California Animal Health Laboratory Certification Program
New legislation effective January 1, 2022, requires the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to establish a certification program for laboratories testing California’s livestock and poultry for Emergency or Regulatory conditions on CDFA’s “List of Reportable Conditions for Animals and Animal Products” (FAC; Division 5, Part 1, Chapter 1, Article 3.5, Sections 9151 – 9158). Per this new law:
Any “laboratory providing services in the examination, diagnosis, analysis, testing, quantifying, or identification of any emergency or regulatory condition of poultry or livestock owned or located within California must be certified with CDFA.”
“A certified laboratory shall report positive and suspect positive test results only to the party who provided the original sample and shall also report the test results as required by Section 9101 or any other law.”
Requirements for Certification
- Diagnostic test(s) must be a USDA-approved testing method for agent(s) indicated
AND
- American Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories (AAVLD) Accreditation of the laboratory
or - ISO 17025 Certification for each test method specified
Application Process
- Ensure AAVLD Accreditation for relevant laboratory or ISO Certification of test methods and/or use of USDA - approved diagnostic tests
- Complete CDFA application for the program: California Animal Health Laboratory Certification Program Application
- Download application
- Submit application via email to cdfa.ahb_labprogram@cdfa.ca.gov to apply for program certification or mail to ATTN: Animal Health Branch, CDFA, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814
- Provide payment via check or money order to: “CDFA - 916” by mail to the following address: Cashier’s Office, CDFA, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814
- Provide necessary supporting documents
- Proof of AAVLD accreditation or ISO certification documents
- Proof of exemption from legislation
- Application and supporting documentation will be reviewed by CDFA staff
- Approval or exemption certificate issued via email
Renewal Process:
- Renew applications annually by Jan. 1 of each calendar year
- Download California Animal Health Laboratory Certification Program Application
- Submit application via email to labprogram@cdfa.ca.gov to apply for renewal certification or mail to Attn: Animal Health Branch, CDFA, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814
- Provide payment via check or money order to: “CDFA - 916” by mail to the following address: Cahier’s Office, CDFA, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814
- Provide necessary supporting documents
- Update testing performed and/or approval certificate or exemption on an annual basis
- Renewal certification will be issued via email