G/TBT/N/USA/2068  
20 November 2023  
(23-7783) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [2097]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other  [X]: The current LQSR guidance (LQSR 3.0), refers to a now outdated 2005 version 
of a laboratory quality standard, ISO/IEC Standard 17025: 2005 (E) "General 
requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories". I n addition, 
there are other laboratory standards in LQSR 3.0 that are already in practice by NLLAP 
participating laboratories and directly related to laboratory lead analysis, making parts of 
the elements in LQSR 3.0 duplicative. Therefore, EPA is proposin g to streamline the LQSR 
by conforming and referencing the updated ISO 17025: 2017 (E) and ASTM E1583 -17. 
OPPT has reviewed the updated laboratory standards and identified any gaps or areas 
where additional clarification or criteria are needed between ISO 17025: 2017 and ASTM 
E1583 -17 and the proposed LQSR 4.0. These additional clarifications or criteria are 
included throughout the proposed draft.  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provid ed in addition, where applicable):  Test and 
sampling method standards for lead -based paint program activities; Services (ICS 
code(s): 03.080); Quality (ICS code(s): 03.120); Test conditions and procedures in 
general (ICS code(s): 19.020); Paint ingredients  (ICS code(s): 87.060)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
Revisions to the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP); Notice of 
Availability and Request for Comment; (3 page(s), in English)  
6. Descri ption of content:  Notice of Availability and Request for Comment by 15 December 
2023 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and 
soliciting comment on proposed revisions to EPA's document titled "Laboratory Quality 
System Requirements (LQSR) Revision 3.0" dated 5 November 2007, under the National 
Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) . Proposed revisions reflected in the draft 
document titled, "Laboratory Quality Standards for Recognition" (LQSR 4.0)," are 
intended to update and streamline the guidance by referencing existing laboratory 
standards already in practice by NLLAP participating  laboratories and directly related to 
laboratory lead analysis, and to update the test and sampling method standards to better 
complement EPA's lead -based paint program activities.  G/TBT/N/USA/2068  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where  
applicable:  Quality requirements  
8. Relevant documents:   
88 Federal Register (FR) 78355, 15 November 2023:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-11-15/html/2023 -25141.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-11-15/pdf/2023 -25141.pdf  
This notice is identified by Docket Number EPA -HQ-OPPT-2023-0456. The Docket Folder 
is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-OPPT-
2023-0456/document  and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well 
as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching 
the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments 
to the USA TBT Enquiry Point . Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from 
WTO Mem bers and their stakeholders by 4pm Eastern Time  on 15 December 2023 will be 
shared with the EPA and will also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.gov if 
received within the comm ent period.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  15 December 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_1349 4_00_e.pdf