(a) Construction. Words used in the singular form shall be considered to imply the plural and vice versa, as appropriate. When a section; e.g., § 800.2, is cited, it refers to the indicated section in these regulations.

(b) Definitions. For the purpose of these regulations, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings given for them below. The terms defined in the Act have been incorporated herein for easy reference.

Act. The United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (39 Stat. 482-485, as amended 7 U.S.C. 71 et seq.).

Additives. Materials approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency and added to grain for purposes of insect and fungi control, dust suppression, or identification.

Administrator. The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service or any person to whom authority has been delegated.

Agency. A delegated State or an official agency designated by the Administrator, as appropriate.

Appeal inspection service. An official review by a field office of the results of an original inspection service or a reinspection service.

Applicant. An interested person who requests an official inspection or a Class X or Class Y weighing service.

Approved scale testing organization. A State or local governmental agency, or person, approved by the Service to perform official equipment testing services with respect to weighing equipment.

Approved weigher. A person employed by or at an approved weighing facility and approved by the Service to physically perform Class X or Class Y weighing services, and certify the results of Class Y weighing.

Approved weighing equipment. Any weighing device or related equipment approved by the Service for the performance of Class X or Class Y weighing services.

Approved weighing facility. An elevator that is approved by the Service to receive Class X or Class Y weighing services.

Assigned area of responsibility. A geographical area assigned to an agency or to a field office for the performance of official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services.

Average grade. Multiple carrier units or sublots that are graded individually then averaged to form a single lot inspection.

Board appeal inspection service. An official review by the Board of Appeals and Review of the results on an appeal inspection service.

Board of Appeals and Review. The Board of Appeals and Review of the Service.

Business day. The established field office working hours, any Monday through Friday that is not a holiday, or the working hours and days established by an agency.

Cargo shipment. Bulk or sacked grain that is loaded directly aboard waterborne carrier for shipment. Grain loaded aboard a land carrier for shipment aboard a waterborne carrier shall not be considered to be a cargo shipment.

Carrier. A truck, trailer, truck/trailer(s) combination, railroad car, barge, ship, or other container used to transport bulk or sacked grain.

Chapter. Chapter VIII of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR chapter VIII).

Circuit. A geographical area assigned to a field office.

Class X or Class Y weighing equipment testing. Any operation or procedure performed by official personnel to determine the accuracy of the equipment used, or to be used, in the performance of Class X or Class Y weighing services.

Combined lot. Grain loaded aboard, or being loaded aboard, or discharged from two or more carriers as one lot.

Compliance. Conformance with all requirements and procedures established by statute, regulation, instruction, or directive so that managerial, administrative, and technical functions are accomplished effectively. Compliance functions include: evaluating alleged violations, initiating preliminary investigations; initiating implementation of all necessary corrective actions; conducting management and technical reviews; administering the designation of agencies and the delegation of State agencies to perform official functions; identifying and, where appropriate, waiving and monitoring conflicts of interest; licensing agency personnel; responding to audits of FGIS programs; and reviewing and, when appropriate, approving agency fee schedules.

Composite grade. Multiple samples obtained from the same type of carriers (e.g., trucklots, containers) that are combined into one sample for grade to form a single lot inspection.

Container. A carrier, or a bin, other storage space, bag, box, or other receptacle for grain.

Contract grade. The official grade, official factors, or official criteria specified in a contract for sale or confirmation of sale; or in the absence of a contract the official grade, official factors, or official criteria specified by the applicant for official service.

Contract service. An inspection or weighing service performed under a contract between an applicant and the Service.

Contractor. A person who enters into a contract with the Service for the performance of specified official inspection or official monitoring services.

Date of official inspection service or Class X or Class Y weighing services. The day on which an official inspection, or a Class X or Class Y weighing service is completed. For certification purposes, a day shall be considered to end at midnight, local time.

Deceptive loading, handling, weighing, or sampling. Any manner of loading, handling, weighing, or sampling that knowingly deceives or attempts to deceive official personnel.

Delegated State. A State agency delegated authority under the Act to provide official inspection service, or Class X or Class Y weighing services, or both, at one or more export port locations in the State.

Department of Agriculture and Department. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Designated agency. A State or local governmental agency, or person, designated under the Act to provide either official inspection service, or Class X or Class Y weighing services, or both, at locations other than export port locations.

Door-probe sample. A sample taken with a probe from a lot of bulk grain that is loaded so close to the top of the carrier that it is possible to insert the probe in the grain only in the vicinity of the tailgate of the truck or trailer, the door of the railroad boxcar, or in a similarly restricted opening or area in the carrier in which the grain is located or is loaded in hopper cars or barges in such a manner that a representative sample cannot be obtained.

Elevator. Any warehouse, storage, or handling facility used primarily for receiving, storing, or shipping grain. In a facility that is used primarily for receiving, storing, and shipping grain, all parts of the main facility, as well as annexes, shall be considered to be part of the elevator. A warehouse, storage, and handling facility that is located adjacent to and is operated primarily as an adjunct of a grain processing facility shall not be considered to be an elevator.

Elevator areas and facilities. All operational areas, including the automated data processing facilities that are an integral part of the inspection or weighing operations of an elevator; the loading and unloading docks; the headhouse and control rooms; all storage areas, including the bins, the interstices, the bin floor, and the basement; and all handling facilities, including the belts, other conveyors, distributor scales, spouting, mechanical samplers, and electronic controls.

Emergency. A situation that is outside the control of the applicant that prevents official inspection or weighing services within 24 hours of the scheduled service time.

Employed. An individual is employed if the individual is actually employed or the employment is being withheld pending issuance of a license under the Act.

Exporter. Any person who ships or causes to be shipped any bulk or sacked grain in a final carrier or container in which the grain is transported from the United States to any place outside the United States.

Export elevator. Any grain elevator, warehouse, or other storage or handling facility in the United States (i) from which bulk or sacked export grain is loaded (A) aboard a carrier in which the grain is shipped from the United States to any place outside thereof, or (B) into a container for shipment to an export port location where the grain and the container will be loaded aboard a carrier in which it will be shipped from the United States to any place outside thereof; and (ii) which has been approved by the Service as a facility where Class X or Class Y weighing of grain may be obtained.

Export grain. Grain for shipment from the United States to any place outside thereof.

Export port location. A commonly recognized port of export in the United States or Canada, as determined by the Administrator, from which grain produced in the United States is shipped to any place outside the United States. Such locations include any coastal or border location or site in the United States which contains one or more export elevators, and is identified by the Service as an export port location.

False, incorrect, and misleading. Respectively false, incorrect, and misleading in any particular. 2

Federal Register. An official U.S. Government publication issued under the Federal Register Act of July 26, 1935, as amended (44 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).

Field Office. An office of the Service designated to perform or supervise official inspection services and Class X and Class Y weighing services.

Field Office administrative costs. The costs of management, support, and maintenance of a Field Office, including, but not limited to, the management and administrative support personnel, rent, and utilities. This does not include any costs directly related to providing original or review inspection or weighing services.

Grain. Corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, flaxseed, sorghum, soybeans, triticale, mixed grain, sunflower seed, canola, and any other food grains, feed grains, and oilseeds for which standards are established under section 4 of the Act.

Handling. Loading, unloading, elevating, storing, binning, mixing, blending, drying, aerating, screening, cleaning, washing, treating, or fumigating grain.

High quality specialty grain. Grain sold under contract terms that specify all factors exceed the grade limits for U.S. No. 1 grain, except for the factor test weight, or specify “organic” as defined by 7 CFR part 205.

Holiday. The legal public holidays specified in paragraph (a) of section 6103, Title 5, of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) and any other day declared to be a holiday by Federal statute or Executive Order. Under section 610 and Executive Order No. 10357, as amended, if the specified legal public holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be considered to be the holiday, or if the specified legal public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be considered to be the holiday.

“IN” movement. A movement of grain into an elevator, or into or through a city, town, port, or other location without a loss of identity.

Instructions. The Notices, Instructions, Handbooks, and other directives issued by the Service.

Interested person. Any person having a contract or other financial interest in grain as the owner, seller, purchaser, warehouseman, or carrier, or otherwise.

Interstate or foreign commerce. Commerce from any State to or through any other State, or to or through any foreign country.

Licensee. Any person licensed by the Service.

Loading. Placing grain in or aboard any carrier or container.

(“LOCAL” movement. A bin run or other inhouse movement, or grain in bins, tanks, or similar containers which are not in transit or designed to transport grain

Lot. A specific quantity of grain identified as such.

Material error. An error in the results of an official inspection service that exceeds the official tolerance, or any error in the results of a Class X or Class Y weighing service

Material portion. A subsample, component, or sublot which is determined to be inferior to the contract or declared grade. A subsample is a material portion when it has sour, musty, or commercially objectionable foreign odors, when it is heating; or when it is of distinctly low quality. A component is a material portion when it is infested or when it is determined to be inferior in quality by more than one numerical grade to the contract or declared grade. A sublot is a material portion when a factor result causes a breakpoint to be exceeded or when a factor result exceeds specific sublot contract requirements. A sublot designated a material portion shall include only one sublot.

Merchandiser. Any person, other than a producer, who buys and sells grain and takes title to the grain. A person who operates as a broker or commission agent and does not take title to the grain shall not be considered to be a merchandiser.

Monitoring. Observing or reviewing activities performed under or subject to the Act for adherence to the Act, the regulations, standards, and instructions and preparing reports thereon.

National program administrative costs. The costs of national management and support of official grain inspection and/or weighing. This does not include the Field Office administrative costs and any costs directly related to providing service.

Nonregular workday. Any Sunday or holiday.

Official agency. Any State or local government agency, or any person, designated by the Administrator pursuant to subsection (f) of section 7 of the Act for the conduct of official inspection (other than appeal inspection), or subsection (c) of section 7A of the Act for the conduct of Class X or Class Y weighing (other than review of weighing).

Official certificate. Those certificates which show the results of official services performed under the Act as provided in the instructions, and any other official certificates which may be approved by the Service in accordance with the instructions.

Official criteria. A quantified physical or chemical property of grain that is approved by the Service to determine the quality or condition of grain or other facts relating to grain.

Official factor. A quantified physical or chemical property of grain as identified in the Official U.S. Standards for Grain.

Official forms. License, authorizations, and approvals; official certificates; official pan tickets; official inspection or weighing logs; weight sheets; shipping bin weight loading logs; official equipment testing reports; official certificates of registration; and any other forms which may be issued or approved by the Service that show the name of the Service or an agency and a form number.

Official grade designation. A numerical or sample grade designation, specified in the standards relating to kind, class, quality, and condition of grain provided for in the Act.

Official inspection. The determination (by original inspection, and when requested, reinspection and appeal inspection) and the certification, by official personnel, of the kind, class, quality, or condition of grain, under standards provided for in the Act; or the condition of vessels and other carriers or receptacles for the transportation of grain insofar as it may affect the quality of such grain; or other facts relating to grain under other criteria approved by the Administrator (the term “officially inspected” shall be construed accordingly).

Official inspection equipment testing. Any operation or procedure by official personnel to determine the accuracy of equipment used, or to be used, in the performance of official inspection services.

Official inspection technician. Any official personnel who perform or supervise the performance of specified official inspection services and certify the results thereof, other than certifying the grade of the grain.

Official inspector. Any official personnel who perform or supervise the performance of official inspection services and certify the results thereof including the grade of the grain.

Official marks. The symbols or terms “official certificate,” “official grade,” “officially sampled,” “officially inspected,” “official inspection,” “U.S. inspected,” “loaded under continuous official inspection,” “official weighing,” “officially weighed,” “official weight,” “official supervision of weighing,” “supervision of weighing,” “officially supervised weight,” “loaded under continiuous official weighing,” “loaded under continuous official inspection and weighing,” “officially tested,” “Class X weight,” “official Class X weighing,” “Class X weighing,” “official Class Y weighing,” “Class Y weighing,” and “Class Y weight.”

Official personnel. Persons licensed or otherwise authorized by the Administrator pursuant to Section 8 of the Act to perform all or specified functions involved in official inspection, Class X or Class Y weighing, or in the supervision of official inspection, or Class X or Class Y weighing.

Official sample. A sample obtained from a lot of grain by, and submitted for official inspection by, official personnel (the term “official sampling” shall be construed accordingly).

Official sampler. Any official personnel who perform or supervise the performance of official sampling services and certify the results thereof.

Official stowage examination. Any examining operation or procedure performed by official personnel to determine the suitability of a carrier or container to receive or store grain.

Official tolerance. A statistical allowance prescribed by the Service, on the basis of expected variation, for use in performing or supervising the performance of official inspection services, official equipment testing services, and, when determined under an established loading plan, reinspection services and appeal inspection services.

Official U.S. Standards for Grain. The Official U.S. Standards for Grain established under the Act describe the physical and biological condition of grain at the time of inspection.

Official weigher. Any official personnel who perform or supervise the performance of Class X or Class Y weighing services and certify the results thereof, including the weight of the grain.

Official weighing. (Referred to as Class X weighing.) The determination and certification by official personnel of the quantity of a lot of grain under standards provided for in the Act, based on the actual performance of weighing or the physical supervision thereof, including the physical inspection and testing for accuracy of the weights and scales and the physical inspection of the premises at which weighing is performed and the monitoring of the discharge of grain into the elevator or conveyance. (The terms “officially weigh” and “officially weighed” shall be construed accordingly.)

Official weighing technician. Any personnel who perform or supervise specified weighing services and certify the results thereof other than certifying the weight of grain.

Official weight sample. Sacks of grain obtained at random by, or under the complete supervision of, official personnel from a lot of sacked grain for the purpose of computing the weight of the grain in the lot.

Operating expenses. The total costs to the Service to provide official grain inspection and/or weighing services.

Operating reserve. The amount of funds the Service has available to provide official grain inspection and/or weighing services.

Original inspection. An initial official inspection of grain.

“Out” movement. A movement of grain out of an elevator or out of a city, town, port, or other location.

Person. Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other business entity.

Quantity. Pounds or kilograms, tons or metric tons, or bushels.

Reasonably continuous operation. A loading or unloading operation in one specific location which does not include inactive intervals in excess of 88 consecutive hours.

Regular workday. Any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday that is not a holiday.

Regulations. The regulations in parts 800, 801, and 802 of this chapter.

Reinspection service. An official review of the results of an original inspection service by the agency or field office that performed the original inspection service.

Respondent. The party proceeded against.

Review of weighing service. An official review of the results of a Class X or Class Y weighing service.

Secretary. The Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or any person to whom authority has been delegated.

Service. The Federal Grain Inspection Service of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Service representative. An authorized salaried employee of the Service; or a person licensed by the Administrator under a contract with the Service.

Shallow-probe sample. A sample taken with a probe from a lot of bulk grain that is loaded so close to the top of the carrier that it is possible to insert the probe in the grain at the prescribed locations, but only at an angle greater or more obtuse from the vertical than the angle prescribed in the instructions.

Ship. The verb “ship” with respect to grain means transfer physical possession of the grain to another person for the purpose of transportation by any means of conveyance, or transport one's own grain by any means of conveyance.

Shiplot grain. Grain loaded aboard, or being loaded aboard, or discharged from an ocean-going vessel including a barge, lake vessel, or other vessel of similar capacity.

Shipper's Export Declaration. The Shipper's Export Declaration certificate filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census.

Specified service point. A city, town, or other location specified by an agency for the performance of official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services and within which the agency or one or more of its inspectors or weighers is located.

Standardization. The act, process, or result of standardizing methodology and measurement of quality and quantity. Standardization functions include: compiling and evaluating data to develop and to update grading and weighing standards, developing or evaluating new methodology for determining grain quality and quantity, providing reference standards for official grading methods, and reviewing official results through the use of a quality control and weight monitoring program.

State. Any one of the States (including Puerto Rico) or territories or possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia).

Submitted sample. A sample submitted by or for an interested person for official inspection, other than an official sample.

Supervision. The effective guidance of agencies, official personnel and others who perform activities under the Act, so as to reasonably assure the integrity and accuracy of the program activities. Supervision includes overseeing, directing, and coordinating the performance of activities under the Act, reviewing the performance of these activities; and effecting appropriate action. FGIS supervisory personnel supervise agencies, official personnel and others who perform activities under the Act. Agency supervisors are responsible for the direct supervision of their own official personnel and employees. FGIS provides oversight, guidance, and assistance to agencies as they carry out their responsibilities.

Supervision of weighing (Referred to as Class Y weighing.) Such supervision by official personnel of the grain-weighing process as is determined by the Administrator to be adequate to reasonably assure the integrity and accuracy of the weighing and of certificates which set forth the weight of the grain and such physical inspection by such personnel of the premises at which the grain weighing is performed as will reasonably assure that all the grain intended to be weighed has been weighed and discharged into the elevator or conveyance.

