FDA Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) Program
Advancing the National Accreditation Programme
FDA Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) Program
JANAAC is recognized by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) Program. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) final rule establishes standards for food testing by a LAAF-accredited laboratory in certain circumstances that may be required to inter alia, support removal of a food from an import alert or address an identified or suspected food safety problem as required by existing FDA food safety regulations. The goal of the LAAF program is to protect the safety and security of the U.S. food supply by improving the quality and reliability of food testing and reporting in certain circumstances using harmonized standards with participating laboratories and accreditation bodies being subject to FDA oversight.
Accreditation Requirements
JANAAC assesses food testing laboratories that apply for FDA LAAF accreditation against the criteria found within the Code of Federal Regulations, Volume 1, CITE: 21CFR1, Title 21–Food and Drugs Chapter I–Food and Drug Administration Department of Health and Human Services Subchapter A – General Part 1 General Enforcement Regulations, Subpart R – Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods.
Sec. 1.1138 What are the eligibility requirements for a LAAF-accredited laboratory?
A laboratory that is LAAF-accredited or seeking LAAF-accreditation must demonstrate it is capable of conducting each method of food testing for which it is or will be LAAF-accredited by meeting all of the following requirements:
(1) For each method, the laboratory is accredited by a recognized accreditation body to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard.
(2)
- (i) The laboratory has successfully passed a proficiency test provided by a competent proficiency testing organization within the last 12 months for each method within the scope of LAAF-accreditation.
- (ii) If the laboratory determines there is no proficiency testing program available or practicable for a method, it may use a comparison program. A laboratory must request approval from the recognized accreditation body regarding the determination prior to using a comparison program in lieu of an annual proficiency test. The laboratory is required to demonstrate competency through participation in the comparison program.
- (iii) A laboratory must submit all proficiency test and comparison program results, regardless of outcome, to the recognized accreditation body within 30 calendar days of receipt.
(3) The laboratory ensures that its procedures for monitoring the validity of the results of testing it conducts, include the use of reference materials or quality control samples with each batch of samples it tests.
APPLY NOW
To receive a quote and apply for accreditation, kindly send applications to servicerequest@janaac.gov.jm.
