[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1, Parts 0 to 299]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR285.14]

[Page 414-415]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
 CHAPTER II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 285--NATIONAL VOLUNTARY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart B--Establishing a LAP
 
Sec. 285.14  Request from a private sector organization.

    (a) Any private sector organization which has determined a need to 
accredit laboratories for specific products, calibrations, or testing 
services, may request the Chief of NVLAP to establish a LAP if it uses 
procedures meeting the following conditions:
    (1) Public notice of meetings and other activities including 
requests for LAPs is provided in a timely fashion and is distributed to 
reach the attention of interested persons;
    (2) Meetings are open and participation in activities is available 
to interested persons;
    (3) Decisions reached by the private sector organization in the 
development of a request for a LAP represent substantial agreement of 
the interested persons;
    (4) Prompt consideration is given to the expressed views and 
concerns of interested persons;
    (5) Adequate and impartial mechanisms for handling substantive and 
procedural complaints and appeals are in place; and
    (6) Appropriate records of all meetings are maintained and the 
official procedures used by the private sector organization to make a 
formal request for a LAP are made available upon request to any 
interested person.
    (b) Each request must be in writing and must include the information 
required in Sec. 7.11(b) and a description of the way in which the 
organization has

[[Page 415]]

met the conditions specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) NVLAP may request clarification of the information required by 
Sec. 285.11(b).
    (d) Before deciding to proceed with development of a LAP, the Chief 
of NVLAP shall publish a Federal Register notice of the receipt of a LAP 
request. The notice will indicate how to obtain a copy of the request 
and will state that anyone may submit comments on the need for a LAP to 
the requesting private sector organization within 60 days of the date of 
the notice.
    (e) NVLAP shall notify interested persons of the decision to proceed 
or not to proceed with development of a LAP.

[49 FR 44623, Nov. 8, 1984, as amended at 55 FR 38314, Sept. 18, 1990. 
Redesignated and amended at 59 FR 27748, May 3, 1994; 64 FR 59617, Nov. 
3, 1999]