information and Gazette notices. We also received input from stakeholders who attended the RCC Stakeholder Dialogue in December 2018.
Launched in 2011, the United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) brings together regulators from both United States and Canadian departments with health, safety, and environmental protection mandates to reduce unnecessary differences between their regulatory frameworks. The RCC’s work is coordinated and monitored by the RCC Secretariat, composed of the United States Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
The Council provides a forum for stakeholders, including industry, consumers, and non-government organizations, to discuss regulatory barriers and identify opportunities for regulatory cooperation between the United States and Canada.
United States Regulator | Canadian Regulator | Work Plan and Partnership Statement (RPS) |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | Health Canada | |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) | |
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) | Health Canada | |
| U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | Natural Resources Canada | |
| U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) | Natural Resources Canada | |
| U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) | Natural Resources Canada | |
| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission | Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission | |
See the original 2016-2017 U.S.-Canada RCC Work Plans
Recent and Upcoming RCC Activities
RCC Meeting and Stakeholder Fireside Chat – September 4, 2024
Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Shalanda Young, and President of Canada’s Treasury Board, Anita Anand, met with stakeholders from the United States and Canada to discuss progress on United States – Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) initiatives. The discussion with stakeholders followed a meeting between RCC co-chairs that highlighted the importance of a renewed commitment to regulatory cooperation and transparency on regulatory collaboration. Existing work plans were reviewed to further strengthen joint efforts and new areas for collaboration were explored, such as reducing red tape for the agriculture sector and supporting advancements and innovation in transportation and auto manufacturing sectors.
Read the Joint Statement from the President of the Treasury Board and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
RCC Meeting - September 24, 2019
U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Acting Administrator Paul Ray and Treasury Board of Canada Secretary Peter Wallace convened the United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) at the Embassy of Canada to further regulatory cooperation in both countries. They were joined by Acting Ambassador of Canada to the United States Kirsten Hillman, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, and Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Christyne Tremblay.
This year’s RCC meeting focused on bringing together government officials in a series of regulator-to-regulator discussions to build on the progress made at the RCC Stakeholder Forum in December 2018 and to advance work in new areas. Regulators demonstrated progress in the areas of workplace chemicals, explosive precursor chemicals, energy efficiency reporting, automated vehicles, veterinary drugs, crop protection, medical devices, and advanced and small modular reactors.
Departments and agencies, under the direction from the RCC’s decision-making Council—and in consultation with affected stakeholders—will continue to lead efforts toward regulatory alignment or, absent alignment, the adoption of other measures that will make it easier to conduct business between the two countries.
The RCC is committed to releasing new work plans in the near future.
RCC Stakeholder Forum - December 2018
The 2018 RCC Stakeholder Forum was held December 4–5, 2018, in Washington, D.C. It was a successful 1.5-day event that brought together approximately 300 stakeholders and regulators. The event consisted of a plenary session and twelve breakout sessions. The report includes updates from various working groups and has been organized into themes such as transportation, health and energy.
Review the 2018 RCC Stakeholder Forum Executive Summary.
Signed MOU Reaffirming RCC - June 4, 2018
The United States and Canada sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reaffirming the principles and commitments of the RCC - On June 4, 2018 the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), within the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding on regulatory cooperation between the United States and Canada. The MOU reaffirms the principles and commitments of the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC). Through the elimination of unnecessary regulatory differences, this MOU promotes economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation.
For more information, see the MOU and Press Release.
Contact Information
General Inquiry: RCC@trade.gov
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