---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 159.010-3"
title: "46"
number: "159.010-3"
heading: "Independent laboratory: Standards for acceptance."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/159.010-3"
---

# §159.010-3. Independent laboratory: Standards for acceptance.

- (a) **To be accepted by the Coast Guard as an independent laboratory, a laboratory must—**
  - (1) Be engaged, as a regular part of its business, in performing inspections and tests that are the same as or similar to the inspections and tests required in the applicable subpart;
  - (2) Possess or have access to the apparatus, facilities, personnel, and calibrated instruments that are necessary to inspect and test the equipment or material under the applicable [subpart. In](/cfr/46/subpartIn.md) addition, for testing conducted on or after July 1, 2012, on equipment subject to SOLAS requirements, they must have ISO/IEC 17025 (incorporated by reference, see [§ 159.001-4](/cfr/46/159.001-4.md)) accreditation from an accreditation body that is a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) or a recognized accreditation body by the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA);
  - (3) **Not be owned or controlled by—**
    - (i) The manufacturer of the equipment or material to be inspected or tested under this subchapter or any manufacturer of similar equipment or material;
    - (ii) A vendor of the equipment or material to be inspected or tested under this subchapter or a vendor of similar equipment or material; or
    - (iii) A supplier of materials to the manufacturer;
  - (4) Not be dependent on Coast Guard acceptance under this subchapter to remain in business; and
  - (5) Not advertise or promote the manufacturer's equipment or material that the laboratory inspects and tests under this subchapter.
- (b) [Reserved]

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 76-048, 44 FR 73043, Dec. 17, 1979, as amended by USCG-2012-0196, 81 FR 48274, July 22, 2016]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4; Section 159.001-9 also issued under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507.

### Source

Source: CGD 76-048, 44 FR 73043, Dec. 17, 1979, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 76-048, 44 FR 73043, Dec. 17, 1979, as amended by USCG-2012-0196, 81 FR 48274, July 22, 2016]