Agricultural Marketing Service
   
 
Technical Services Branch
 
LATD - Laboratory Approval and Certification Service  
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Through the Laboratory Approval Service (LAS), AMS develops and administers laboratory approval programs to enhance and expand export market access for US commodities by verifying and monitoring that the analyses of products destined to be exported or sold meet various countries’ or customers’ requirements. Through these programs, LAS ensures the testing of products offered for marketing is conducted by qualified and approved laboratories. LAS collaborates with food and agricultural industries and Federal agencies to administer comprehensive programs that meet their trading needs.

 
Currently, LAS administers three overarching laboratory approval programs—aflatoxin testing in tree and ground nuts, export verification for meat and poultry products, and component and cell count testing for Milk Market Administrator laboratories.

 
Laboratories must meet the program requirements which include following good laboratory practices and quality assurance and control practices, abiding by applicable domestic and international standards (such as ISO 17025), using established methods and accepted equipment, and passing on-site audits. Laboratories voluntarily apply and pay program fees to participate in this user-fee funded program.

 
In addition to administering laboratory approval programs, the LAS staff provides scientific and technical support to AMS commodity programs, other Federal Agencies, and to the food and agricultural communities to facilitate domestic and international marketing of agricultural commodities.


 
Contact Us
 
  LATD LAS Directory  
 
  LATD Home Page  
 
Additional Information Graphic
 
  Aflatoxin Program  
 
  Dairy Program  
 
  Export Program  
 
  Request for New Laboratory Approvals  
 
See Also Graphic
 
  Poultry Program (see Export Program)  
 
  Trichinae Export Program (See Export Program)  
 
  ..Previous  
 
 
  Last Modified Date: 04/10/2015