United States. The States (including Puerto Rico) and the territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia).

Use of official inspection service. The use of the services provided under a delegation or designation or provided by the Service.

Uniform in quality. A lot of grain in which there are no material portions.

Warehouseman's sampler. An elevator employee licensed by the Service to obtain samples of grain for a warehouseman's sample-lot inspection service. Warehouseman's samplers are not considered official personnel, but they are licensed under authority of section 11 of the Act.

The mission of the Federal Grain Inspection Service is to facilitate the marketing of grain, oilseeds, pulses, rice, and related commodities by:

(a) Establishing descriptive standards and terms,

(b) Accurately and consistently certifying quality,

(c) Providing for uniform official inspection and weighing,

(d) Carrying out assigned regulatory and service responsibilities, and

(e) Providing the framework for commodity quality improvement incentives to both domestic and foreign buyers.

The Administrator is delegated, from the Secretary, responsibility for administration of the United States Grain Standards Act and responsibilities under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). The Administrator is responsible for the establishment of policies, guidelines, and regulations by which the Service is to carry out the provisions of the Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The regulations promulgated under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 appear at part 68 of this title (7 CFR part 68). The Administrator is authorized by the Secretary to take any action required by law or considered to be necessary and proper to the discharge of the functions and services under the Act. The Administrator may delegate authority to the Deputy Administrator and other appropriate officers and employees. The Administrator may, in emergencies or other circumstances which would not impair the objectives of the Act, suspend for period determined by the Administrator any provision of the regulations or official grain standards. The Administrator may authorize research; experimentation; and testing of new procedures, equipment, and handling techniques to improve the inspection and weighing of grain. The Administrator may waive the official inspection and official weighing requirements pursuant to Section 5 of the Act.

In implementing, administering, and enforcing the Act and the regulations, standards, and instructions, it is the policy of the Service to promote adherence to the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), (Pub. L. 88-352).

Notice of proposals to prescribe, amend, or revoke regulations, official standards, and official criteria under the Act shall be published in accordance with applicable provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551, et seq.). Proposals to establish, amend, or revoke grain standards will be made effective not less than 1 calendar year after promulgation unless, for good cause, the Service determines that the public health, interest, or safety require that they become effective sooner. Any interested person desiring to file a petition for the issuance, amendment, or revocation of regulations, Official U.S. Standards for Grain, or official criteria may do so in accordance with § 1.28 of the regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 1.28).

(a) General. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, complaints and reports of violations involving the Act or the regulations, standards, and instructions issued under the Act should be filed with the Service in accordance with § 1.133 of the regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 1.133) and with the regulations and the instructions.

(b) Reinspection, review of weighing, and appeal services. Complaints involving the results of official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services shall, to the extent practicable, be submitted as requests for a reinspection service, a review of weighing service, an appeal inspection service, or a Board appeal inspection service as set forth in these regulations.

(c) Foreign buyer complaints. Inquiries or complaints from importers or other purchasers in foreign countries involving alleged discrepancies in the quality or weight of officially inspected or Class X weighed export grain shall, to the extent possible, be submitted by the importers or purchasers to the appropriate U.S. Agricultural Attache in accordance with § 2.68(a)(14) of the regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.68(a)(14)) and the instructions issued by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department.

Opportunities will be provided for hearings prescribed or authorized by sections 7(g)(3), 7A(c)(2), 9, 10(d), and 17A(d) of the Act, and the hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Administrative Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary under Various Statutes (7 CFR, part 1, subpart H).

Information about the Agricultural Marketing Service, Service, Act, regulations, official standards, official criteria, rules of practice, instructions, and other matters related to the official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing of grain may be obtained by telephoning or writing the Service at its headquarters or any one of its field offices at the numbers and addresses listed on the Service's website.

(a) General. This section is issued in accordance with §§ 1.1 through 1.23 of the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture in part 1, subpart A, of subtitle A of title 7 (7 CFR 1.1 through 1.23), and appendix A thereto, implementing the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). The Secretary's regulations, as implemented by this section, govern the availability of records of the Service to the public.

(b) Public inspection and copying. Materials maintained by the Service, including those described in 7 CFR 1.5, will be made available, upon a request which has not been denied, for public inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, at 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250. The public may request access to these materials during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., est, Monday through Friday except for holidays.

(c) Indexes. FGIS shall maintain an index of all material required to be made available in 7 CFR 1.5. Copies of these indexes will be maintained at the location given in paragraph (b) of this section. Notice is hereby given that quarterly publication of these indexes is unnecessary and impracticable, because the material is voluminous and does not change often enough to justify the expense of quarterly publication. However, upon specific request, copies of any index will be provided at a cost not to exceed the direct cost of duplication.

(d) Requests for records. Requests for records under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(3) shall be made in accordance with 7 CFR 1.6 and shall be addressed as follows: AMS FOIA Officer, Agricultural Marketing Service, FOIA Request, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 2095-S, Stop 0203, Washington, DC 20250-0203.

(e) Appeals. Any person whose request under paragraph (d) of this section is denied shall have the right to appeal such denial in accordance with 7 CFR 1.13. Appeals shall be addressed to the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, FOIA Appeal, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 3071-S, Stop 0201, Washington, DC 20250-0201.

(a) General. These regulations implement requirements for a national inspection and weighing system. This system promotes the uniform and accurate application of the official grain standards and provides inspection and weighing services required by the Act and as requested by applicants for official services. The types and kinds of services available under the Act and regulations can be obtained at all specified service points in the United States and on U.S. grain in Canadian ports.

(b) Responsibilities for complying with the official inspection, aflatoxin testing, and weighing requirements—(1) Export grain. Exporters are responsible for (i) complying with all inspection, Class X weighing, and other certification provisions and requirements of section 5(a)(1) of the Act and the regulations applicable to export grain and (ii) having all corn, as defined in § 810.401, exported from the United States tested for aflatoxin contamination unless the buyer and seller agree not to have the corn tested. The Service shall perform the aflatoxin testing service unless the buyer and seller agree to have the corn tested by an entity other than the Service.

(2) Grain in marked containers. When grain is in a container that bears an official grade designation or mark, the person who places the designation or mark on the container or the person who places the grain in a container that bears the designation or mark shall be responsible for determining that the grain has been inspected or weighed by official personnel and qualifies for the official grade designation or mark.

(3) Grain for which representations have been made. Any person who makes a representation that (i) grain has been officially inspected or weighed; or (ii) grain has been officially inspected or weighed and found to be of a particular kind, class, quality, condition, or weight; or (iii) particular facts have been established with respect to the grain by official inspection or weighing, shall be responsible for determining that the representation is true and is not in violation of the Act and regulations.

(a) General. Official Export Grain Inspection and Weight Certificates, Official Export Grain Inspection Certificates, and Official Export Grain Weight Certificates for bulk or sacked grain shall be issued according to § 800.162 for export grain loaded by an export elevator. Only these types of export certificates showing the official grade, official aflatoxin test results if required under the Act and the regulations, and/or the Class X weight of the grain shall be considered to be in compliance with inspection and weighing requirements under the Act for export grain.

(b) Promptly furnished. Export certificates shall be considered promptly furnished if they are forwarded by the shipper or the shipper's agent to the consignee not later than 10 business days after issuance.

(a) General. Subject to the provisions of § 800.18, sacked export grain shall be (1) officially inspected on the basis of official samples obtained with an approved sampling device and operated in accordance with instructions, (2) Class X weighed or checkweighed, and (3) officially checkloaded by official personnel at the time the grain is loaded aboard the export carrier, in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Services at time of loading. When official sampling, official inspection, Class X weighing or checkweighing, and checkloading of sacked export grain loaded aboard an export carrier is performed at one location and time, official export inspection and weight certificate(s) which identify the export carrier shall be issued.

(c) Services prior to loading. When official sampling, official inspection, and Class X weighing or checkweighing of sacked export grain is performed prior to the date of loading aboard an export carrier, official “OUT” certificates shall be issued. An examination by official personnel for condition and checkloading of the grain shall be made as the grain is loaded aboard the export carrier. If the examination for condition and the checkloading shows that the identity or quantity of the grain has not changed or the condition of the grain has not changed beyond expected variations prescribed in the instruction, official export inspection and weight certificates shall be issued on the basis of the official “OUT” certificates and the checkloading. If the identity, quantity, or the condition has changed, official export inspection and weight certificates shall be issued on the basis of the most representative samples, including weight samples, obtained at the time the grain is loaded aboard the export carrier.

(a) General. Waivers from the official inspection and Class X weighing requirements for export grain under section 5 of the Act shall be provided in accordance with this section and the Act.

(b) Waivers—(1) 15,000 metric-ton waiver. Official inspection and Class X weighing requirements apply only to exporters and individual elevator operators who (i) exported 15,000 metric tons or more of grain during the preceding calendar year, or (ii) have exported 15,000 metric tons or more of grain during the current calendar year. Exporters and elevator operators who are granted a waiver by reason of this paragraph shall, as a condition of the waiver, keep such accounts, records, and memorandum to fully and correctly disclose all transactions concerning lots of all export grain shipments. In addition, the exporters or elevator operators shall notify the Service in writing of the intention to export grain under this waiver. In the case of lots waived under this provision, if such lots are required by contract to be inspected or weighed, or if the lots are represented by official inspection or weight certificates, then such certificates shall meet the requirements of section 5 of the Act.

(2) Grain exported for seeding purposes. Official inspection and Class X weighing requirements do not apply to grain exported for seeding purposes, provided that (i) the grain is (A) sold or consigned for sale and invoiced as seed; and (B) identified as seed for seeding purposes on the Shipper's Export Declaration; and (ii) records pertaining to these shipments are made available, upon request by the Service, for review or copying purposes.

(3) Grain shipped in bond. Official inspection and weighing requirements do not apply to grain that is shipped from a foreign country to a foreign country through the United States in bond in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States Customs Service (19 CFR part 18).

(4) Grain exported by rail or truck to Canada or Mexico. Inspection and weighing requirements do not apply to grain exported by rail or truck from the United States to Canada or Mexico.

(5) Grain not sold by grade. Official inspection requirements may be waived by the Service on a shipment-by-shipment basis for export grain not sold, offered for sale, or consigned for sale by official grade if (i) the contract and any amendments clearly show that the buyer and seller mutually agree to ship the grain without official inspection and (ii) a copy of the contract and any amendments is furnished in advance of loading, along with a completed application on a form prescribed by the Service.

(6) Service not available. Upon request, any required official inspection or Class X weighing of grain may be waived on a shipment-by-shipment basis if (i) official personnel are not and will not be available within a 24-hour period to perform needed inspection or weighing services and (ii) both the buyer and seller of the grain are made aware that the grain has not been officially inspected or Class X weighed.

(7) Emergency waiver. (i) Upon request, the requirements for official inspection or Class X weighing will be waived whenever the Service determines that an emergency exists that precludes official inspection or Class X weighing;

(ii) To qualify for an emergency waiver, the exporter or elevator operator must submit a timely written request to the Service for the emergency waiver and also comply with all conditions that the Service may require.

(8) High quality specialty grain shipped in containers. Official inspection and weighing requirements do not apply to high quality specialty grain exported in containers. Records generated during the normal course of business that pertain to these shipments must be made available to the Service upon request, for review or copying. These records must be maintained for a period of 3 years.

(a) Elevator and merchandiser recordkeeping. Every person and every State or political subdivision of a State that owns or operates an elevator and every merchandiser that has obtained or obtains official inspection or official weighing services other than (1) submitted sample inspection service, or (2) official sampling service, or (3) official stowage examination service shall keep such accounts, records, and memoranda that fully and correctly disclose all transactions concerning the lots of grain for which the elevator or merchandiser received official services, except as provided under § 800.18.

(b) Retention period. Records specified in this section may be disposed of after a period of 3 years from the date of the official service; provided, the 3-year period may be extended if the elevator owner or operator, or merchandiser is notified in writing by the Administrator that specific records should be retained for a longer period for effective administration and enforcement of the Act. This requirement does not restrict or modify the requirements of any other Federal, State, or local statute concerning recordkeeping.

(a) Inspection of records and facilities. Prior to the examination of records or inspection of facilities by an authorized representative of the Secretary or the Administrator, the authorized representative shall contact or otherwise notify the elevator manager or manager's representative of their presence and furnish proof of identity and authority. While in the elevator, the authorized representative shall abide by the safety regulations in effect at the elevator. Every elevator owner and operator and every merchandiser shall permit authorized representatives of the Secretary or Administrator to enter its place of business during normal business hours and have access to the facilities and to inspect any books, documents, papers, and records that are maintained by such persons. Such access and inspection will be to effectuate the purpose, provisions, and objectives of the Act and to assure the integrity of official services under the Act or of any official transaction with which the Act is concerned. All copies of such records will be made at the Service's expense. Reasonable accommodations shall be made available to the duly authorized representative by elevator owners and operators, and merchandisers for such examination of records.

(b) Disclosure of business information. FGIS employees or persons acting for FGIS under the Act shall not, without the consent of the elevator operator or merchandiser concerned, divulge or make known in any manner, any facts or information acquired pursuant to the Act and regulations except as authorized by the Administrator, by a court of competent jurisdiction, or otherwise by law.

“Foreign commerce grain business” is defined as the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce or the business of handling, weighing, or transporting grain for sale in foreign commerce. This provision shall not include:

(a) Any person who only incidentally or occasionally buys for sale, or handles, weighs, or transports grain for sale and is not engaged in the regular business of buying grain for sale, or handling, weighing, or transporting grain for sale;

(b) Any producer of grain who only incidentally or occasionally sells or transports grain which the producer has purchased;

(c) Any person who transports grain for hire and does not own a financial interest in such grain; or

(d) Any person who buys grain for feeding or processing and not for the purpose of reselling and only incidentally or occasionally sells such grain as grain.

Each person who has engaged in foreign commerce grain business totaling 15,000 or more metric tons during the preceding or current calendar year must register with the Service and shall be deemed to be regularly engaged in foreign commerce grain business. This includes foreign-based firms operating in the United States but does not include foreign governments or their agents. The Service will, upon request, register persons not required to register under this section if they comply with the requirements of §§ 800.33 and 800.34.

A person shall submit an application for registration to the Service at least 30 calendar days before regularly engaging in foreign commerce grain business according to § 800.31. For good cause shown, the Service may waive this 30-day requirement.

Any person who is required or desires to register must submit an application for registration to the Service. Application forms can be obtained from the Service. Each application shall: (a) Be typewritten or legibly written in English; (b) include all information required by the application form; and (c) be signed by the applicant. The information required by this paragraph may be submitted to the Service via telephone, subject to written confirmation. An applicant shall furnish any additional information requested by the Service for consideration of the application.

An applicant shall submit the registration fee prescribed in § 800.74 with the completed application. If an application is dismissed, the fee shall be refunded by the Service. No fee or portion of a fee shall be refunded if a person is registered and the registration is subsequently suspended or revoked under § 800.39.

(a) The Service shall review each application to determine if it complies with §§ 800.32, 800.33, and 800.34. If the application complies and the fee has been paid, the applicant shall be registered.

(b) If the application does not comply with §§ 800.32, 800.33, and 800.34 and the omitted information prevents a satisfactory review by the Service, the applicant shall be provided an opportunity to submit the needed information. If the needed information is not submitted within a reasonable time, the application may be dismissed. The Service shall promptly notify the applicant, in writing, of the reasons for the dismissal.

The Service shall furnish the applicant with an original and three copies of the registration certificate. The registration shall be effective on the issue date shown on the certificate. Each certificate of registration is issued on the condition that the registrant will comply with all provisions of the Act, regulations, and instructions. The Service shall charge a fee, in accordance with § 800.74, for each additional copy of a certificate of registration requested by a registrant.

Each registrant shall notify the Service within 30 days of any change in the information contained in the application for registration. If the notice is submitted orally, it shall be promptly confirmed in writing.

Each certificate of registration shall terminate on December 31 of the calendar year for which it is issued. The Service shall send a letter to each registrant notifying the registrant of the impending termination of the registration and providing instructions for requesting renewal. The registration may be renewed in accordance with §§ 800.33 and 800.34. Failure to receive the letter shall not exempt registrants from the responsibility of renewing their registration if required by § 800.31.

(a) General. Registration is subject to suspension or revocation whenever the Administrator determines that the registrant has violated any provision of the Act or regulations, or has been convicted of any violation involving the handling, weighing, or inspection of grain under Title 18 of the United States Code.

