AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs learned on June 14, 2022 that it is now recognized to accredit laboratories under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) final rule on the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program. Under the FDA program, LAAF-recognized Accrediting Bodies (AB) may accredit food testing laboratories to LAAF program specifications. FDA will list AIHA LAP LAAF-accredited laboratories on their publicly available registry on the FDA website. When a sufficient capacity of LAAF-accredited laboratories is reached FDA will publish a Federal Register giving 6 months’ notice of the required use of LAAF-accredited laboratories. The FDA Program is being established to support accredited laboratory testing when called for by FDA as it responds to food safety-related issues. LAAF-accredited labs (those accredited by FDA approved accreditation bodies) will be allowed to test food under these circumstances.

Under its Food Laboratory Accreditation Program (FoodLAP), AIHA LAP already gives laboratories the option to be accredited to FoodLAP and/or the AOAC International Guidelines for Laboratories Performing Microbiological and Chemical Analyses of Food, Dietary Supplements, and Pharmaceuticals. AIHA LAP has established a LAAF program under FoodLAP and can begin accepting applications for those labs wanting to be accredited to LAAF and conduct food testing on behalf of FDA. Those laboratories already accredited under FoodLAP, will simply need to add LAAF to their scopes and may not need another onsite assessment.

Whether you work at a food testing laboratory or you are a customer in need of food testing, you can contact Cheryl O. Morton at cmorton@aiha.org should you have questions or need additional information AIHA LAP’s current and planned food testing programs.

For More Information on FSMA: