Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§138c Samples
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - NATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION › § 138c
Summary
The Secretary must give performance test samples to any lab that applies for accreditation. The lab must test those samples using methods the Secretary has approved or other methods shown to work as well. The lab must send the results on forms the Secretary provides, by the deadline the Secretary sets. The Secretary will review the results and decide if the lab can accurately test for chemical residues in agricultural products. Accredited labs must get such samples at least two times a year.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §138c
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)The Secretary shall ensure that performance evaluation samples are provided to any laboratory that has applied for accreditation under this chapter.
(2)A laboratory described in paragraph (1) shall analyze such performance evaluation samples and submit the results of such analysis to the Secretary, as provided for in section 138a of this title.
(3)Samples shall be tested by the laboratory according to methods specifically approved for such purpose by alternate methods of demonstrated adequacy or equivalence, as determined in regulations established under this chapter.
(b)(1)The laboratory shall submit the results of the tests conducted under subsection (a) to the Secretary on forms provided by the Secretary, on or before the date determined by the Secretary.
(2)The Secretary shall evaluate the results of such tests achieved by the laboratory and shall determine whether such laboratory is capable of undertaking an accurate analysis of chemical residues in agricultural products.
(c)The Secretary shall ensure that performance evaluation samples for analysis are provided to laboratories accredited under this chapter not less than two times a year.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 138c
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73