(b) Procedure. Before the Service suspends or revokes a registration, the registrant (hereinafter the “respondent”): (1) Shall be notified of the proposed action and the reasons therefor and (2) shall be afforded opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary under Various Statutes (7 CFR, 1.130 through 1.151). Prior to formal adjudicatory proceedings, the Service may allow the respondent to express views on the action proposed by the Service in an informal conference before the Administrator. If the Service and the respondent enter into a consent agreement, no formal adjudicatory proceedings shall be initiated.

(a) Original inspection and weighing services. Original inspection and weighing services on grain are available according to this section and §§ 800.115 through 800.118 when requested by an interested person.

(b) Reinspection, review of weighing, and appeal inspection services. Reinspection, review of weighing, appeal inspection, and Board appeal inspection services are available when requested by an interested person, according to §§ 800.125 through 800.129 and §§ 800.135 through 800.139.

(c) Proof of authorization. If an application for official services is filed by a person representing the applicant, the agency or the field office receiving the application may require written proof of the authority to file the application.

(a) Consent and agreement by applicant. In submitting a request for official services, the applicant and the owner of the grain consent to the special and general requirements specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. These requirements are essential to carry out the purposes or provisions of the Act.

(b) General requirements—(1) Access to grain. Grain on which official services are to be performed shall, except as provided in §§ 800.85, 800.86, 800.98, and 800.99, be made accessible by the applicant for the performance of the requested official service and related monitoring and supervision activities. For the purposes of this section, grain is not “accessible” if it is offered for official services (i) in containers or carriers that are closed and cannot, with reasonable effort, be opened by or for official personnel; (ii) when any portion is located so as to prohibit the securing or a representative sample; or (iii) under conditions prescribed in the instructions as being hazardous to the health or safety of official personnel.

(2) Working space. When official services are performed at an elevator, adequate and separate space must be provided by the applicant for the performance of the requested service and related monitoring and supervision activities. Space will be “adequate” if it meets the space, location, and safety requirements specified in the instructions.

(3) Notice of changes. The operator of each facility at which official services are performed must notify the appropriate agency or field office promptly, in full detail, of changes in the grain handling and weighing facilities, equipment, or procedures at the elevator that could or would affect the proper performance of official services.

(4) Loading and unloading conditions. As applicable, each applicant for official services must provide or arrange for suitable conditions in the (i) loading and unloading areas and the truck and railroad holding areas; (ii) gallery and other grain-conveying areas; (iii) elevator legs, distributor, and spout areas; (iv) pier or dock areas; (v) deck and stowage areas in the carrier; and (vi) equipment used in loading or unloading and handling the grain. Suitable conditions are those which will facilitate accurate inspection and weighing, maintain the quantity and the quality of the grain that is to be officially inspected or weighed, and not be hazardous to the health and safety of official personnel, as prescribed in the instructions.

(5) Timely arrangements. Requests for official service shall be made in a timely manner; otherwise, official personnel may not be available to provide the requested service. For the purpose of this paragraph, “timely manner” shall mean not later than 2 p.m., local time, of the preceding business day.

(6) Observation of activities. Each applicant for official services must provide any interested person, or their agent, an opportunity to observe sampling, inspection, weighing, and loading or unloading of grain. Appropriate observation areas shall be mutually defined by the Service and facility operator. The areas shall be safe and shall afford a clear and unobstructed view of the performance of the activity, but shall not permit a close over-the-shoulder type of observation by the interested person.

(7) Payment of bills. Each applicant, for services under the Act, must pay bills for the services according to §§ 800.70 through 800.73.

(8) Written confirmations. When requested by the agency or field office, verbal requests for official services shall be confirmed in writing. Each written request shall be signed by the applicant, or the applicant's agent, and shall show or be accompanied by the following information:

(i) The identification, quantity, and specific location of the grain;

(ii) The name and mailing address of the applicant;

(iii) The kind and scope of services desired; and

(iv) Any other information requested by the agency or field office.

(9) Names and addresses of interested persons. When requested, each applicant for official services shall show on the application form the name and address of each known interested person.

(10) Surrender of superseded certificates. When a request for official service results in a certificate being superseded, the superseded certificate must be promptly surrendered.

(11) Recordkeeping and access. Each applicant for official services must comply with applicable recordkeeping and access-to-facility provisions in §§ 800.25 and 800.26.

(12) Monitoring equipment. Owners and operators of elevators shall, upon a finding of need by the Administrator, provide equipment necessary for the monitoring by official personnel of grain loading, unloading, handling, sampling, weighing, inspection, and related activities. The finding of need will be based primarily on a consideration of manpower and efficiency.

(c) Special requirements for official Class X and Class Y weighing services—(1) General. Weighing services shall be provided only at weighing facilities which have met the conditions, duties, and responsibilities specified in section 7A(f) of the Act and this section of the regulations. Weighing services will be available only in accordance with the requirements of § 800.115. Facilities desiring weighing services should contact the Service in advance to allow the Service time to determine if the facility complies with the provisions of the Act and regulations.

(2) Conditions. The facility shall provide the following information annually to the Service:

(i) The facility owner's name and address;

(ii) The facility operator's name and address;

(iii) The name of each individual employed by the facility as a weigher and a statement that each individual:

(A) Has a technical ability to operate grain weighing equipment and

(B) Has a reputation for honesty and integrity;

(iv) A blueprint or similar drawing of the facility showing the location of:

(A) The loading, unloading, and grain handling systems;

(B) The scale systems used or to be used in weighing grain; and

(C) The bins and other storage areas;

(v) The identification of each scale in the facility that is to be used for weighing grain under the Act;

(vi) The following information regarding automated data processing systems:

(A) Overall system intent, design, and layout;

(B) Make, model, and technical specifications of all hardware;

(C) Description of software, language used, and flow charts of all programs, subprograms, routines, and subroutines; and

(D) Complete operating instructions; and

(vii) Any other information deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act.

(3) Duties and responsibilities of weighing facilities requesting official services—(i) Providing official services. Upon request, each weighing facility shall permit official weighing services to be performed promptly.

(ii) Supervision. Each weighing facility shall supervise its employees and shall take action necessary to assure that employees are performing their duties according to the Act, regulations, and instructions and are not performing prohibited functions or are not involved in any action prohibited by the Act, regulations, and instructions.

(iii) Facilities and equipment—(A) General. Each weighing facility shall obtain and maintain facilities and equipment which the Service determines are needed for weighing services performed at the facility. Each facility shall operate and shall maintain each scale system and related grain handling system used in weighing according to instructions issued by the manufacturer and by the Service. A scale log book for each approved scale used for official weighing services shall be maintained according to instructions at each weighing facility.

(B) Malfunction of scales. Scales or scale systems that are operating in other than a correct and approved manner shall not be used for weighing grain under the Act. Before the malfunctioning scale or scale system can be used again for weighing grain under the Act, it shall be repaired and determined to be operating properly by the Service or approved scale testing and certification organization.

(iv) Oral directives. FGIS oral directives issued to elevator personnel shall be confirmed in writing upon request by elevator management. Whenever practicable, the Service shall issue oral directives through elevator management officials.

An applicant may withdraw a request for official services any time before official personnel release results, either verbally or in writing. See § 800.51 for reimbursement of expenses, if any.

(a) Conditions for dismissal—(1) General. An agency or the Service shall dismiss requests for official services when (i) § 800.76 prohibits the requested service; (ii) performing the requested service is not practicable; (iii) the agency or the Service lacks authority under the Act or regulations; or (iv) sufficient information is not available to make an accurate determination.

(2) Original services. A request for original services shall be dismissed if a reinspection, review of weighing, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection has been performed on the same lot at the same specified service point within 5 business days.

(3) Reinspection, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection services. A request for a reinspection, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection service shall be dismissed when:

(i) The kind and scope are different from the kind and scope of the last inspection service;

(ii) The condition of the grain has undergone a material change;

(iii) The request specifies a representative file sample and a representative file sample is not available,

(iv) The applicant requests that a new sample be obtained and a new sample cannot be obtained; or

(v) The service cannot be performed within 5 business days of the date of the last inspection date.

(4) Review of weighing services. A request for review of weighing services shall be dismissed when the request (i) is filed before the weighing results have been released, or (ii) is filed more than 90 calendar days after the date of the original service.

(b) Procedure for dismissal. When an agency or the Service proposes to dismiss a request for official services, the applicant shall be notified of the proposed action. The applicant will then be afforded reasonable time to take corrective action or to demonstrate there is no basis for the dismissal. If the agency or the Service determines that corrective action has not been adequate, the applicant will be notified again of the decision to dismiss the request for service, and any results of official services shall not be released.

(a) Conditional withholding. An agency or the Service shall conditionally withhold requests for official services when an applicant fails to meet any requirement prescribed in § 800.46.

(b) Procedure and withholding. When an agency or the Service proposes to conditionally withhold official services, the applicant shall be notified of the reason for the proposed action. The applicant will then be afforded reasonable time to take corrective action or to show that there is no basis for withholding services. If the agency or the Service determines that corrective action has not been adequate, the applicant will be notified. Any results of official services shall not be released when a request for service is withheld.

(a) Grounds for refusal. Any or all services available to an applicant under the Act may be refused, either temporarily or indefinitely, by the Service for causes prescribed in section 10(a) of the Act. Such refusal by the Service may be restricted to the particular facility or applicant (if not a facility) found in violation or to a particular type of service, as the facts may warrant. Such action may be in addition to, or in lieu of, criminal penalties or other remedial action authorized by the Act.

(b) Provision and procedure for summary refusal. The Service may, without first affording the applicant (hereafter in this section “respondent”) a hearing, refuse to provide official inspection and Class X or Y weighing services pending final determination of the proceeding whenever the Service has reason to believe there is cause, as prescribed in section 10 of the Act, for refusing such official services and considers such action to be in the best interest of the official services system under the Act: Provided that within 7 days after refusal of such service, the Service shall afford the respondent an opportunity for a hearing as provided under paragraph (c)(2) of this section. Pending final determination, the Service may terminate the temporary refusal if alternative managerial, staffing, financial, or operational arrangements satisfactory to the Service can be and are made by the respondent.

(c) Procedure for other than summary refusal. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, before the Service refuses to provide official services the respondent shall be (1) notified of the services that are to be refused, the locations at which and the time period for which service will be refused, and the reasons for the refusal; and (2) afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary Under Various Statutes (7 CFR 1.130 et seq.). At the discretion of the Service, prior to initiation of formal adjudicatory proceedings, the respondent may be given an opportunity to express his or her views on the action proposed by the Service in an informal conference before the Administrator of the Service. If, as a result of such an informal conference, the Service and the respondent enter into a consent agreement, no formal adjudicatory proceedings shall be initiated.

(d) Assessment of civil penalties. Any person who has knowingly committed any violation of section 13 of the Act or has been convicted of any violation of other Federal law with respect to the handling, weighing, or official inspection of grain may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed the amount specified at § 3.91(b)(6)(viii) of this title for each such violation as the Administrator determines is appropriate to effect compliance with the Act. Such action may be in addition to, or in lieu of, criminal penalties under section 14 of the Act, or in addition to, or in lieu of, the refusal of official services authorized by the Act.

(e) Provisions for civil penalty hearings. Before a civil penalty is assessed against any person, such person shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing as provided under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(f) Collection of civil penalties. Upon failure to pay the civil penalty, the Service may request the Attorney General to file civil action to collect the penalty in a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

For any request that has been dismissed or withdrawn under § 800.47, § 800.48, or § 800.49, respectively, each applicant shall pay expenses incurred by the agency or the Service.

Subject to the provisions of §§ 800.48, 800.49, and 800.50, no person entitled to official services under the Act shall be denied or deprived of the right thereto by reason of any rule, regulation, bylaw, or custom of any market, board of trade, chamber of commerce, exchange, inspection department, or similar organization; or by any contract, agreement, or other understanding.

(a) General. In any sale, offer for sale, or consignment for sale, which involves the shipment of grain in interstate or foreign commerce, the description of grain, as being of a grade in any advertising, price quotation, other negotiation of sale, contract of sale, invoice, bill of lading, other document, or description on bags or other containers of the grain, is prohibited if such description is other than by an official grade designation, with or without additional information as to specified factors. An official grade designation contains any of the following: The term “U.S.,” the numerals 1 through 5, the term “Sample grade,” or the name of a subclass or a special grade of grain specified in the Official United States Standards for Grain.

(b) Proprietary brand names or trademarks. A description of grain by a proprietary brand name or a trademark that does not resemble an official grade designation will not be considered to be a description by grade; but a description by a proprietary brand name or trademark that contains singly or in combination any of the terms referenced in paragraph (a) of this section shall be considered to resemble an official grade designation.

(c) Use of one or more factor designations. In interstate commerce, a description of grain by the use of one or more grade factor designations which appear in the Official United States Standards for Grain or by other criteria will not be considered to be a description by grade.

(d) False or misleading descriptions. In any sale, offer for sale, or consignment for sale of any grain which involves the shipment of grain from the United States to any place outside thereof, knowingly using a false or misleading description of grain by official grade designation, or other description is prohibited.

Section 13 of the Act contains certain prohibitions with respect to the use of official grade designations, official marks, and other representations with respect to grain.

(a) The use of an official grade designation, with or without factor information, or of official criteria information, or of the term “official grain standards,” shall not, without additional information, be considered to be a representation that the grain was officially inspected.

(b) The use of any symbol or term listed as an official mark, at § 800.0(b)(68), with respect to grain shall be considered to be a representation of official service under the Act: Provided however, that the use of the official marks “official certificate;” “officially inspected;” “official inspection;” “officially weighed;” “official weight;” and “official weighing” shall not be considered to be a representation of official service under the Act if it is clearly shown that the activity occurred under the U.S. Warehouse Act (7 U.S.C. 241 et seq.): Provided further, that the use of the official mark “officially tested” with respect to grain inspection and weighing equipment shall not be considered to be a representation of testing under the Act if it is clearly shown that the equipment was tested under a State statute.

In the absence of prior adequate notice to appropriate official personnel, any action or practice, including the loading, weighing, handling, or sampling of grain that knowingly causes or is an attempt to cause the issuance by official personnel of a false or incorrect official certificate or other official form, is deemed to be deceptive and, as such, is a violation of section 13(a)(3) of the Act. For the purposes of this paragraph, adequate notice is written or oral notice given to an agency or the Service, as applicable, before official personnel begin to perform official inspection or weighing services. If oral notice is given, it must be confirmed in writing within 2 business days. To be adequate, the notice must explain the nature and extent of the action or practice in question and must identify the grain, stowage container, equipment, facility, and the official personnel actually or potentially involved.

(a) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, dockage and foreign material in grain shall be:

(1) Defined for export elevators at export port locations as set forth in 7 CFR part 810 and as dust removed from grain and collected in a bin/container and as dust settling on floors, equipment, and other areas, commonly referred to as dust sweepings; and

(2) Defined for other than export elevators as set forth in 7 CFR part 810.

(b) Prohibited practices. Except as permitted in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall:

(1) Recombine or add dockage or foreign material to any grain, or

(2) Blend different kinds of grain except when such blending will result in grain being designated as Mixed grain in accordance with subpart E of the Official United States Standards for Grain.

(3) Add water to grain for purposes other than milling, malting, or similar processing operations.

(c) Exemption. (1) The Administrator may grant exemptions from paragraph (b) of this section for grain shipments sent directly to a domestic end-user or processor. Requests for exemptions shall be submitted by grain handlers to the Service through the domestic end-users or processors or their representatives.

(2) Grain sold under an exemption shall be consumed or processed into a product(s) by the purchaser and not resold into the grain market.

(3) Products or byproducts from grain sold under an exemption shall not be blended with or added to grain in commercial channels, except for vegetable oil which may be used as a dust suppressant in accordance with (d)(4) of this section.

(d) Exceptions. Paragraph (b) shall not be construed as prohibiting the following grain handling practices. Compliance with paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(6) of this section does not excuse compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws.

(1) Blending. Grain of the same kind, as defined by the Official United States Standards for Grain, may be blended to adjust quality. Broken corn or broken kernels may be recombined or added to whole grain of the same kind provided that no foreign material or dockage has been added to the broken corn or broken kernels.

(2) Insect and fungi control. Grain may be treated to control insects and fungi. Elevators, other grain handlers, and their agents are responsible for the proper use and applications of insecticides and fungicides. Sections 800.88 and 800.96 include additional requirements for grain that is officially inspected and weighed.

(3) Marketing dockage and foreign material. Dockage and foreign material may be marketed separately.

(4) Dust suppressants. Grain may be treated with an additive, other than water, to suppress dust during handling. Elevators, other grain handlers, and their agents are responsible for the proper use and application of dust suppressants. Sections 800.88 and 800.96 include additional requirements for grain that is officially inspected and weighed.

