The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opened the application portal for accreditation bodies interested in participating in the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program.   

Under the LAAF program, the FDA will recognize accreditation bodies that will accredit food testing laboratories to standards established in the final rule on Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (referred to as LAAF-accredited laboratories). 

The final rule, issued by the FDA on December 3, 2021, established the LAAF program and outlined eligibility requirements that accreditation bodies and laboratories wishing to participate in the program will need to satisfy. The final rule also describes the procedures for how the FDA will manage and oversee the program. The FDA will maintain an online public registry of recognized accredited bodies and LAAF-accredited laboratories.