Official Methods^SM Program Rebuild

Implementation of Task Force Recommendations

Initial Review and Triage of OMA

Community Method Working Group (CMWG) Co-Chairs & Members

View the CMWG Co-Chairs and Members Role Description

Defines the purpose, governance relationship, membership model, responsibilities, operating norms, and advisory role of the ad hoc Community Method Working Groups conducting the initial review of legacy OMA methods. CMWGs provide domain-specific evaluation and recommend whether methods should be retained, modernized, consolidated, replaced, repealed, or recategorized.

Implementation alignment: Recommendation 2: Perform an initial, one-time review of all OMA methods
| Status: OMB approved May 14, 2026

OMA Editors Role Description

View the OMA Editors Role Description

Defines OMA Editors as volunteer advisory partners who support maintenance of the OMA Compendium. The document describes their editorial, structural, and scientific stewardship; relationship to the Official Methods Board; lifecycle review responsibilities; membership expectations; and operating norms.

Implementation alignment: Recommendation 6: Re-appointment of OMA Chapter Editors and Editor-in-Chief
| Status: OMB approved May 14, 2026

Method Validation Governance

Committee on Method Validation Guidance and Criteria (CMVGC) Terms of Reference

View the CMVGC Terms of Reference

Establishes the CMVGC as a standing AOAC committee responsible for developing, maintaining, and harmonizing single-laboratory and multilaboratory method validation guidance and acceptance criteria across the OMA Program. The document sets out the committee’s mission, deliverables, lifecycle responsibilities, composition, leadership model, decision rules, and review schedule.

Implementation alignment: Recommendation 12: Establish standard AOAC method validation guidance and criteria
| Status: OMB approved June 11, 2026; established by the Board of Directors June 25, 2026

CMVGC Chair, Chair-elect, and Members Role Descriptions

View the CMVGC Chair and Chair-elect Role Descriptions
View the CMVGC Members Role Description

Describes the distinct leadership and membership responsibilities that support the Committee on Method Validation Guidance and Criteria. The Chair and Chair-elect role description covers strategic and scientific leadership, governance and lifecycle alignment, committee operations, cross-committee coordination, qualifications, term length, decision-making authority, and succession from Chair-elect to Chair. The Members role description defines how committee members contribute scientific expertise to AOAC baseline validation guidance, including drafting and reviewing validation criteria, supporting lifecycle review, collaborating across committees, developing resources, participating in decisions, and maintaining accountability.

Implementation alignment: Recommendation 12: Establish standard AOAC method validation guidance and criteria
| Status: OMB approved June 11, 2026

Method Lifecycle and Compendium Administration

Process for Repeal of an AOAC Official Method

View the Process for Repeal of an AOAC Official Method

Describes the process and request form for repealing an Official Method. It addresses submission and completeness review, consultation with the method author and an Expert Review Panel when applicable, Method Committee assessment, a 120-day section and public comment period, Official Methods Board action, a 30-day appeal period, and publication updates.

Implementation alignment: Recommendation 10: Establish criteria for the method repeal/modification process
| Status: OMB approved April 9, 2026

Standard Numbering Convention for Methods in the OMA

View the OMA Standard Numbering Convention

Establishes one permanent base identifier for each OMA method and a “:YYYY” suffix identifying the year of the most recent approved change. It explains when the suffix is added or updated, how general and version-specific references should appear, and the responsibilities of the Official Methods Board, OMA Editors, and AOAC staff.

Implementation alignment: Recommendation 17: Standardize numbering convention for methods
| Status: Board of Directors approved June 25, 2026; Effective July 1, 2026

Use of AOAC OMA Logo

Policy on Use of the AOAC OMA Logo

View the OMA Logo Use Policy

Governs authorized use of the OMA logo by eligible organizations when referencing the OMA Compendium and methods published in it. The policy clarifies that the logo is a compendium reference mark, not an endorsement, certification, method-status badge, or authorization to use other AOAC marks. It also sets conditions for reproduction, placement, authorization, enforcement, and acceptable reference language.

Implementation alignment: Supports accurate, consistent, and non-misleading public identification of OMA content
| Status: Approved June 25, 2026

List of Approved Documents