(5) Identification. Confetti or similar material may be added to grain for identification purposes. Elevators, other grain handlers, and their agents are responsible for the proper use and application of such materials. Sections 800.88 and 800.96 include additional requirements for grain that is officially inspected or weighed.

(6) Export loading facilities. Between May 1, 1987, and December 31, 1987, export elevators at export port locations may recombine dockage and foreign material, but not dust, with grain provided such recombination occurs during the loading of a vessel with the intended purpose of ensuring uniformity of dockage and foreign material in the cargo.

(a) Assessment and use of fees. (1) Fees assessed by an agency for official inspection and Class X or Class Y weighing services or testing of inspection equipment shall be reasonable and nondiscriminatory.

(2) In the case of a State or local governmental agency, fees shall not be used for any purpose other than to finance the cost of the official inspection and Class X or Class Y weighing service and inspection equipment testing service performed by the agency or the cost of other closely related programs administered by the agency.

(b) Approval required—(1) Restriction. Only fees that meet the requirements stated in this section and are approved by the Service as reasonable and nondiscriminatory may be charged by an agency.

(2) Exceptions. For good cause shown by an agency, the Administrator may grant case-by-case exceptions to the requirements in this section, provided that a determination is made that the agency fees would be reasonable and nondiscriminatory.

(c) Reasonable fees. In determining if an agency's fees are reasonable, the Service will consider whether the fees:

(1) Cover the estimated total cost to the agency of

(i) Official inspection services,

(ii) Class X or Class Y weighing services,

(iii) Inspection equipment testing services, and

(iv) Related supervision and monitoring activities performed by the agency;

(2) Are reasonably consistent with fees assessed by adjacent agencies for similar services;

(3) Are assessed on the basis of the average cost of performing the same or similar services at all locations served by the agency; and

(4) Are supported by sufficient information which shows how the fees were developed.

(d) Nondiscriminatory fees. In determining if fees are nondiscriminatory, the Service will consider whether the fees are collected from all applicants for official service in accordance with the approved fee schedule. Charges for time and travel incurred in providing service at a location away from a specified service point shall be assessed in accordance with the approved fee schedule.

(e) Schedule of fees to be established. (1) Each agency shall establish a schedule of fees for official services which the agency is delegated or designated the authority to perform. The schedule shall be in a standard format in accordance with the instructions. Such schedules may include fees for nonofficial services provided by the agency, but they shall be clearly identified and will not be subject to approval by the Service.

(2) The schedule shall be published and made available by the agency to all users of its services.

(f) Request for approval of fees—(1) Time requirement. A request for approval of a new or revised fee shall be submitted to the Service not less than 60 days in advance of the proposed effective date for the fee. Failure to submit a request within the prescribed time period may be considered grounds for postponment or denial of the request.

(2) Contents of request. Each request shall show (i) the present fee, if any, and the proposed fee, together with data showing in detail how the fee was developed, and (ii) the proposed effective date.

(g) Review of request—(1) Approval action. If upon review the Service finds that the request and supporting data justify the new or revised fee, the request will be marked “approved” and returned to the agency.

(2) Denial action. If the Service finds that the request and supporting data do not justify the new or revised fee, approval of the request will be withheld pending receipt of any additional supporting data which the agency has to offer. If the data are not submitted within a reasonable period, the request shall be denied. In the case of a denial of a request, the agency shall be notified of the reason for denial.

(a) Official inspection and weighing services. The fees shown in Schedule A of paragraph (a)(1) of this section apply to official inspection and weighing services performed by FGIS in the U.S. and Canada. The fees shown in Schedule B of paragraph (a)(2) of this section apply to official domestic inspection and weighing services performed by delegated States and designated agencies, including land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico. The fees charged to delegated States by the Service are set forth in the State's Delegation of Authority document. Failure of a delegated State or designated agency to pay the appropriate fees to the Service within 30 days after becoming due will result in an automatic termination of the delegation or designation. The delegation or designation may be reinstated by the Service if fees that are due, plus interest and any further expenses incurred by the Service because of the termination, are paid within 60 days of the termination.

(1) Schedule A—Fees for official inspection and weighing services performed in the United States and Canada. For each calendar year, FGIS will calculate Schedule A fees as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. FGIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register and post Schedule A fees on the Agency's public website.

(2) Schedule B—Fees for Supervision of Official Inspection and Weighing Services Performed by Delegated States and Designated Agencies in the United States. The Service will assess a supervision fee per metric ton of domestic U.S. grain shipments inspected or weighed, or both, including land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico. For each calendar year, the Service will calculate Schedule B fees as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. The Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register and post Schedule B fees on the Agency's public website.

(b) Annual review of fees. For each calendar year, starting with 2021, the Service will review fees included in this section and publish fees each year according to the following:

(1) Tonnage fees. Tonnage fees in Schedule A in paragraph (a)(1) of this section will consist of the national tonnage fee and local tonnage fees and the Service will calculate and round the fee to the nearest $0.001 per metric ton. All outbound grain officially inspected and/or weighed by the Field Offices in New Orleans, League City, Portland, and Toledo will be assessed the national tonnage fee plus the appropriate local tonnage fee. Export grain officially inspected and/or weighed by delegated States and official agencies, excluding land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico, will be assessed the national tonnage fee only. The fees will be set according to the following:

(i) National tonnage fee. The national tonnage fee is the national program administrative costs for the previous fiscal year divided by the average yearly tons of export grain officially inspected and/or weighed by delegated States and designated agencies, excluding land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico, and outbound grain officially inspected and/or weighed by the Service during the previous 5 fiscal years.

(ii) Local tonnage fee. The local tonnage fee is the Field Office administrative costs for the previous fiscal year divided by the average yearly tons of outbound grain officially inspected and/or weighed by the Field Office during the previous 5 fiscal years. The local tonnage fee is calculated individually for each Field Office.

(2) Supervision fee. Supervision fee in Schedule B in paragraph (a)(2) of this section will be set according to the following:

(i) Operating reserve adjustment. The operating reserve adjustment is the supervision program costs for the previous fiscal year divided by 2 less the end of previous fiscal year operating reserve balance.

(ii) Supervision tonnage fee. The supervision tonnage fee is the sum of the prior fiscal year program costs plus operating reserve adjustment divided by the average yearly tons of domestic U.S. grain shipments inspected or weighed, or both, including land carrier shipments to Canada and Mexico during the previous 5 fiscal years. If the calculated value is zero or a negative value, the Service will suspend the collection of supervision tonnage fees for one calendar year.

(3) Operating reserve. In order to maintain an operating reserve not less than 3 and not more than 6 months, the Service will review the value of the operating reserve at the end of each fiscal year and adjust fees according to the following:

(i) Less than 4.5 months. If the operating reserve is less than 4.5 times the monthly operating expenses, the Service will increase all fees in Schedule A in paragraph (a)(1) of this section by 2 percent for each $1,000,000, rounded down, that the operating reserve is less than 4.5 times the monthly operating expense, with a maximum increase of 5 percent annually. Except for fees based on tonnage or hundredweight, all fees will be rounded to the nearest $0.10.

(ii) Greater than 4.5 months. If the operating reserve is greater than 4.5 times the monthly operating expenses, the Service will decrease all fees in Schedule A in paragraph (a)(1) of this section by 2 percent for each $1,000,000, rounded down, that the operating reserve is greater than 4.5 times the monthly operating expense, with a maximum decrease of 5 percent annually. Except for fees based on tonnage or hundredweight, all fees will be rounded to the nearest $0.10.

(c) Periodic review. The Service will periodically review and adjust all fees in Schedules A and B in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, respectively, as necessary to ensure they reflect the true cost of providing and supervising official service. This process will incorporate any fee adjustments from paragraph (b) of this section.

(d) Miscellaneous fees for other services. For each calendar year, the Service will review fees included in this section and publish fees in the Federal Register and on the Agency's public website.

(1) Registration certificates and renewals. The fee for registration certificates and renewals will be published annually in the Federal Register and on the Agency's public website, and the Service will calculate the fee using the noncontract hourly rate published pursuant to 7 CFR 800.71(a)(1) multiplied by five. If you operate a business that buys, handles, weighs, or transports grain for sale in foreign commerce, or you are also in a control relationship with respect to a business that buys, handles, weighs, or transports grain for sale in interstate commerce, you must complete an application and pay the published fee.

(2) Designation amendments. The fee for amending designations will be published annually in the Federal Register and on the Agency's public website. The Service will calculate the fee using the cost of publication plus one hour at the noncontract hourly rate. If you submit an application to amend a designation, you must pay the published fee.

(a) When transportation of the service representative to the service location (at other than a specified duty point) is more than 25 miles from an FGIS office, the actual transportation cost in addition to the applicable hourly rate for each service representative will be assessed from the FGIS office to the service point and return. When commercial modes of transportation (e.g., airplanes) are required, the actual expense incurred for the round-trip travel will be assessed. When services are provided to more than one applicant, the travel and other related charges will be prorated between applicants.

(b) In addition to a 2-hour minimum charge for service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, an additional charge will be assessed when the revenue from the services in § 800.71(a)(1), schedule A, table 2, does not equal or exceed what would have been collected at the applicable hourly rate. The additional charge will be the difference between the actual unit fee revenue and the hourly fee revenue. Hours accrued for travel and standby time shall apply in determining the hours for the minimum fee.

(a) Computing hourly rates. The applicable hourly rate will be assessed in quarter hour increments for:

(1) Travel from the FGIS field office or assigned duty station to the service point and return;

(2) The performance of the requested service, less mealtime.

(b) Application of fees when service is delayed or dismissed by the applicant. The applicable hourly rate will be assessed for the entire period of scheduled service when:

(1) Service has been requested at a specified location;

(2) A service representative is on duty and ready to provide service but is unable to do so because of a delay not caused by the Service; and

(3) FGIS officials determine that the service representative cannot be utilized to provide service elsewhere without cost to the Service.

(c) Application of fees when an application for service is withdrawn or dismissed. The applicable hourly rate will be assessed to the applicant for the entire period of scheduled service if the request is withdrawn or dismissed after the service representative departs for the service point, or if the service request is not canceled by 2 p.m., local time, the business day preceding the date of scheduled service. However, the applicable hourly rate will not be assessed to the applicant if FGIS officials determine that the service representative can be utilized elsewhere or released without cost to the Service.

(d) To whom fees are assessed. Fees for inspection, weighing, and related services performed by service representatives, including additional fees as provided in §§ 800.72(a) and 800.74, shall be assessed to and paid by the applicant for the service.

(e) Advance payment. As necessary, the Administrator may require that fees shall be paid in advance of the performance of the requested service. Any fees paid in excess of the amount due shall be used to offset future billings, unless a request for a refund is made by the applicant.

(f) Form of payment. Bills for fees assessed under the regulations in this part for official services performed by FGIS shall be paid by check, draft, or money order, payable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.

The fees for fiscal year 2024 are established in the fee tables posted on the Service's public website.

(a) General. Paragraphs (b) through (m) of this section describe the kinds of official service available. Each kind of service has several levels. §§ 800.115, 800.116, 800.117, and 800.118 explain Original Services, §§ 800.125, 800.126, 800.127, 800.128, and 800.129 explain Reinspection Services and Review of Weighing Services, and §§ 800.135, 800.136, 800.137, 800.138, and 800.139 explain Appeal Inspection Services. The results of each official service listed in paragraphs (b) through (j) will be certificated according to § 800.160.

(b) Official sample-lot inspection service. This service consists of official personnel (1) sampling an identified lot of grain and (2) analyzing the grain sample for grade, official factors, or official criteria, or any combination thereof, according to the regulations, Official U.S. Standards for Grain, instructions, and the request for inspection.

(c) Warehouseman's sample-lot inspection service. This service consists of (1) a licensed warehouseman sampler (i) sampling an identified lot of grain using an approved diverter-type mechanical sampler and (ii) sending the sample to official personnel and (2) official personnel analyzing the grain sample for grade, official factors, official criteria, or any combination thereof, according to the regulations, Official U.S. Standards for Grain, instructions, and the request for inspection.

(d) Submitted sample inspection service. This service consists of an applicant or an applicant's agent submitting a grain sample to official personnel, and official personnel analyzing the grain sample for grade, official factors, official criteria, or any combination thereof, according to the regulations, Official U.S. Standards for Grain, instructions, and the request for inspection.

(e) Official sampling service. This service consists of official personnel (1) sampling an identified lot of grain and (2) forwarding a representative portion(s) of the sample along with a copy of the certificate, as requested by the applicant.

(f) Official stowage examination service. (1) This service consists of official personnel visually determining if an identified carrier or container is clean; dry; free of infestation, rodents, toxic substances, and foreign odor; and is suitable to store or carry grain.

(2) A stowage examination may be obtained as a separate service or with one or more other services. Approval of the stowage space is required for official sample-lot inspection services on all export lots of grain and all official sample-lot inspection services performed on outbound domestic lots of grain which are sampled and inspected at the time of loading. Also, approval of the stowage space is required for any weighing services performed on all outbound land carriers.

(g) Class X weighing service. This service consists of official personnel (1) completely supervising the loading or unloading of an identified lot of grain and (2) physically weighing or completely supervising approved weighers weighing the grain.

(h) Class Y weighing service. This service consists of (1) approved weighers physically weighing the grain and (2) official personnel partially or completely supervising the loading or unloading of an identified lot of grain.

(i) Checkweighing service (sacked grain). This service consists of official personnel or approved weighers under the supervision of official personnel (1) physically weighing a selected number of sacks from a grain lot and (2) determining the estimated total gross, tare, and new weights, or the estimated average gross or net weight per filled sack according to the regulations, instructions, and request by the applicant.

(j) Checkloading service. This service consists of official personnel (1) performing a stowage examination; (2) computing the number of filled grain containers loaded aboard a carrier; and (3) if practicable, sealing the carrier for security.

(k) Test weight reverification service. This service consists of official personnel (1) comparing the weight of elevator test weights with known weights; (2) correcting the elevator test weights, when necessary; and (3) issuing a Report of Test.

(l) Railroad track scale testing service. This service consists of official personnel (1) testing railroad track scales with Service-controlled test cars and (2) issuing a Report of Test.

(m) Hopper and truck scale testing service. This service consists of official personnel (1) testing hopper and truck scales and (2) issuing a Report of Test.

(a) Prohibited services. No agency shall perform any inspection function or provide any inspection service on the basis of unofficial standards, procedures, factors, or criteria if the agency is designated or authorized to perform the service or provide the service on an official basis under the Act. No agency shall perform official and unofficial weighing on the same mode of conveyance at the same facility.

(b) Restricted services—(1) Not standardized grain. When an inspection or weighing service is requested on a sample or a lot of grain which does not meet the requirements for grain as set forth in the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, a certificate showing the words “Not Standardized Grain” shall be issued according to the instructions.

(2) Grain screening. The inspection or weighing of grain screenings may be obtained from an agency or field office according to the instructions.

(a) Methods—(1) General. All official inspection services shall be performed in accordance with methods and procedures prescribed in the regulations and the instructions.

(2) Lot inspection services. A lot inspection service shall be based on a representative sampling and examination of the grain in the entire lot, except as provided in § 800.85, and an accurate analysis of the grain in the sample.

(3) Stowage examination service. A stowage examination service shall be based on a thorough and accurate examination of the carrier or container into which grain will be loaded.

(4) Submitted sample inspection service. A submitted sample inspection service shall be based on a submitted sample of sufficient size to enable official personnel to perform a complete analysis for grade. If a complete analysis for grade cannot be performed because of an inadequate sample size or other conditions, the request for service shall be dismissed or a factor only inspection may be performed upon request.

(5) Reinspection and appeal inspection service. A reinspection, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection service shall be based on an independent review of official grade information, official factor information, or other information consistent with the scope of the original inspection.

(b) Order of service. Official inspection services shall be performed, to the extent practicable, in the order in which they are received. Priority shall be given to inspections required for export grain. Priority may be given to other kinds of inspection services under the Act with the specific approval of the Service.

(c) Recording receipt of documents. Each document submitted by or on behalf of an applicant for inspection services shall be promptly stamped or similarly marked by official personnel to show the date of receipt.

(d) Conflicts of interest. No official personnel shall perform or participate in performing an official inspection service on grain or on a carrier or container in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.

(a) Samples for official sample-lot inspection service—(1) Original official sample-lot inspection service. For original sample-lot inspection purposes, an official sample shall be obtained by official personnel; representative of the grain in the lot; and protected from manipulation, substitution, and improper or careless handling.

