Food Safety Laboratory

As of July 1, 2022, please direct all inquiries related to laboratory evaluations to RA-AGFSLABSDIV@pa.gov. 

The laboratory provides testing and analysis for the inspection divisions of the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services and the Bureau of Plant Industry for agronomic products and pesticide regulations and applications. This lab has been accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). 

The support consists of routine testing for adherence to standards of identity and tag guarantees, as well as problem solving in the areas of consumer concerns, quality defects, animal exposure to toxic substances and methods development for proficiency in the field of agricultural analytical science.

The division is comprised of two sections:

1. The Food Safety Section provides direct analytical support of the programs administered by the inspection divisions in the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, and on special occasions, does the same for sister units involved in food distribution. To do this, The Food Safety Section provides routine testing of food and dairy products, investigative testing and addresses consumer concerns. The section provides similar services on an as needed basis to the Bureau of Food Distribution and the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board.
2. The Agronomics Regulation Section provides direct analytical support of programs administered by the inspection divisions in the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, as well as the Bureau of Plant Industry in the areas of pesticide analysis on agricultural commodities, pesticide misuse, investigations and assurance of pesticide formulation potencies, the Chemsweep initiative, and the routine analysis of agronomic products such as feeds, fertilizers and liming materials for adherence to tag guarantees.

State Laboratory Evaluation Program:

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture approves commercial laboratories and milk facilities to perform tests required by current regulations. Regulatory compliance is mandatory for raw milk, pasteurized milk, other dairy products, and frozen desserts.

Entities licensed by the department that process and package pasteurized milk, dairy products, frozen dessert, raw milk permits and producer testing, use commercial laboratories to ensure regulatory compliance.

List of Laboratory Codes and Procedures:

List of Commercial Laboratories

These laboratories participate in Pennsylvania's Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program conducted on a yearly basis and are evaluated on-site every two years. The "Commercial Laboratories" and "Milk Industry Laboratories" below are "Pennsylvania Approved Dairy Laboratories," approved by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the Milk Sanitation Law (act of July 2, 1935, as amended) (31 P.S. Section 645 et seq.)

PA Approved Laboratories and Facilities

Certified Industry Supervisor Laboratories
PA Approved Commercial Laboratories
PA Approved Milk Industry Laboratories
PA Approve Regulatory Laboratory
PA Approved Screening Only Facilities
Pathogen Acceptable Dairy Testing Laboratories

Appendix N Drug Residue Training Program

This site contains training documents associated with Appendix N Drug Residue testing and QC forms that are required for record keeping. A test will be required for completion of the training program and will be submitted for grading purpose. A score of 80% is a passing grade. Passing test scores will be maintained as proof of training.

Training of Certified Industry Supervisors (CIS) and Industry Supervisors (IS) that are listed at their testing facility is required according to the current FDA 2013 Evaluation of Milk Laboratories manual (2013 EML).

Participation in this training program with a passing test score would be acceptable for the required training of CIS and IS.

This training must be completed every two (2) years. Failure to do so will result in removal as a CIS or IS.