SQF module 2.5.6.1iv - External Laboratory Accreditation

Under SQF module 2.5.6.1iv when an external laboratoy is used for testing the lab shall be accredited to ISO 17025 or an equivalent national standard. What are some equvalent standards? There are a few labs in our area that follow FDA, USDA, AOAC and EPA compliant methodologies and use a proficiency to validate tests. Would these be considered equivalent standards although they are not accredidiations?

I can't speak for outside testing labs the use proficiency to validate testing, however in the US A2LA (American Association for Labotatory Accredidation) is a membership society for contract labs based on ISO 17025 and widely recognized as accredidated and valid outside testing lab.

The National equivalent in the U.S. is ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994, however it is a self declared compliance. Accrediting bodies can assess to it, but I am not familiar with an AB that assesses to Z540 without treating it as only additional requirements to AN/ISO/IEC 17025:2005.....in other words, stay with 17025 and you are good. You are extremely unlikely to see an AB cert and scope to only Z540 without 17025.<br style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 255); "><br style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 255); ">Accreditation by an ILAC signatory is to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard, the accreditation itself is not a National equivalent.