scope:

General.

This subchapter sets forth the functions and responsibilities of the Science and Technology (S&T) of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) relating to:

(a) The performance of comprehensive analytical tests and laboratory determinations of agricultural commodities and processed products.

(b) The conduct of experiments and collaborative studies to validate new analytical procedures and improved methodologies in order to promote faster, more precise, or safer laboratory testing for agricultural commodities and processed products.

(c) The supervised issuance of external quality control or proficiency check samples to laboratories under the Science and Technology's direction or performance review in order to regularly spot check and assess that analytical or test data produced by each laboratory is reproducible, precise, and reliable for a specific test program.

(d) The granting of laboratory program accreditation or certification or approval for specialty testing of agricultural commodities and products.

(e) The licensing of chemists to analyze cottonseed in order to certify its quality and grade.

(f) The granting of certification to non-federal laboratories for testing for trichinae in horsemeat for export to the European Community (EC).

(g) The granting of acceptance of standardized methodology or new procedures for commodity testing.

(h) The auditing of the facilities, equipment, quality control procedures, standard methodologies, and good laboratory practices for a commodity testing program of a laboratory.

(i) The examination of plants for novelty and distinctiveness in order to grant certificates of protection for new varieties of sexually reproduced plants, and the provision of other fee based services authorized by the Plant Variety Protection Act.

(j) The extension or coordination of research for the determination of a new chemical analyte or microorganism in a commodity product or food.

(k) The analysis of imported fluecured and burley tobacco for pesticide residues.

(l) The supervision and implementation of the State enforcement of the recordkeeping requirements for private applicators of restricted-use pesticides for agricultural production.