The Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program, recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), holds great significance in accrediting specific types of food-testing laboratories to meet the standards established in the FDA LAAF Final Rule. This program utilizes ISO/IEC 17025 and the LAAF program specifications, with accreditation provided by JAS-AAS. Food testing labs worldwide are eligible to apply for this program.

What types of testing does the LAAF final rule cover?

Once the LAAF final rule is fully implemented, owners and consignees will be required to engage the services of a LAAF-accredited laboratory for the following food testing purposes:

Supporting the removal of a food product or firm from an import alert through consecutive successful testing, aiming to have them removed from the red list.

Supporting the admission of imported food detained at the border (e.g., human or animal food articles, and returned U.S. goods that are food articles) due to actual or perceived violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This includes products suspected to contain unapproved food additives or unauthorized food contact substances.

Meeting the requirements of existing FDA food safety regulations when addressing identified or suspected food safety issues. This includes certain tests related to shell eggs, sprouts, and bottled drinking water.

Complying with a directed food laboratory order, a new procedure introduced in this final rule, which allows the FDA to mandate the use of a LAAF-accredited laboratory to address specific, rare instances of identified or suspected food safety problems.

Conducting testing in connection with certain administrative processes, such as tests submitted as part of an appeal against an administrative detention order.

JAS-AAS, through its Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), offers efficient and personalized service, including the swift scheduling of assessments to cater to the needs of laboratories. The establishment of the LAAF program aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of specific food testing procedures by ensuring uniform standards and strengthening FDA oversight over participating laboratories.