The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) has announced a partnership with the National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) to offer a joint recognition accreditation program to hemp and cannabis testing laboratories in the United States. The new program is recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the international organization for accreditation bodies.
From left to right: Patrick Atagi, President, NIHC; Adam Gouker, Accreditation Services General Manager, A2LA; Trace McInturff, Vice President of Accreditation Services, A2LA; Chris Gunning, Director of Operational Excellence, A2LA; Lakshmy Mahon, Executive VP, NIHC
“A2LA is very pleased to partner with NIHC to set and raise the bar for quality and technical competence of hemp testing laboratories to the NIHC stakeholders,” said Trace McInturff, Vice President of Accreditation Services, A2LA. “This is truly a unique program that offers hemp labs recognition from both of these important organizations, which will inspire confidence in the quality of their test results while ensuring consumer safety.”
Laboratory accreditation is an indicator of the quality and competence of an organization based on international standards and is the most appropriate way to ensure an organization’s competence in performing a specified task. Through accreditation, customers, clients, and stakeholders gain confidence and assurance in the validity of test results.
The partnership between A2LA and NIHC is outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which expresses the details of the joint accreditation program. The program is based on requirements from ISO/IEC 17025, a global standard for testing and calibration laboratories.
“NIHC is excited to work side-by-side with the experts at A2LA in this collaborative effort to offer our members new avenues for accreditation, especially at this critical time when lab reliability is at the forefront of product quality,” said Patrick Atagi, President, NIHC. “A2LA has a long history of facilitating safety through accreditation, and the NIHC team is proud to be a part of this safety-driven cooperation.”
NIHC is a 501(c)6, advocating for a domestic and an international regulatory framework geared towards boosting consumer confidence, streamline trade, and foster innovation within the hemp industry. A2LA is a 501(c)3 and is an ILAC MRA signatory provider of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 and other related ISO and ISO/IEC standards.
“The success of complex laboratory testing operations often depends upon the standards set and implemented within those labs,” said Lakshmy Mahon, Executive VP of NIHC Programs. “This cooperation with A2LA allows NIHC to provide the hemp market with a much-needed program geared towards consumer safety, reliability, and quality. A2LA has a deep understanding of the global market, and we hope to make this program prolific on an international scale.”
For more information:
A2LA 
www.a2la.org
National Industrial Hemp Council of America 
www.nihcoa.com