(2) Official sample-lot reinspection and appeal inspection service. For an official sample-lot reinspection service or an official appeal sample-lot inspection service, the sample(s) on which the reinspection or appeal is determined shall (i) be obtained by official personnel and (ii) otherwise meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section. If the reinspection or appeal inspection is determined on the basis of official file sample(s), the samples shall meet the requirements of § 800.82(d).

(3) New sample. Upon request and if practicable, a new sample shall be obtained and examined as a part of a reinspection or appeal inspection. The provision for a new sample shall not apply if obtaining the new sample involves a change in method of sampling.

(b) Representative sample. A sample shall not be considered representative unless it (1) has been obtained by official personnel, (2) is of the size prescribed in the instructions, and (3) has been obtained, handled, and submitted in accordance with the instructions. A sample which fails to meet the requirements of this paragraph may, upon request of the applicant, be inspected as a submitted sample.

(c) Protecting samples. Official personnel shall protect official samples, warehouseman's samples, and submitted samples from manipulation, substitution, or improper and careless handling which may deprive the samples of their representativeness or which may change the physical or chemical properties of the grain, as appropriate, from the time of sampling or receipt until the inspection services are completed and the file samples have been discarded.

(d) Restriction on sampling. Official personnel shall not perform an original inspection or a reinspection service on an official sample or a warehouseman's sample unless the grain from which the sample was obtained was located within the area of responsibility assigned to the agency or field office at the time of sampling, except as provided for in § 800.117, or on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Administrator.

(e) Disposition of samples—(1) Excess grain. Any grain in excess of the quantity specified in the instructions for the requested service, the file samples, and samples requested by interested persons shall be returned to the lot from which the grain was obtained or to the owner of the lot or the owner's order.

(2) Inspection samples. Inspection samples, after they have served their intended purpose, shall be disposed of as follows:

(i) Samples which contain toxic substances or materials shall be kept out of food and feed channels, and

(ii) Official personnel shall dispose of samples obtained or submitted to them according to procedures established by the Service. Complete and accurate records of disposition shall be maintained.

(a) Original inspection service—(1) Official sample-lot inspection service. Each original inspection service shall be performed on the basis of one or more official samples obtained by official personnel from grain in the lot and forwarded to the appropriate agency or field office.

(2) Warehouseman's sample-lot inspection. Each original warehouseman's sample-lot inspection service shall be performed on the basis of samples obtained by a licensed warehouseman and sent to the appropriate agency or field office in whose circuit the warehouse is located.

(3) Submitted sample service. Each original submitted sample inspection service shall be performed on the basis of the sample as submitted.

(b) Reinspection, and appeal inspection services—(1) Official sample-lot inspection service. Each of these inspection services shall be performed on the basis of official samples as available, including file samples, at the time the service is requested. In performing these services, a sample obtained with an approved diverter-type mechanical sampler or with a pelican sampler generally shall be used with respect to quality factors and official criteria, and a sample obtained with a probe at the time of the reinspection or appeal, generally, shall be used with respect to heating, musty, sour, insect infestation, and other condition and odor factors. In instances where original inspection results are based on samples obtained by probe, the decision as to whether file samples or new samples obtained by probe are to be used shall be made by the official personnel performing the service.

(2) Warehouseman's sample-lot inspection service. Each reinspection service and appeal inspection service on a warehouseman's sample shall be performed on an analysis of the official file sample.

(3) Submitted sample service. Each reinspection service and appeal inspection service on a submitted sample shall be performed on an analysis of the official file sample.

(c) Board appeal inspection services. Board appeal inspection services shall be performed on an analysis of the official file sample.

(d) Use of file samples—(1) Requirements for use. A file sample that is retained by official personnel in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the instructions may be considered representative for a reinspection service, appeal inspection service, and a Board appeal inspection service if (i) the file sample has remained at all times in the custody and control of the official personnel that performed the inspection service in question; and (ii) the official personnel who performed the original inspection service and those who are to perform the reinspection, the appeal inspection, or the Board appeal inspection service determine that the samples were representative at the time the original inspection service was performed and that the quality or condition of the grain in the samples has not changed.

(2) Certificate statement. When the results of a reinspection, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection service are based on an official file sample, the certificate for the reinspection service, the appeal inspection service, and the Board appeal inspection service shall show a statement, as specified in the instructions, indicating that the results are based on the official file sample.

(a) Export cargo movements—(1) Bulk grain. Except as may be approved by the Administrator on a shipment-by-shipment basis in an emergency, each inspection for official grade, official factor, or official criteria on an export cargo shipment of bulk grain shall be performed on official samples obtained from the grain (i) as the grain is being loaded aboard the final carrier; (ii) after the final elevation of the grain prior to loading and as near to the final loading spout as is physically practicable (except as approved by the Administrator when representative samples can be obtained before the grain reaches the final loading spout); and (iii) by means of a diverter-type mechanical sampler approved by the Service and operated in accordance with instructions. If an approved diverter-type mechanical sampler is not properly installed at an elevator or facility as required, each certificate issued at that elevator or facility for an export cargo shipment of bulk grain shall show a statement indicating the type of approved sampling method used, as prescribed in the instructions.

(2) Sacked grain. Each inspection for official grade, official factor, or official criteria on an export cargo shipment of sacked grain shall be performed on official samples obtained from the grain by any sampling method approved by the Service and operated in accordance with instructions.

(b) Other movements. Each inspection for official grade, official factor, or official criteria on a domestic cargo movement (“In,” “Out,” or en route barge movement), a movement in a land carrier (any movement in a railcar, truck trailer, truck/trailer combination, or container), or a “LOCAL” movement of bulk or sacked grain shall be performed on official samples obtained from the grain by any sampling method approved by the Service and operated in accordance with the instructions.

(a) General. The inspection of bulk or sacked grain loaded or unloaded from any carrier or container, except shiplot grain, must be conducted in accordance with the provision in this section and procedures prescribed in the instructions. Applicant must provide written instructions to official personnel, reflecting contract requirements for quality and quantity for the inspection of multiple carriers graded on a composite grade or average grade basis.

(b) Single and multiple grade procedure—(1) Single grade. When grain in a carrier(s) is/are offered for inspection as one lot and the grain is found to be uniform in condition, the grain must be sampled, inspected, graded, and certified as one lot. For the purpose of this paragraph, condition only includes the factors heating and odor.

(i) Composite grade. Grain loaded in multiple carriers offered for inspection may be combined into a single sample for grade analysis and certified as a single lot, provided that the grain in each individual carrier is inspected and found uniform in respect to odor, condition, and insect infestation, and sampling is performed at the individual loading location in a reasonably continuous operation. The maximum number of individual units that may be combined to form a composite grade analysis is 20 containers, 5 railcars, or 15 trucks. Composite analysis must be restricted to carriers inspected within the official service provider's area of responsibility.

(ii) Average grade. Grain loaded in multiple carriers offered for inspection may be graded individually, then averaged for certification as a single lot, provided that: the grain in each individual carrier is inspected and graded as an individual unit; the grain is found to be uniform in respect to odor, condition, and insect infestation; and sampling is performed at the individual loading location in a reasonably continuous operation. The maximum number of individual units that may be combined to form an average grade analysis is 20 containers, 5 railcars, or 15 trucks. Average grade analysis is restricted to carriers inspected within the official service provider's area of responsibility.

(2) Multiple grade. When grain in a carrier is offered for inspection as one lot and the grain is found to be not uniform in condition because portions of the grain are heating or have an odor, the grain in each portion will be sampled, inspected, and graded separately; but the results must be shown on one certificate. The certificate must show the approximate quantity or weight of each portion, the location of each portion in the carrier or container, and the grade of the grain in each portion. The requirements of this section are not applicable when an applicant requests that the grade of the entire carrier be based on a determination of heating or odor when only a portion of the carrier is found to be heating or have an odor.

(3) Infested. If any portion of grain in a lot is found to be infested, according to applicable provisions of the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, the entire lot shall be considered infested. When grain in railcars or trucks with permanently enclosed tops is considered infested, the applicant for inspection shall be promptly notified and given the option of (i) receiving a grade certificate with a special grade designation indicating that the entire lot is infested or (ii) fumigating the grain in the lot in accordance with instructions and receiving a grade certificate without the special grade designation.

(c) One certificate per carrier: exceptions. Except as provided in this paragraph, one official certificate must be issued for the inspection of the grain in each truck, trailer, truck/trailer(s) combination, container, railcar, barge, or similarly-sized carrier, or composite/average grade analysis on multiple carrier units. The requirements of this paragraph are not applicable:

(1) When grain is inspected in a combined lot under § 800.85;

(2) When grain is inspected under paragraph (d) of this section; or

(3) When certification is at the option of the applicant in accordance with instructions.

(d) Bulkhead lots. If grain in a carrier is offered for official inspection as two or more lots and the lots are separated by bulkheads or other partitions, the grain in each lot shall be sampled, inspected, and graded separately in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. An official certificate shall be issued for each lot inspected. Each certificate shall show the term “Bulkhead Lot,” the approximate quantity or weight of the grain in the lot, the location of the lot in the carrier, and the grade of the grain in the lot.

(e) Bottom not sampled. If bulk grain offered for official inspection is at rest in a carrier or container and is fully accessible for sampling in an approved manner, except that the bottom of the carrier or container cannot be reached with each probe, the grain shall be sampled as thoroughly as possible with an approved probe. The grain in the resulting samples shall be inspected, graded, and certificated, except that each certificate shall show a statement, as specified in the instructions, indicating the depth probed. Any inspection which is based on a sample that does not represent the entire carrier or container does not meet the mandatory inspection requirements of section 5(a)(1) of the Act.

(f) Partial inspection—heavily loaded—(1) General. When an “In” movement of bulk grain is offered for inspection at rest in a carrier or container and is loaded in such a manner that it is possible to secure only door-probe or shallow-probe samples, the container shall be considered to be “heavily loaded,” and the request for inspection either shall be dismissed or a partial inspection shall be made. If the request is for the inspection of an “Out” movement of grain, the request shall be dismissed on the grounds that the grain is not accessible for a correct “Out” inspection.

(2) Certification procedure. If a partial inspection is made, the grain will be sampled as thoroughly as possible with an approved probe and inspected, graded, and a “partial inspection—heavily loaded” certificate issued. The certificate shall show the words “Partial inspection—heavily loaded” in the space provided for remarks. The type of samples that were obtained shall be described in terms of “door probe” or “shallow probe.”

(3) Reinspection and appeal inspection procedure. A request for a reinspection or an appeal inspection service on grain in a carrier or container that is certificated as “partial inspection—heavily loaded” shall be dismissed in accordance with § 800.48(a)(4).

(4) Restriction. No “partial inspection—heavily loaded” certificate shall be issued for sacked grain or any inspection other than the inspections described in paragraphs (f)(1) through (4) of this section and § 800.85(h)(2).

(g) Part lots—(1) General. If a portion of the grain in a carrier or container is removed, the grain that is removed and the grain remaining shall be considered separate lots. When an official inspection service is requested on either portion, the grain shall be sampled, inspected, graded, and a “part-lot” inspection certificate issued.

(2) Grain remaining in carrier or container. The certificate for grain remaining in a carrier or container shall show (i) the following completed statement: “Partly unloaded; results based on portion remaining in (show carrier or container identification),” (ii) the term “Part lot” following the quantity information, (iii) the identification of the carrier or container, and (iv) the estimated amount and location of the part lot.

(3) Grain unloaded from carrier or container. If grain is sampled by official personnel during unloading, the certificate for the grain that is unloaded shall show (i) the completed statement: “Part lot; results based on portion removed from (show carrier identification)” and (ii) the term “Part lot” following the quantity information. If the grain is not sampled by official personnel during unloading, the certificate may, upon request of the applicant, show a completed statement such as “Applicant states grain is ex-car ” or “Applicant states grain is ex-barge ,” but the certificate shall not otherwise show a carrier or container identification or the term “Part lot.”

(h) Identification for compartmented cars. The identification for compartments in a compartmented railcar shall, in the absence of readily visible markings, be stated in terms of the location of the grain in a compartment, with the first compartment at the brake end of the car being identified as B-1, and the remaining compartments being numbered consecutively towards the other end of the car.

(a) General. The official inspection for grade of bulk or sacked grain loaded aboard, or being loaded aboard, or discharged from two or more carriers or containers (including barges designed for loading aboard a ship) as a combined lot shall be performed according to the provisions of this section and procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(b) Application procedure—(1) For inspection during loading, unloading, or at rest. Applications for official inspection of grain as a combined lot must:

(i) Be filed in accordance with § 800.116;

(ii) Show the estimated quantity of grain that is to be certified as one lot;

(iii) Show the contract grade, and if applicable; other inspection criteria required by the contract; and

(iv) Identify each carrier into which grain is being loaded or from which grain is being unloaded.

(2) Recertification. An application for recertification as a combined lot of grain that has been officially inspected and certificated as two or more single lots shall (i) be filed not later than 2 business days after the latest inspection date of the single lots and (ii) show information specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(c) Inspection procedure; general—land carriers and barges—(1) Inspection during loading, or unloading, or at rest. Grain in two or more land carriers or barges that are to be officially inspected as a combined lot, must be sampled in a reasonably continuous operation. Representative samples must be obtained from the grain in each individual carrier and inspected in accordance with procedures as prescribed in the instructions.

(2) Recertification. Grain that has been officially inspected and certified as two or more single, composite, or average quality lots may be recertified as a combined lot provided that:

(i) The grain in each lot was sampled in a reasonably continuous operation;

(ii) The original inspection certificates issued for the single, composite, or average quality lots have been surrendered to official personnel;

(iii) Representative file samples of the single, composite, or average quality lots are available;

(iv) The grain in the single, composite, or average quality lots is of the same grade or better grade and quality than as specified in the written instructions provided by the shipper;

(v) Official personnel who performed the inspection service for the single, composite, or average quality lots and the official personnel who are to recertify the grain as a combined lot must determine that the samples used as a basis for the inspection of the grain in the single, composite, or average quality lots were representative at the time of sampling and have not changed in quality or condition; and

(vi) The quality or condition of the grain meets uniformity requirements established by the Service for official inspection of grain in combined lots.

(d) Weighted or mathematical average. Official factor and official criteria information shown on a certificate for grain in a combined lot shall, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (e) through (g) of this section, be based on the weighted or mathematical averages of the analysis of the sublots in the lot and shall be determined in accordance with the instructions.

(e) Infested grain. If the grain in a combined lot is offered for official inspection as it is being loaded aboard a carrier and the grain, or a portion of the grain, in a lot is found to be infested, according to applicable provisions of the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, the applicant shall be notified and may exercise options specified in the instructions. When grain in railcars or trucks with permanently enclosed tops is considered infested, the applicant shall be given the option of (1) receiving a grade certificate with a special grade designation indicating that the entire lot is infested or (2) fumigating the grain in the lot in accordance with instructions and receiving a grade certificate without the special grade designation.

(f) Grain uniform in quality. Samples obtained from grain officially inspected as a combined lot shall be examined for uniformity of quality. If the grain in the samples is found to be uniform in quality and the grain is loaded aboard or is unloaded from the carriers in a reasonably continuous operation, the grain in the combined lot shall be officially inspected and certificated as one lot. The requirements of this paragraph (f) and paragraph (c) of this section with respect to reasonably continuous loading or unloading do not apply to grain which is at rest in carriers when the grain is offered for inspection.

(g) Grain not uniform in quality. When grain officially inspected as a combined lot is found to be not uniform in quality or if the grain is not loaded or unloaded in a reasonably continuous operation, the grain in each portion, and any grain which is loaded or unloaded at different times, shall be officially sampled, inspected, graded, and certificated as single lots.

(h) Special certification procedures—(1) Grain not uniform in quality. When grain in a combined lot is found to be not uniform in quality under paragraph (g) of this section, the official inspection certificate for each portion of different quality shall show (i) the grade, identification, and approximate quantity of the grain and (ii) other information required by the instructions.

(2) Partial inspection. When an inbound movement of bulk grain is offered for official inspection at rest as a combined lot and all carriers are not fully accessible for sampling, the request for official inspection either shall be dismissed or a combined lot inspection shall be made on those carriers that are accessible. Those lots that are not accessible shall be handled in accordance with § 800.84. If the request is for an official inspection service on an outbound movement of grain at rest in a combined lot, the request shall be dismissed on the ground that the grain is not accessible for a correct “Out” inspection.

(3) Official mark. If grain in a combined lot is inspected for grade as it is being loaded aboard two or more carriers, upon request of the applicant, the following mark shall be shown on the inspection certificate: “Loaded under continuous official inspection” or “Loaded under continuous official inspection and weighing.”

