FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30, 2011

NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Lab
wins Governor’s Award for Excellence

RALEIGH — The Food and Drug Protection Laboratory of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has received a Governor’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding State Government Service.

The awards committee noted the laboratory’s accreditation to the ISO 17025 Standard for chemical and microbiological testing of foods, which occurred in 2010. This year, feed and fertilizer testing was added to the accreditation scope. Lab personnel pursued accreditation over a four-year period while maintaining routine workloads.

“Due to their diligence, North Carolina’s lab is one of the top agriculture laboratories in the nation,” the awards program stated. “North Carolina’s lab is so well-respected, its staff mentors other states, as well as serves on the (Food and Drug Administration) Accreditation Committee.”

“Our lab is one of five in the United States that are accredited in both chemical and biological testing,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Laboratory accreditation benefits North Carolinians because it allows federal partners like the FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture to accept our data, which can speed up decisions pertaining to food and feed safety.”

The Food and Drug Protection Division administers programs to assure North Carolinians that their food and drugs are safe, sanitary and distributed safely. The division also determines that labeling and packaging are accurate and informative.

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