Laboratory accreditation was mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) over four years ago, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to propose regulations for implementing the new requirements. The agency’s court-ordered deadlines to complete certain FSMA regulations, including preventive controls, produce safety standards, and the foreign supplier verification program, has delayed the laboratory accreditation mandate. Laboratory testing is an important component of several FSMA regulations, however, prompting many stakeholders to urge the agency to expedite the accreditation rule. Continue Reading