(4) Combined-lot certification; general. Each official certificate for a combined-lot inspection service must show the identification for the “combined lot” or, at the request of the applicant, the identification of each carrier in the combined lot. If the identification of each carrier is not shown, the statement “Carrier identification available on the official work record” must be shown on the inspection certificate in the space provided for remarks. The identification and any seal information for the carriers may be shown in the Remarks section on the reverse side of the inspection certificate, provided that the statement “See reverse side” is shown on the face of the certificate in the space provided for remarks, or on an additional page.

(5) Recertification. If a request for a combined-lot inspection service is filed after the grain has been officially inspected and certified as single, composite, or average quality lots, the combined-lot inspection certificate must show, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (h)(4) of this section the following:

(i) The date of inspection of the grain in the combined lot (if the single, composite, or average quality lots were inspected on different dates, the latest of the dates must be shown);

(ii) A serial number other than the serial numbers of the official inspection certificates that are to be superseded;

(iii) The location of the grain, if at rest, or the name(s) of the elevator(s) from which or into which the grain in the combined lot was loaded or unloaded;

(iv) A statement showing the approximate quantity of grain in the combined lot;

(v) A completed statement showing the identification of any superseded certificates; and

(vi) If at the time of issuing the combined-lot inspection certificate the superseded certificates are not in the custody of the official personnel, a statement indicating that the superseded certificates have not been surrendered must be clearly shown in the space provided for remarks. If the superseded certificates are in the custody of official personnel, the superseded certificates must be clearly marked “Void.”

(i) Further combining. After a combined-lot inspection certificate has been issued, there shall be no further combining and no dividing of the certificate.

(j) Limitation. No combined-lot inspection certificate shall be issued (1) for any official inspection service other than as described in this section or (2) which shows a quantity of grain in excess of the quantity in the single lots.

(a) General. Official inspection for grade of bulk or sacked grain aboard, or being loaded aboard, or being unloaded from a ship, unit train, or lash barges as a single lot shall be performed according to the provisions of this section and procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(b) Application procedure. Applications for the official inspection of shiplot, unit train, and lash barges as a single lot shall:

(1) Be filed in advance of loading or unloading;

(2) Show the estimated quantity of grain to be certificated;

(3) Show the contract grade and official criteria if applicable; and

(4) Identify the carrier and stowage area into which the grain is being loaded, or from which the grain is being unloaded, or in which the grain is at rest.

(c) Inspection procedures—(1) General information. Shiplot, unit train, and lash barge grain officially inspected as a single lot shall be sampled in a reasonably continuous operation. Representative samples shall be obtained from the grain offered for inspection and inspected and graded in accordance with a statistical acceptance sampling and inspection plan according to the provisions of this section and procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(2) Tolerances. The probability of accepting or rejecting portions of the lot during loading or unloading is dependent on inspection results obtained from preceding portions and the applied breakpoints and procedures. Breakpoints shall be periodically reviewed and revised based on new estimates of inspection variability. Tables 1 through 24 list the breakpoints for all grains.

(3) Grain accepted by the inspection plan. Grain which is offered for inspection as part of a single lot and accepted by a statistical acceptance sampling and inspection plan according to the provisions of this section and procedures prescribed in the instructions shall be certificated as a single lot provided it was sampled in a reasonably continuous operation. Official factor and official criteria information shown on the certificate shall be based on the weighted or mathematical averages of the analysis of sublots.

(4) Grain rejected by the inspection plan. When grain which is offered for inspection as part of a single lot is rejected by the plan or is not sampled in a reasonably continuous operation, the grain in each portion shall be certificated separately. If any portion of grain is not accepted by the plan and designated a material portion, the applicant shall be promptly notified and have the option of:

(i) Removing the material portion from the carrier; or

(ii) Requesting the material portion be separately certificated; or

(iii) Requesting either a reinspection or an appeal inspection of the material portion; or

(iv) Requesting a reinspection service and/or an appeal inspection service on the entire lot.

(5) Reinspection service and appeal inspection service. A reinspection or an appeal inspection may be requested on a material portion. A Board appeal inspection may also be requested on a material portion after the reinspection or appeal inspection. A reinspection, an appeal inspection, and a Board appeal inspection may be requested on the total sublots in the lot.

(i) Material portions. A material portion designated by the plan may be reinspected or appeal inspected once in the field, but not both, and once at the Board of Appeals and Review. The reinspection or appeal inspection result shall, unless a material error is found, be averaged with the original inspection determination. The Board appeal inspection result shall, unless a material error is found, be averaged with the previous inspection result. The inspection plan tolerances shall be reapplied to the material portion grain to determine acceptance or rejection. If a material error is found, the reinspection or appeal inspection result shall replace the original inspection result or the Board appeal result shall replace the previous inspection result. For purposes of this section, a material error is defined as results differing by more than two standard deviations. Acceptance or rejection of that portion of grain shall be based on the reinspection or appeal inspection and on the Board appeal inspection result alone when a material error is found.

(ii) Entire lot. The applicant may request a reinspection service, an appeal inspection service, and a Board appeal inspection service on the entire lot. Inspection results for these services shall replace the previous inspection results. The tolerances shall be reapplied to all portions of the entire lot to determine acceptance or rejection.

(d) Infested grain—(1) Available options. If gain or any portion of grain in a single shiplot, unit train, or lash barge lot is found to be infested, according to the provisions of the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, the applicant shall be promptly notified and have the option of:

(i) Unloading the portion of infested grain from the lot and an additional amount of other grain in common stowage with the infested grain; or

(ii) When applicable, completing the loading and treating all infested grain in the lot; or

(iii) When applicable, treating the infested grain for the purpose of destroying the insects, subject to subsequent examination by official personnel; or

(iv) Continue loading without treating the infested grain, in which case all of the infested grain in the lot and all grain in common stowage areas with the infested grain will be officially certificated as infested according to the provisions of the Official U.S. Standards for Grain.

(2) Exception. If infested grain in loaded into common stowage with a lot, or a portion of a lot, which has not been officially certificated as being infested, the applicant loading the infested grain may not use the option in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section.

(3) With treatment. If infested grain is treated with a fumigant in accordance with the instructions and the treatment is witnessed by official personnel, the official sampling, inspection, grading, and certification of the lot shall continue as though the infested condition did not exist.

(e) Special certification procedures—(1) Rejected grain. When grain is rejected by the inspection plan under paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the official inspection certificate for each different portion of different quality shall show:

(i) A statement that the grain has been loaded aboard with grain of other quality;

(ii) The grade, location, or other identification and approximate quanity of grain in the portions; and

(iii) Other information required by the regulations and the instructions.

(2) Common stowage. (i) Without separation. When bulk grain is offered for official inspection as it is loaded aboard a ship and is loaded without separation in a stowage area with other grain or another commodity, the official inspection certificate for the grain in each lot shall show the kind, the grade, if known, and the location of the other grain, or the kind and location of the other commodity in the adjacent lots.

(ii) With separation. When separations are laid between lots, the official inspection certificates shall show the kind of material used in the separations and the locations of the separations in relation to each lot.

(iii) Exception. The common stowage requirements of this paragraph are not applicable to the first lot in a stowage area unless a second lot is loaded, in whole or in part, in the stowage area prior to issuing the official inspection certificate for the first lot.

(3) Protein. A special statement indicating the actual protein range of a lot shall be shown on the official inspection certificate if the difference between the lowest and highest protein determinations for the lot exceeds 1.0 percent when protein is officially determined and a specific range limit is not established by the contract grade.

(4) Part lot. If part of a lot of grain in an inbound carrier is unloaded and part is left in the carrier, the unloaded grain shall be officially inspected and certificated in accordance with the provisions of § 800.84(g).

(5) Official mark. If the grain in a single lot is officially inspected for grade as it is being loaded, upon request, the following official mark shall be shown on the inspection certificate: “Loaded under continuous official inspection.”

(a) Identity lost. An applicant may request official personnel to perform a new original inspection service on an identified lot of grain, or on an identified carrier or container, if the identity of the lot or the carrier or container has been lost.

(b) Identity not lost. If the identity of the grain or the carrier or container is not lost, a new original inspection shall not be performed on the same identified lot of grain or carrier or container in the same assigned area of responsiblity within 5 business days after the last official inspection.

(a) Lots. Except as noted in paragraph (d) of this section, the indentity of a lot of grain shall be considered lost if (1) a portion of the grain is unloaded, transferred, or otherwise removed from the carrier or container in which the grain was located at the time of the original inspection; or (2) a portion of grain or other material, including additives, is added to the lot after the orginal inspection was performed, unless the addition of the additive was performed in accordance with the regulations and the instructions. At the option of official personnel performing a reinspection, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection service, the identity of grain in a closed carrier or container shall be considered lost if the carrier or container is not sealed or if the seal record is incomplete.

(b) Carriers and containers. The indentity of a carrier or container shall be considered lost when (1) the stowage area is cleaned, painted, treated, fumigated, or fitted after the original inspection was performed; or (2) the identification of the carrier or container has been changed since the original inspection was performed.

(c) Submitted samples. The identity of a submitted sample of grain shall be considered lost when (1) the identifying number, mark, or symbol for the sample is lost or destroyed or (2) the samples have not been retained and protected by official personnel as prescribed in the instructions.

(d) Additives. 1 If additives are applied during loading to outbound, including export, grain after sampling or during unloading to inbound grain before sampling for the purpose of insect or fungi control, dust suppression, or identification, the inspection certificate shall show a statement showing the type and purpose of the additive application, except that no statement is required to be shown when the additive is a fumigant applied for the purpose of insect control.

(a) Methods. All Class X or Class Y weighing, checkweighing, checkloading, stowage examination, and other weighing services shall be performed by official personnel or approved weighers using approved weighing equipment and according to procedures prescribed in the regulations and the instructions.

(b) Order of service. Weighing services shall be performed, to the extent practicable, in the order in which requests are received. Official personnel must mark or stamp the date received on each written request for service. Precedence will be given to requests for weighing required by sections 5(a)(1) or 5(a)(2) of the Act.

(a) Inbound. Inbound grain that is to be weighed must be routed directly from the carrier and cannot be cleaned, dried, or otherwise processed to remove or add other grain or material en route. Except as noted in paragraph (c) of this section, the identity of an inbound lot shall be considered lost when a portion of the lot is transferred or otherwise removed prior to weighing or a portion of grain or other material is added to the lot prior to weighing. When loss of identity occurs, no amount shall be shown in the “Net Weight” portion of the weight certificate for the lot.

(b) Outbound. Outbound grain that has been weighed must be routed directly from the scale to the carrier and cannot be cleaned, dried, or otherwise processed to remove or add other grain or material en route. Except as noted in paragraph (c) of this section, the identity of an outbound lot will be considered lost if a portion of the lot is transferred or otherwise removed from the lot after weighing or a portion of grain or other material is added to the lot after weighing. When loss of identity occurs, no amount shall be shown in the “Net Weight” portion of the weight certificate for the lot.

(c) Exceptions—(1) Spills. (i) Outbound. (A) Replaced. If a spill occurs in handling and loading of outbound grain and the spilled grain is retrieved, or is replaced in kind, and is loaded on board during the loading operations, the weight certificate shall show the weight of the grain that was physically loaded on board. Upon request of the applicant, an additional certificate may be issued by the agency or the field office to show the weight of the additional grain that was used to replace a spill.

(B) Not replaced. If a spill occurs in the handling and loading of outbound grain and the spilled grain is not retrieved or is not replaced during the loading operation, the weight certificate shall show the weight of the grain that was actually weighed, minus the estimated amount of the grain that was spilled. Upon request of the applicant, an additional certificate may be issued showing the estimated amount of grain that was spilled. The applicant may, upon request, have the total amount that was weighed shown on the weight certificate with the estimated amount of the spilled grain noted.

(ii) Inbound. If a spill occurs in the handling of inbound grain and the grain is not retrieved and weighed, the weight certificate shall show the weight of the grain that was actually unloaded from the carrier and a statement regarding the spill as prescribed in the instructions.

(2) Additives. 1 If additives are applied during loading to outbound, including export, grain after weighing or during unloading to inbound grain before weighing for the purpose of insect or fungi control, dust suppression, or identification, the weight certificate shall show the actual weight of the grain after the application of the additive for inbound grain or the actual weight of the grain prior to the application of the additive for outbound or export grain and a statement showing the type and purpose of the additive application, except that no statement is required to be shown when the additive is a fumigant applied for the purpose of insect control.

(3) Dust. If dust is removed during the handling of grain, the weight certificate shall not be adjusted to reflect the weight of the removed dust.

(4) Commingled carriers. If grain from two or more identified carriers becomes mixed, (i) the combined weight of the grain shall be shown in the “Net Weight” block of one certificate with all carrier identification shown in the identification of carrier section of the certificate, or (ii) upon request of the applicant, a certificate shall be issued for each carrier with the “Net Weight” block crossed out, and with the total combined weight unloaded and the identification of the other carrier(s) shown in the “Remarks” section.

(5) Unremoved grain. If, after unloading an inbound carrier, there is sound grain remaining in the carrier that could have been removed with reasonable effort, the weight certificate shall show the weight of the grain that was actually unloaded from the carrier and a statement regarding the grain remaining in the carrier.

(a) General. The weighing of grain loaded or unloaded from any carrier shall be conducted according to this section and the instructions.

(b) Procedure—(1) General. If grain in a carrier is offered for inspection or weighing service as one lot, the grain must be weighed at the individual weighing location in a reasonably continuous operation and certified as one lot. The identification of the carrier(s) must be recorded on the scale tape or ticket and the weight certificate.

(2) Sacked grain. If sacked grain is offered for weighing and the grain is not fully accessible, the request for weighing service shall be dismissed.

(3) Part lots. If a portion of an inbound lot of grain is unloaded and a portion is left in the carrier because it is not uniform in quality or condition, or the lot is unloaded in other than a reasonably continuous operation, the portion that is removed and the portion remaining in the carrier shall be considered as part lots and shall be weighed and certificated as part lots.

(c) Certification of trucklots, carlots, and bargelots—(1) Basic requirement. One official certificate must be issued for the weighing of the grain in each container, truck, trailer, truck/trailer(s) combination, railroad car, barge, or similarly sized carrier. This requirement is not applicable to multiple grain carriers weighed as a single lot or combined lot under § 800.98.

(2) Part-lot weight certificates. A part-lot weight certificate shall show (i) the weight of the portion that is unloaded and (ii) the following statement: “Part-lot: The net weight stated herein reflects a partial unload.”

(d) Certification of shiplot grain—(1) Basic requirement. The certificate shall show (i) if applicable, a statement that the grain has been loaded aboard with other grain, (ii) the official weight, (iii) the stowage or other identification of the grain, and (iv) other information required by the regulations and the instructions.

(2) Common stowage—(i) Without separation. If bulk grain is offered for weighing as it is being loaded aboard a ship and is loaded without separation in a stowage area with other grain or another commodity, the weight certificate for the grain in each lot shall show that the lot was loaded aboard with other grain or another commodity without separation and the relative location of the grain.

(ii) With separation. If separations are laid between adjacent lots, the weight certificates shall show the kind of material used in the separations and the location of the separations in relation to each lot.

(iii) Exception. The common stowage requirements of this paragraph shall not be applicable to the first lot in a stowage area unless a second lot has been loaded, in whole or in part, in the stowage area before issuing the official weight certificate for the first lot.

(3) Official mark. If the grain is officially weighed in a reasonably continuous operation, upon request by the applicant, the following statement may be shown on the weight certificate: “Loaded under continuous official weighing.”

(a) General. The weighing of bulk or sacked grain loaded aboard, or being loaded aboard, or unloaded from two or more carriers as a combined lot shall be conducted according to this section and the instructions.

(b) Weighing procedure—(1) Single lot weighing. (i) Single lots of grain that are to be weighed as a combined lot may be weighed at multiple locations, provided that:

(A) The lots are contained in the same type of carrier; and

(B) Weighing is performed at each individual location in a reasonably continuous operation.

(ii) The grain loaded into or unloaded from each carrier must be weighed in accordance with procedures prescribed in the instructions. In the case of sacked grain, a representative weight sample must be obtained from the grain in each carrier unless otherwise specified in the instructions.

(2) Recertification. Grain that has been weighed and certified as two or more single lots may be recertified as a combined lot, provided that the original weight certificates issued for the single lots have been or will be surrendered to the appropriate agency or field office, and the official personnel who performed the weighing service for the single lots and the official personnel who are to recertify the grain as a combined lot determine that the weight of the grain in the lots has not since changed, and in the case of sacked grain, that the weight samples used as a basis for weighing the single lots were representative at the time of the weighing.

