[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR285.13]

[Page 402-403]
 
                  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
 
Sec. 285.13  Denial, suspension, revocation, or termination of accreditation.

    (a) A laboratory may at any time voluntarily terminate its 
participation and responsibilities as an accredited laboratory by 
advising NVLAP in writing of its desire to do so.
    (b) If NVLAP finds that an accredited laboratory does not meet all 
NVLAP requirements, has violated the terms of its accreditation, or does 
not continue to comply with the provisions of these procedures, NVLAP 
may suspend the laboratory's accreditation, or advise of NVLAP's intent 
to revoke accreditation.
    (1) If a laboratory's accreditation is suspended, NVLAP shall notify 
the laboratory of that action stating the reasons for and conditions of 
the suspension and specifying the action(s) the laboratory must take to 
have its accreditation reinstated. Conditions of suspension will include 
prohibiting the laboratory from using the NVLAP logo on its test or 
calibration reports, correspondence, or advertising during the 
suspension period in the area(s) affected by the suspension.
    (2) NVLAP will not require a suspended laboratory to return its 
Certificate and Scope of Accreditation, but the laboratory must refrain 
from using the NVLAP logo in the area(s) affected until such time as the 
problem(s) leading to the suspension has been resolved. When 
accreditation is reinstated, NVLAP will authorize the laboratory to 
resume testing or calibration activities in the previously suspended 
area(s) as an accredited laboratory.
    (c) If NVLAP proposes to deny or revoke accreditation of a 
laboratory, NVLAP shall inform the laboratory of the reasons for the 
proposed denial or revocation and the procedure for appealing such a 
decision.
    (1) The laboratory will have thirty days from the date of receipt of 
the proposed denial or revocation letter to

[[Page 403]]

appeal the decision to the Director of NIST. If the laboratory appeals 
the decision to the Director of NIST, the proposed denial or revocation 
will be stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. The proposed denial or 
revocation will become final through the issuance of a written decision 
to the laboratory in the event that the laboratory does not appeal the 
proposed denial or revocation within the thirty-day period.
    (2) If accreditation is revoked, the laboratory may be given the 
option of voluntarily terminating the accreditation.
    (3) A laboratory whose accreditation has been revoked must cease use 
of the NVLAP logo on any of its reports, correspondence, or advertising 
related to the area(s) affected by the revocation. If the revocation is 
total, NVLAP will instruct the laboratory to return its Certificate and 
Scope of Accreditation and to remove the NVLAP logo from all test or 
calibration reports, correspondence, or advertising. If the revocation 
affects only some, but not all of the items listed on a laboratory's 
Scope of Accreditation, NVLAP will issue a revised Scope that excludes 
the revoked area(s) in order that the laboratory might continue 
operations in accredited areas.
    (d) A laboratory whose accreditation has been voluntarily 
terminated, denied or revoked, may reapply and be accredited if the 
laboratory:
    (1) Completes the assessment and evaluation process; and
    (2) Meets the NVLAP conditions and criteria for accreditation.