ANAB Recognized as an Accreditation Body under the FDA's Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) Program

The FDA has announced its recognition of ANAB as an Accreditation Body (AB) under the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program.

The LAAF program is intended to transform the nation’s food safety system by shifting the focus from responding to foodborne illnesses to preventing them. The program will improve the accuracy and reliability of certain food testing through the uniformity of standards and enhanced FDA oversight of participating laboratories and ABs. The goal of the program is to better protect public health by adopting a modern, preventative, and risk-based approach to food-safety regulation.

Laboratories accredited by ANAB to the LAAF program will be authorized to conduct certain food testing as described in the final rule. The LAAF final rule establishes the LAAF program and outlines eligibility requirements for ABs and laboratories that wish to participate in the program. The LAAF final rule also describes the procedures for how the FDA will manage and oversee the program. Foods covered under the LAAF program are bottled drinking water, egg shells, sprouts, import/export food products, and foods suspected of adulteration.

If your laboratory is interested in participating in the program, you can submit your application to ANAB.