(3) Grain uniform in quality. An applicant may request that grain be weighed and certificated as a combined lot whether or not the grain is uniform in quality for the purpose of inspection under the Act.

(c) Certification procedures—(1) General. Each certificate for a combined-lot Class X or Class Y weighing service shall show the identification for the “Combined lot” or, at the request of the applicant, the identification of each carrier in the combined lot. The identification and any seal information for the carriers may be shown on the reverse side of the weight certificate, provided the statement “See reverse side” is shown on the face of the certificate in the space provided for remarks.

(2) Recertification. If a request for a combined-lot Class X or Class Y weighing service is filed after the grain in the single lots has been weighed and certified, the combined-lot weighing certificate must show the following:

(i) The date of weighing the grain in the combined lot (if the single lots were weighed on different dates, the latest dates must be shown);

(ii) A serial number, other than the serial numbers of the weight certificates that are to be superseded;

(iii) The name of the elevator(s) from which or into which the grain in the combined lot was loaded or unloaded;

(iv) A statement showing the weight of the grain in the combined lot;

(v) A completed statement showing the identification of any superseded certificate as follows: “This combined-lot certificate supersedes certificate Nos. ___, dated ______; and

(vi) If at any time of issuing the combined-lot weight certificate, the superseded certificates are not in the custody of the agency or field office, the statement “The superseded certificates identified herein have not been surrendered” must be shown clearly in the space provided for remarks beneath the statement identifying the superseded certificates. If the superseded certificates are in the custody of the agency or field office, the superseded certificates must be clearly marked “Void.”

(3) Part lot. If a part of a combined lot of grain in inbound carriers is unloaded and a part is left in the carriers, the grain that is unloaded shall be certificated in accordance with the provisions in § 800.97(c)(2).

(4) Official mark. When grain is weighed as a combined lot in one continuous operation, upon request by the applicant, the following statement shall be shown on the weight certificate: “Loaded under continuous official weighing,” or “Loaded under continuous official inspection and weighing.”

(5) Further combining. After a combined-lot weight certificate has been issued, there shall be no further combining and no dividing of the certificate.

(6) Limitations. No combined-lot weight certificate shall be issued (i) for any weighing service other than as described in this section or (ii) which shows a weight of grain different from the total of the combined single lot.

(a) General. Each checkweighing service performed on a lot of sacked grain to determine the weight of the grain shall be made on the basis of one or more official weight samples obtained from the grain by official personnel according to this section and procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(b) Representative sample. No official weight sample shall be considered to be representative of a lot of sacked grain unless the sample is of the size prescribed in the instructions and has been obtained and weighed according to the procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(c) Protecting samples and data. Official personnel and other employees of an agency or the Service shall protect official weight samples and data from manipulation, substitution, and improper and careless handling which might deprive the samples and sample data of their representativeness.

(d) Restriction on weighing. No agency shall weigh any lot of sacked grain unless at the time of obtaining the official weight sample the grain from which the sample was obtained was located within the area of responsibility assigned to the agency, except as otherwise provided for in § 800.117, or on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Administrator.

(e) Equipment and labor. Each applicant for weighing services shall provide necessary labor for obtaining official weight samples and place the samples in a position for weighing and shall supply suitable weighing equipment approved by the Service, pursuant to the regulations and the instructions.

(f) Disposition of official weight samples. In weighing sacked grain in lots, the grain in the official weight samples shall be returned to the lots from which the samples were obtained.

(g) Provisions by kinds of service—(1) “IN” movements. Each checkweighing on an “IN” movement of sacked grain shall be based on an official weight sample obtained while the grain is at rest in the carrier or during unloading, in accordance with procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(2) “OUT” movements (export). Each checkweighing of sacked export grain shall be based on an official weight sample obtained as the grain is being loaded aboard the final carrier, as the grain is being sacked, or while the grain is at rest in a warehouse or holding facility, in accordance with procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(3) “OUT” movements (other than export). Each checkweighing of an “OUT” movement of nonexport sacked grain shall be based on an official weight sample obtained from the grain as the grain is being loaded in the carrier, or while the grain is at rest in the carrier, or while the grain is at rest in a warehouse or holding facility, or while the grain is being sacked, in accordance with procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(4) “LOCAL” weighing. Each checkweighing of a “LOCAL” movement of sacked grain shall be based on an official weight sample obtained while the grain is at rest or while the grain is being transferred, in accordance with procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(a) General. Any interested person may request original inspection and weighing services. The kinds of inspection and weighing services are described in § 800.75.

(b) Class Y weighing services. A request for Class Y weighing services at an export elevator at an export port location shall cover all lots shipped or received in a specific type of carrier. At all other elevators, the request shall cover all lots shipped from or to a specific location in a specific type of carrier. Each request shall be for a contract period of at least 3 months, but a facility may, upon satisfactory notification, exempt specific unit trains from the request.

(c) Contract services. Any interested person may enter into a contract with an agency or the Service whereby the agency or Service will provide original services for a specified period and the applicant will pay a specified fee.

(a) General. Except as otherwise provided for in § 800.117, requests for original services shall be filed with an agency or field office authorized to operate in the area in which the original service is to be performed. All requests shall include the information specified in § 800.46. Verbal requests shall be confirmed in writing when requested by official personnel, as specified in § 800.46. Copies of request forms may be obtained from the agency or field office upon request. If the information specified by § 800.46 is not available at the time the request is filed, official personnel may, at their discretion, withhold service pending receipt of the required information. An official certificate shall not be issued unless the information as required by § 800.46 has been submitted, or official personnel determine that sufficient information has been made available so as to perform the requested service. A record that sufficient information was made available must be included in the record of the official service.

(b) Request requirements. Except as provided for in § 800.117, requests for original services, other than submitted sample inspections, must be made to the agency or field office responsible for the area in which the service will be provided. Requests for submitted sample inspections may be made with any agency, or any field office that provides original inspection service. Requests for inspection or Class X weighing of grain during loading, unloading, or handling must be received in advance of loading so official personnel can be present. All requests will be considered filed when official personnel receive the request. A record shall be maintained for all requests. All requests for service that is to be performed outside normal business hours must be received by 2 p.m. the preceding day.

(a) General. Original services shall be performed by the agency or field office assigned the area in which the service will be provided, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Exceptions for official agencies to provide service. Under an exception, an official agency may provide service to an applicant outside of their geographic area. The Service may grant exceptions in instances when: the assigned official agency is unable to provide inspection services in a timely manner; a person requesting inspection services in that geographic area has not been receiving official inspection services from the official agency for that geographic area; a person requesting inspection services in that geographic area requests a probe inspection on a barge-lot basis; or, the assigned official agency for that geographic area agrees in writing with the adjacent official agency to waive the current geographic area restriction at the request of the applicant for service. Excluding requests for probe inspections on a barge-lot basis, applicants requesting an exception must submit requests for a service exception to the Service.

(1) Timely service. Service is not timely when an official agency cannot provide the requested official services within 6 hours or cannot provide the results and certificate in accordance with § 800.160(c). Timely service exception requests will also be considered for delays caused by weather events or for official services that the assigned official agency does not offer. The applicant must submit a request for a timely service exception to the Service. The applicant may make this request orally or in writing. If the applicant requests a timely service exception orally, the applicant must submit a written request to the Service within two business days of the request. The applicant must clearly state and support the identified reason for the requested timely service exception. There are three consecutive tiers of timely service exceptions: one-time, 90-day, and long-term. Applicants requesting 90-day or long-term timely service exceptions must progress through each previous tier sequentially. The Service will review timely service exception requests and may contact the applicant, the assigned official agency, or potential gaining official agency with questions during its review.

(i) One-time. In the case of an assigned official agency's inability to provide timely service, an applicant may be granted a one-time approval to use another official agency for the associated pending service request, as applicable.

(A) For one-time, timely service exception requests, if the request is made during customary business hours, the Service will provide its decision that day.

(B) If the applicant has an urgent timely service exception request, outside of the Service's customary business hours, an official agency from outside the geographic area may provide one-time service. When providing an urgent service, the gaining official agency must provide written notification to the Service within two business days after service.

(C) Upon returning to official office hours, the Service will review and verify the circumstances of the urgent request, as well as its consistency with the U.S. Grain Standards Act and implementing regulations.

(ii) 90-day. If there is an occurrence of untimely service within 180 days of the date of the occurrence in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the applicant may request a 90-day timely service exception. This 90-day window will begin the day the exception is granted.

(iii) Long-term. If there is an occurrence of untimely service within 365 days after the applicant's return to service with the assigned official agency, following an exception granted under paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, the applicant may request a long-term timely service exception. When granting this exception, the Service may continue the exception up to the date on which the gaining official agency's designation terminates.

(iv) Supporting documentation. The applicant must submit a request for a timely service exception to the Service. This request may include any associated supporting documentation the applicant feels is warranted. After receipt of the request, the Service will provide the applicant, assigned official agency, and potential gaining official agency an opportunity to submit any additional information in support of the timely service exception request in writing. The Service will request additional information, if needed.

(v) Review and verification. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, prior to granting a timely service exception, the Service must review and verify information submitted with the request. When a timely service exception request is received, the Service will issue a written notification to acknowledge the receipt of the request to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency. When possible, the Service should also attempt to make oral contact.

(vi) Timeline. Once the applicant's request is received, the Service will notify the applicant and begin the review timeline. The Service will issue a determination within 15 business days for 90-day and long-term timely service exceptions, barring a challenge from the assigned official agency. While awaiting a final decision on 90-day and long-term timely service exceptions, the applicant may receive service from the potential gaining official agency.

(vii) Notification. The Service must notify the assigned official agency in writing upon receipt of the request for a timely service exception. At the completion of the request review process, the Service will issue written notification of the determination on the request to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the gaining official agency. When possible, the Service should also attempt to make oral contact.

(viii) Challenge. The assigned official agency may challenge a request for a timely service exception for any reason. To challenge a request for a timely service exception, the assigned official agency must object, in writing, and submit the challenge and any supporting documents to the Service.

(A) Given the urgency of a one-time service request, if the assigned official agency wishes to challenge the request, it must be done in a manner which does not further delay the applicant from receiving the pending service. If the one-time timely service exception has already been granted or used, the assigned official agency may still challenge the Service's determination within 14 calendar days.

(B) To challenge a 90-day or long-term timely service exception, the assigned official agency must submit the challenge and any supporting documents within 14 calendar days of the date of notification of the timely service exception request. The documents must clearly identify the objection and support the identified reason for the challenge.

(ix) Determination. In the event the Service determines that the assigned official agency is unable to provide official services in a timely manner, the Service will grant a timely service exception.

(x) False or misleading requests. If an applicant submits a request for a timely service exception that the Service determines to be false or misleading, the Service will not grant the exception and may elect to limit the applicant from submitting further requests for a period of up to 180 days. If an urgent request for a timely service exception, outside of customary business hours, was granted on the basis of a false or misleading request, the Service may deny the applicant from future timely service exceptions for a period of up to 180 days.

(xi) Return to the assigned official agency. The applicant maintains the option of returning to the assigned official agency within 60 days of notification of termination of the timely service exception to all parties. The applicant must submit a written notification requesting to terminate the timely service exception to the Service, the assigned official agency and the gaining official agency. The timely service exception will be cancelled, and future timely service exception requests must be considered at the beginning of successive-tiered system.

(xii) Termination. If the Service determines the assigned official agency's inability to provide a specific service was limited due to weather events or for official services that the assigned official agency does (did) not offer, the cause of which has been resolved, the Service, in consultation with all the parties, may terminate the 90-day or long-term timely service exception. However, if the timely service exception was associated with the official agency's inability to provide service in 6 hours or less, or with its failure to issue the results and certificate in a timely manner, then the Service might elect not to terminate the timely service exception. The Service must notify the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency of all timely service exception termination decisions in writing. The assigned official agency must resume service within 60 days of notification.

(2) Nonuse of service exception. If an applicant has not received official inspection services from the assigned official agency within the last 90 days, the applicant may request, in writing, a nonuse of service exception. Periods of nonuse resulting from timely service exceptions will not qualify as part of a period of nonuse.

(i) Supporting documentation. Along with the request for an exception, the applicant must submit supporting documentation pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) of this section and may submit any additional supporting material the applicant wishes to submit to the Service. After receipt of the request, the Service will provide the applicant, assigned official agency, and potential gaining official agency an opportunity to submit any additional information in writing. The Service will request additional information, if needed.

(A) Required information. The applicant's request for a nonuse of service exception must include the following information:

(1) The last date of service from the assigned official agency;

(2) The reason service has not been received during this time frame; and

(3) The identified reason for the request.

(B) Additional relevant information. Applicants may submit any additional relevant supporting information. This may include, but is not limited to:

(1) The location of the specified service need(s);

(2) The types of services requested by the applicant and offered by the assigned official agency;

(3) The ability of the assigned official agency to provide the requested service;

(4) Whether the applicant's facility has ever used the official system; and

(5) The impact on the applicant in the event it continues with the assigned official agency.

(ii) Review and verification. The Service will review the request for a nonuse of service exception and supporting documentation, then conduct any necessary analysis to estimate the exception's impact prior to making a determination, as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section. When the Service receives a nonuse of service exception request, the Service will issue a written notification to acknowledge the receipt of the request to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency.

(iii) Timeline. The Service will make every attempt to complete the determination process in a timely manner, during which the applicant must continue with nonuse of service. This time period will include the allotted 14 calendar days in which the assigned official agency may challenge the request. The Service may extend the determination timeline when necessary.

(iv) Notification. The Service must notify the assigned official agency in writing upon receipt of the request for a nonuse of service exception. At the completion of the process, the Service will issue written notification of the determination on the request to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the gaining official agency. When possible, the Service should also attempt to make oral contact.

(v) Challenge. The assigned official agency may challenge a request for a nonuse of service exception for any reason. To challenge a nonuse of service exception, the assigned official agency must object in writing and must submit the challenge and any supporting documentation to the Service within 14 calendar days from the date of notification from the Service of receipt of the request for a nonuse of service exception for the applicant. The documents must clearly identify the objection and support the identified reason for the challenge.

(vi) Determination. The Service will consider impacts on the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency when deciding whether to grant a nonuse of service exception. These impacts may include, but are not limited to, the viability of the assigned official agency given the loss of business. The Service will also consider the impact on the official system and confirm a nonuse of service exception will not undermine the congressional policies in section 2 of the United States Grain Standards Act. The Service will provide its decision, in writing, to the applicant, the assigned official agency, and the potential gaining official agency. If approved, the applicant can receive service from either the originally assigned official agency or the gaining official agency.

(vii) False or misleading requests. If an applicant submits a request that the Service determines is false or misleading, the Service will not grant the nonuse of service exception and may elect to limit the applicant from submitting further requests for a period of up to 180 days.

(viii) Renewal or termination of exception. The nonuse of service exception is for the period of the gaining official agency's designation. At the end of the designation, the Service will review the nonuse if service exception and verify the information. Unless the applicant, the assigned official agency, the gaining official agency, and the Service all agree to terminate the nonuse of service exception, the Service will renew the nonuse of service exception for the gaining official agency's new designation period. In the event the gaining official agency is no longer designated, the nonuse of service exception will automatically terminate, and the applicant will return to the assigned official agency. If the applicant transfers ownership of its facility, the nonuse of service exception will automatically terminate, and the new applicant/owner of the facility must request a new nonuse of service exception to receive service from an official agency other than the assigned official agency for that geographic area. At any point in the designation cycle, if the applicant, the assigned official agency, the gaining official agency, and FGIS jointly agree to terminate nonuse of service exception in writing, the Service will terminate the exception. In this case, the assigned official agency must resume service within 60 days of notification that the nonuse of service exception has been terminated.

(ix) Historic exceptions. All nonuse of service exceptions that were in place as of March 30, 2019, and that are currently active as of the date of effectuation of this rule, are incorporated within the list of active nonuse of service exceptions.

(3) Barge probe service. Any official agency may provide probe sampling and inspection service for barge-lots of grain with no restrictions due to geographical locations.

(4) Written agreement. If the assigned official agency agrees in writing with the adjacent official agency to waive the current geographic area restriction at the request of the applicant for service, the adjacent official agency may provide service at a particular location upon providing written notice to the Service, and the Service determines that the written agreement conforms to the provisions in the Act.

(c) Interim service at other than export port locations. If the assigned official agency is not available on a regular basis to provide original services, and no official agency within a reasonable proximity is willing to provide such services on an interim basis, the services shall be provided by authorized employees of the Secretary, or other persons licensed by the Secretary, until the services can be provided on a regular basis by an official agency, as provided in § 800.196.

