Hi MDD_QNA,
The CSA group is an external laboratory recognized, among others, by Health Canada. If you look at a CSA report you will find statements like the following:
"Changes/Updates in risk management documents that affect the safety of this medical device during its lifecycle shall be communicated to the CSA Group as a condition for continued certification."
The certificate you receive from organizations such as CSA helps you when you apply to Health Canada for new licences or license amendment. Health Canada recognizes their reports as objective evidence for compliance.
Your relationship with the testing lab, much like with Health Canada, is something that lasts throughout the product life-cycle. When you make a significant change to the device you must notify CSA and follow their procedure for testing and evaluation which will result in a new report. This needs to happen before applying to the higher authority, i.e. Health Canada.
Shimon