NIST Creates New Food Safety Testing Consortium
Published Date: 5/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is launching a new Food Nutrition and Safety Consortium starting August 25, 2026. This group will help improve how we test food for quality and safety by bringing together experts to create better measurement methods and standards. If you work with food testing, you can join by sending a letter of interest and signing an agreement with NIST.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
NIST FNS Consortium opens Aug 25, 2026
NIST is launching the Food Nutrition and Safety (FNS) Measurements and Methods Consortium, with activities commencing August 25, 2026. If you work in food testing, you can apply to join by submitting a letter of interest (via the webform, email, or hardcopy); NIST will accept letters on an ongoing basis and will notify organizations of eligibility.
Annual interlaboratory studies to improve standards
The Consortium will run at least one interlaboratory study each year to evaluate reference materials and published methods, develop new reference materials, collect reproducibility data, and support proposals to standardize tests through AOAC International or similar processes.
CRADA required to participate (alternate agreements possible)
To participate, eligible organizations must sign a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Organizations that are legally prohibited or not authorized to enter CRADAs may, at NIST's discretion, participate under a different agreement with terms that may differ from the CRADA.
No proprietary information accepted; materials encouraged
The Consortium will not accept or share proprietary information and letters of interest must not include proprietary material. By contrast, contributions of physical materials to be used as interlaboratory study samples (such as food ingredients or products) are highly encouraged.
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