Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73not60

§138c Samples

Title 7 › Chapter 6A— NATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION › § 138c

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must give test samples to any lab that asks to become accredited under these rules. The lab must test those samples and send the results back as required under related rules. Labs must use testing methods the Secretary has approved, or alternate methods that regulations say work just as well. Labs must send their results on the forms the Secretary provides and 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 test 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 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60