North Carolina Department of Agriculture first organization to be accredited under the program
Frederick, Md (January 28, 2026) — The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a global, nonprofit accreditation body, has launched a program to assess state legal metrology laboratories to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s State Legal Metrology Program, a program managed by the Office of Weights and Measures (OWM). A2LA is now able to assess state legal metrology laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025 and the requirements of NIST Handbook 143.
According to the NIST website, “The OWM Laboratory Metrology Program promotes and ensures SI traceability of measurement results for state-level legal metrology laboratory programs across the United States through metrology training and by providing proficiency testing (PT) and laboratory recognition services.”
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Standards Division – Metrology Laboratory
The first organization to be accredited under this program is The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Standards Division – Metrology Laboratory. Accreditation with A2LA represents a critical step for the department by streamlining oversight, consolidating accrediting bodies where feasible, and coordinating assessments, maximizing on-site assessor time while achieving meaningful cost savings for the state.
This recognition advances North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s vision of strengthening efficiencies and innovations by consolidating the department’s regulatory and consumer protection laboratories into one state-of-the art facility. Harmonizing quality programs across the Steve Troxler Agricultural Sciences Center enables laboratories within the facility to share experience, expertise, and resources in support of consistent, high-quality service.
Quality Administrator Tina Buffington-Johnson said, “The transition process was straightforward, and A2LA’s proactive engagement, including advance discussions, helped to ensure a smooth implementation. The Department is grateful for the strong and collaborative partnership with A2LA as the agency continues to uphold excellence in metrology and consumer protection.”
For more information about A2LA’s State Legal Metrology program, visit A2LA.org/accreditation/state-legal-metrology-accreditation-program or contact us at info@A2LA.org.
Media Contact: Wallis Reed; wreed@A2LA.org; 301-644-3230
###
A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation organization offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, biobanking facilities, stand-alone sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, and product certifiers. For more information, visit https://A2LA.org/.