Overview
The Laboratory Recognition Programme (LRP) aims to establish a network of private testing laboratories recognised by Singapore Food Agency (SFA). These laboratories are recognised for their capability to support the industries’ food safety testing needs. LRP also serves to provide an oversight in ensuring the quality of test results produced by the recognised laboratories.
Food industry can engage the testing services of
SFA’s recognised laboratories, to meet your food testing needs i.e. in-house quality testing, export certificate testing.
Key criteria for private laboratories to be recognised by SFA include:
- Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 by the Singapore Accreditation Council or accreditation bodies under the ILAC mutual recognition arrangements (MRA), for test methods covered under the scope of recognition;
- Appointment of authorized analysts under Singapore’s Sale of Food Act (Chapter 283);
- Fulfilling on-site verification by SFA (compliance to stipulated requirements and suitability of tests to support purpose of testing) or foreign Competent Authority where required; and
- Maintaining laboratory competency through regular participation in proficiency testing programmes
See
Application for private laboratories interested to find out more information in applying for the programme.
Application
To apply as a recognised laboratory, the applicant shall meet the requirements of the LRP Terms and Conditions which minimally includes:
- Having local testing facilities to support the programme
- Being accredited by Singapore Accreditation Council or any accreditation body under the ILAC mutual recognition arrangements (MRA) to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard
NOTE: Recognition will only be granted to laboratories that meet the LRP requirements upon SFA’s assessment and verification.
Application Process
Refer to the following flow diagram for information on the general application process:
In general, it takes about 4 months from the receipt of application for a laboratory to be recognised by SFA. The time frame for processing an application may vary depending on factors such as:
- Degree of an applicant laboratory's compliance with requirements;
- Complexity of scope of the recognition;
- Availability of applicant laboratory and SFA officer to conduct the evaluation (e.g. on-site verification visit) and closure of findings highlighted during the verification visit.
Application Resources
^ Private laboratories seeking for new application/ renewal of recognition may submit a request for the documents via SFA’s online feedback form through the ‘Other Enquiries or Feedback’ category.
Recognised Laboratories
The laboratories recognised under LRP are listed with details as follows:
Refer to this spreadsheet to search for testing services offered by SFA's recognised laboratories under LRP.
LRP Certification Mark
The Laboratory Recognition Programme (LRP) certification mark is a flask with its outline completed by a leaf and an orange tick. The flask and leaf depict the recognised laboratories’ comprehensive and stringent tests, and symbolically represent food. The orange tick in the heart of the mark depicts SFA’s recognition and draws focus to the “LRP” acronym.
Upon written approval from SFA, laboratories recognised under LRP will be able to use the LRP certification mark on their test reports and other materials to showcase their recognition status.
Recognised laboratories may contact SFA via the online feedback form for permission to use the LRP certification mark, as well as further information and resources related to it. Under category, select ‘Laboratory Recognition Programme (LRP)’.