(a) An application for an appeal of a laboratory service may be made by any interested party who is dissatisfied with the results of an analysis as stated in a certificate or laboratory report, if the lot of the commodity can be positively identified by the laboratory service as the lot from which originally drawn samples were previously analyzed.

(b) An application for an appeal of a laboratory service shall be made within thirty (30) days following the day on which the previous analysis was performed. However, upon approval by the Deputy Administrator, the filing time for an appeal application may be extended.

(a) Application for an appeal of a laboratory service may be filed with the supervisor in the office or the director of the laboratory facility that issued the certificate or laboratory report on which the appeal analysis covering the commodity product is requested.

(b) The application for an appeal of a laboratory service shall state the location of the lot of the commodity product and the reasons for the appeal; and date and serial number of the certificate covering the laboratory service of the commodity product on which the appeal is requested. In addition, such application shall be accompanied by the original and all available copies of the certificate or laboratory report.

(c) Application for an appeal of a laboratory service may be made orally (in person or by telephone), in writing, by e-mail, by facsimile, or by telegraph. If made orally, written confirmation shall be made promptly.

An application for an appeal of a laboratory service may be withdrawn by the applicant at any time before the appealed laboratory service is performed; Provided, That, the applicant shall pay, at the hourly rate prescribed in § 91.37, for the time incurred by the laboratory personnel, any travel, telephone, telegraph, or other expenses which have been incurred by the laboratory service in connection with such application.

An application for an appeal of a laboratory service may be refused if:

(a) The reasons for the appealed laboratory service are frivolous or not substantial;

(b) The quality or condition of the commodity product has undergone a material change since the laboratory service covering the commodity product on which the appealed laboratory service is requested;

(c) The lot in question is not, or cannot be made accessible for sampling;

(d) The lot relative to which the appealed laboratory service is requested cannot be positively identified as the lot from which samples were previously drawn and originally analyzed; or

(e) There is noncompliance with the regulations in this part. Such applicant shall be notified promptly of the reason for such refusal.

An appealed laboratory service shall be performed, whenever possible, by another individual or other individuals than the scientist(s) or the technician(s) that performed the original analytical determination.

(a) An appeal laboratory certificate shall be issued showing the results of such appealed analysis. This certificate shall supersede the laboratory certificate previously issued for the commodity product involved.

(b) Each appeal laboratory certificate shall clearly identify the number and date of the laboratory certificate which it supersedes. The superseded certificate shall become null and void upon the issuance of the appealed laboratory certificate and shall no longer represent the analytical results of the commodity product.

(c) The individual issuing an appeal laboratory certificate shall forward notice of such issuance to such persons as he or she considers necessary to prevent misuse of the superseded certificate if the original and all copies of such superseded certificate have not previously been delivered to the individual issuing the appeal certificate.

(d) The provisions in the regulations in this part concerning forms and certificates, issuance of certificates, and retention and disposition of certificates shall apply to appeal laboratory certificates, except that copies of such appeal certificates shall be furnished to all interested parties who received copies of the superseded certificate.