Official certificates shall be issued according to § 800.160. Upon request, a combination inspection and Class X weighing certificate may be issued when both services are performed in a reasonably continuous operation at the same location by the same agency or field office. An official certificate shall not be issued unless the information as required by § 800.46 has been submitted, or official personnel determine that sufficient information has been made available so as to perform the requested service. A record that sufficient information was made available must be included in the record of the official service.

(a) General. Any interested person may request a reinspection or review of weighing service, except as provided for in § 800.86(c)(5). Only one reinspection service or review of weighing service may be performed on any original service. When more than one interested person requests a reinspection or review of weighing service, the first person to file is the applicant of record.

(b) Kind and scope of request. A reinspection or review of weighing service is limited to the kind and scope of the original service. If the request specifies a different kind or scope, the request shall be dismissed but may be resubmitted as a request for original services: Provided, however, that an applicant for service may request a reinspection of a specific factor(s), official grade and factors, or official criteria. In addition, reinspections for grade may include a review of any pertinent factor(s), as deemed necessary by official personnel. Official criteria are considered separately from official grade or official factors when determining the kind and scope. When requested, a reinspection for official grade or official factors and official criteria may be handled separately even though both sets of results are reported on the same certificate. Moreover, a reinspection or review of weighing may be requested on either the inspection or Class X weighing results when both results are reported on a combination inspection and Class X weight certificate.

(a) General. Requests shall be made with the agency or field office that performed the original service. All requests shall include the information specified in § 800.46. Verbal requests shall be confirmed in writing when requested by official personnel. Copies of request forms may be obtained from the agency or field office. If at the time the request is filed the documentation required by § 800.46 is not available, official personnel may, at their discretion, withhold services pending the receipt of the required documentation. A reinspection certificate or the results of a review of weighing service shall not be issued unless (1) the documentation requested under § 800.46 has been submitted or (2) official personnel determine sufficient information has been made available so as to perform the requested service. A record that sufficient information was made available shall be included in the record of the official service.

(b) Request requirements. Requests will be considered filed on the date they are received by official personnel. A record shall be maintained for all requests.

(1) Reinspection services. Requests shall be received (i) before the grain has left the specified service point where the grain was located when the original inspection was performed; (ii) no later than the close of business on the second business day following the date of the original inspection; and (iii) before the identity of the grain has been lost. If a representative file sample, as prescribed in § 800.82, is available, official personnel may waive the requirements pursuant to this subparagraph. The requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section may be waived only upon written consent of the applicant and all interested persons. The requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section may be waived at the request of the applicant or other interested persons. The requirement of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section may also be waived upon satisfactory showing by an interested person of evidence of fraud or that because of distance or other good cause, the time allowed for filing was not sufficient. A record of each waiver shall be included in the record of the reinspection service.

(2) Review of weighing services. Requests shall be received no later than 90 calendar days after the date of the original Class X or Class Y weighing service.

Reinspection or review of weighing services shall be performed by the agency or field office that performed the original service.

Official personnel cannot perform or participate in performing or issue an official certificate for a reinspection or a review of weighing service if they participated in the original service unless there is only one qualified person available at the time and place of the reinspection or review of weighing.

(a) General. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this paragraph, official certificates shall be issued according to § 800.160 and the instructions. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, only the result of the reinspection service shall be reported.

(1) Results of material portion sublots. When results of a reinspection on a material portion do not detect a material error, they shall be averaged with the original inspection results. For purposes of this section, a material error is defined as results differing by more than two standard deviations. The averaged inspection results shall replace the original inspection results recorded on the official inspection log. Reinspection results shall replace the original inspection results recorded on the official inspection log if a material error is detected. No certificates will be issued unless requested by the applicant or deemed necessary by official personnel.

(2) Reporting review of weighing results. When the review of weighing service results indicate that the original weighing results were correct, the applicant will be notified in writing. When the original weighing service results are incorrect, a corrected weight certificate or, if applicable, a corrected combination inspection and Class X weight certificate will be issued according to the provisions of § 800.165.

(b) Required statements on reinspection certificates. Each reinspection certificate shall show the statements required by this section, § 800.161, and applicable instructions.

(1) Each reinspection certificate must clearly show (i) the term “Reinspection” and (ii) a statement identifying the superseded certificate. The superseded certificate will be considered null and void as of the date of the reinspection certificate.

(2) When official grade or official factors, Class X weighing results, and official criteria are reported on the same certificate, the reinspection certificate shall show a statement indicating that the reinspection results are based on official grade, or official factors, or official criteria and that all other results are those of the original service.

(3) If the superseded certificate is in the custody of the agency or field office, the superseded certificate shall be marked “Void.” If the superseded certificate is not in the custody of the agency or field office at the time the reinspection certificate is issued, a statement indicating that the superseded certificate has not been surrendered shall be shown on the reinspection certificate.

(4) As of the date of issuance of the official certificate, the superseded certificate for the original service will be void and shall not be used to represent the grain.

(5) When certificates are issued under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the reinspection certificate shall show a statement indicating that the results replaced the original results and that the reinspection certificate is not valid for trading purposes.

(a) General. Any interested person may request appeal inspection or Board appeal inspection services, except as provided for in § 800.86(c)(5). When more than one interested person requests an appeal inspection or Board appeal inspection service, the first person to file is the applicant of record. Only one appeal inspection may be obtained from any original inspection or reinspection service. Only one Board appeal inspection may be obtained from an appeal inspection. Board appeal inspections will be performed on the basis of the official file sample. Board appeal inspections are not available on stowage examination services.

(b) Kind and scope of request. An appeal inspection service is limited to the kind and scope of the original or reinspection service; or, in the case of a Board Appeal inspection service, the kind and scope of the appeal inspection service. If the request specifies a different kind or scope, the request shall be dismissed but may be resubmitted as a request for original services: Provided, however, that an applicant for service may request an appeal or Board Appeal inspection of a specific factor(s), official grade and factors, or official criteria. In addition, appeal and Board Appeal inspections for grade may include a review of any pertinent factor(s), as deemed necessary by official personnel. Official criteria are considered separately from official grade or official factors when determining kind and scope. When requested, an appeal inspection for grade, or official factors, and official criteria may be handled separately even though both results are reported on the same certificate. Moreover, an appeal inspection may be requested on the inspection results when both inspection and Class X weighing results are reported on a combination inspection and Class X weight certificate.

(a) General. Requests shall be filed with the field office responsible for the area in which the original service was performed. Requests for Board appeal inspections may be filed with the Board of Appeals and Review or the field office that performed the appeal inspection. All requests shall include the information specified in § 800.46. Verbal requests shall be confirmed in writing when requested by official personnel as specified in § 800.46. Copies of request forms may be obtained from the field office upon request. If at the time the request is filed the documentation required by § 800.46 is not available, official personnel may, at their discretion, withhold service pending the receipt of the required documentation. An appeal inspection certificate will not be issued unless (1) documentation requested under § 800.46 has been submitted or (2) office personnel determine that sufficient information has been made available so as to perform the request. A record that sufficient information has been made available must be included in the record of the official service.

(b) Filing requirements. Requests will be considered filed on the date they are received by official personnel. A record shall be maintained for all requests. Requests must be filed (1) before the grain has left the specified service point where the grain was located when the original inspection was performed, (2) no later than the close of business on the second business day following the date of the last inspection, and (3) before the identity of the grain has been lost. If a representative file sample as prescribed in § 800.82 is available, official personnel may waive the requirements pursuant to this paragraph. The requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be waived only upon written consent of the applicant and all interested persons. The requirements of paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section may be waived at the request of the applicant or other interested persons. The requirement of paragraph (b)(2) of this section may also be waived upon satisfactory showing by an interested person of evidence of fraud or that because of distance or other good cause, the time allowed for filing was not sufficient. A record of each waiver shall be included in the record of the appeal inspection service.

(a) Appeal. Appeal inspection services shall be performed by the field office responsible for the area in which the original inspection was performed.

(b) Board appeal. Board appeal inspection services shall be performed only by the Board of Appeals and Review. The field office that performed the appeal inspection service will act as a liaison between the Board of Appeals and Review and the applicant.

Official personnel cannot perform or participate in performing or issue an official certificate for an appeal inspection if they participated in the original inspection, reinspection, or, in the case of a Board appeal inspection, the appeal inspection service unless there is only one qualified person available at the time and place of the appeal inspection.

(a) General. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) of this section, official certificate shall be issued according to § 800.160 and the instructions. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, only the results of the appeal inspection service shall be reported.

(b) Results of material portion sublots. When results of an appeal inspection performed by a field office or the Board of Appeals and Review on a material portion do not detect a material error, they shall be averaged with the previous inspection results recorded on the official inspection log for the identified sample. For purposes of this section, a material error is defined as results differing by more than two standard deviations. The appeal or Board appeal inspection result shall replace the previous inspection results recorded on the official inspection log for the identified sample if a material error is detected. No certificate will be issued unless requested by the applicant or deemed necessary by inspection personnel.

(c) Required statements. Each appeal certificate shall show the statements required by this section, § 800.161, and applicable instructions.

(1) Each appeal inspection certificate shall clearly show (i) the term “Appeal” or “Board appeal” and (ii) a statement identifying the superseded certificate. The superseded certificate will be considered null and void as of the date of the appeal inspection certificate.

(2) When official grade or official factors, Class X weighing results, and official criteria are reported on the same certificate, the appeal inspection certificate shall show a statement indicating that appeal or Board appeal inspection results are based on official grade, official factors, or official criteria and that all other results are those of the original, reinspection, or, in the case of a Board appeal, the appeal inspection results.

(3) Superseded certificates held by the Service shall be marked “Void.” If the superseded certificate is not in the custody of the Service at the time the appeal certificate is issued, a statement indicating that the superseded certificate has not been surrendered shall be shown on the appeal certificate.

(4) As of the date of issuance of the appeal or Board appeal certificate, the superseded certificate for the original, reinspection, or appeal inspection service will be void and shall not be used to represent the grain.

(5) When certificates are issued under paragraph (b) of this section, the appeal inspection certificate shall show a statement indicating that the results replace the original inspection, reinspection, or, in the case of a Board appeal, the appeal inspection results and that the appeal inspection certificate is not valid for trading purposes.

(d) Finality of Board appeal inspections. A Board appeal inspection will be the final appeal inspection service.

(a) Preparing and maintaining records. The records specified in §§ 800.146-800.159 shall be prepared and maintained in a manner that will facilitate (1) the daily use of records and (2) the review and audit of the records to determine compliance with the Act, the regulations, the standards, and the instructions.

(b) Retaining records. Records shall be retained for a period not less than that specified in §§ 800.146-800.159. In specific instances, the Administrator may require that records be retained for a period of not more than 3 years in addition to the specified retention period. In addition, records may be kept for a longer time than the specified retention period at the option of the agency, the contractor, the approved scale testing organization, or the individual maintaining the records.

Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records of the Act, regulations, the standards, any instructions issued by the Service, and all amendments and revisions thereto. These records shall be maintained until superseded or revoked.

Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records of their delegation, designation, contract, or approval. These records consist of a copy of the delegation or designation documents, a copy of the current contract, or a copy of the notice of approval, respectively, and all amendments and revisions thereto. These records shall be maintained until superseded, terminated, revoked, or cancelled.

(a) Organization. Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records of their organization. These records shall consist of the following documents: (1) If it is a business organization, the location of its principal office; (2) if it is a corporation, a copy of the articles of incorporation, the names and addresses of officers and directors, and the names and addresses of shareholders; (3) if it is a partnership or an unincorporated association, the names and addresses of officers and members, and a copy of the partnership agreement or charter; and (4) if it is an individual, the individual's place of residence. These records shall be maintained for 5 years.

(b) Staffing. Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records of their employees. These records consist of (1) the name of each current employee, (2) each employee's principal duty, (3) each employee's principal duty station, (4) information about the training that each employee has received, and (5) related information required by the Service. These records shall be maintained for 5 years.

(c) Budget. Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records of their budget. These records consist of actual income generated and actual expenses incurred during the current year. Complete accounts for receipts from (1) official inspection, weighing, equipment testing, and related services; (2) the sale of grain samples; and (3) disbursements from receipts shall be available for use in establishing or revising fees for services under the Act. Budget records shall also include detailed information on the disposition of grain samples obtained under the Act. These records shall be maintained for 5 years.

(a) Licenses. Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records of licenses. These records consist of current information showing (1) the name of each licensee, (2) the scope of each license, (3) the termination date of each license, and (4) related information required by the Service. These records shall be maintained for the tenure of the licensee.

(b) Approvals. Agencies shall maintain complete records of approvals of weighers. These records consist of current information showing the name of each approved weigher employed by or at each approved weighing facility in the area of responsibility assigned to an agency or field office. These records shall be maintained for the tenure of the weigher's employment as an approved weigher.

Agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete records on fee schedules. These records consist of (a) a copy of the current fee schedule; (b) in the case of an agency, data showing how the fees in the schedule were developed; (c) superseded fee schedules; and (d) related information required by the Service. These records shall be maintained for 5 years.

(a) Space. Agencies shall maintain complete records on space. These records consist of (1) a description of space that is occupied or used at each location, (2) the name and address of the owner of the space, (3) financial arrangements for the space, and (4) related information required by the Service. These records shall be maintained for 5 years.

(b) Equipment. Agencies shall maintain complete records on equipment. These records consist of (1) the description of each piece of equipment used in performing official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services under the Act, (2) the location of the equipment, (3) the name and address of the owner of the equipment, (4) the schedules for equipment testing and the results of the testing, and (5) related information required by the Service. These records shall be maintained for 5 years.

(a) General. The Service and agencies shall maintain complete file samples for their minimum retention period (calendar days) after the official function was completed or the results otherwise reported.

(b) Minimum retention period. Upon request by an agency and with the approval of the Service, specified file samples or classes of file samples may be retained for shorter periods of time.

(c) Special retention periods. In specific instances, the Administrator may require that file samples be retained for a period of not more than 90 calendar days. File samples may be kept for a longer time than the regular retention period at the option of the Service, the agency, or the individual maintaining the records.

Agencies and approved scale testing organizations shall maintain complete detailed official inspection work records, copies of official certificates, and equipment testing work records for 5 years.

(a) Availability to officials. Each agency, contractor, and approved scale testing organization shall permit authorized representatives of the Comptroller General, the Secretary, or the Administrator to have access to and to copy, without charge, during customary business hours any records maintained under §§ 800.146-800.159.

(b) Availability to the public—(1) Agency, contractor, and approved scale testing organization records. The following official records will be available, upon request by any person, for public inspection during customary business hours:

(i) Copies of the Act, the regulations, the standards, and the instructions;

(ii) The delegation, designation, contract, or approval issued by the Service;

(iii) Organization and staffing records;

(iv) A list of licenses and approvals; and

(v) The approved fee schedule of the agency, if applicable.

(2) Service records—Records of the Service are available in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(3)) and the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR, part 1, subpart A).

(c) Locations where records may be examined or copied—(1) Agency, contractor, and approved scale testing organization records. Records of agencies, contractors, and approved scale testing organizations available for public inspection shall be retained at the principal place of business of the agency, contractor, or approved scale testing and certification organization.

(2) Service records. Records of the Service available for public inspection shall be retained at each field office and at the headquarters of the Service in Washington, DC.

(a) Preparation. Detailed work records shall be prepared for each official inspection, Class X or Class Y weighing, and equipment testing service performed or provided under the Act. The records shall (1) be on standard forms prescribed in the instructions; (2) be typed or legibly written in English; (3) be concise, complete, and accurate; (4) show all information and data that are needed to prepare the corresponding official certificates or official report; (5) show the name or initials of the individual who made each determination; and (6) show other information required by the Service to monitor or supervise the service provided.

(b) Use. Detailed work records shall be used as a basis for (1) issuing official certificates or official forms, (2) approving inspection and weighing equipment for the performance of official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services, (3) monitoring and supervising activities under the Act, (4) answering inquiries from interested persons, (5) processing complaints, and (6) billing and accounting. These records may be used to report results of official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services in advance of issuing an official certificate.

(c) Standard forms. The following standard forms shall be furnished by the Service to an agency: Official Export Grain Inspection and Weight Certificates (singly or combined), official inspection logs, official weight loading logs, official scale testing reports, and official volume of work reports. Other forms used by an agency in the performance of official services, including certificates, shall be furnished by the agency.

(a) Pan tickets. The record for each kind of official inspection service identified in § 800.76 shall, in addition to the official certificate, consist of one or more pan tickets as prescribed in the instructions. Activities that are performed as a series during the course of an inspection service may be recorded on one pan ticket or on separate pan tickets. The original copy of each pan ticket shall be retained by the agency or field office that performed the inspection.

(b) Inspection logs. The record of an official inspection service for grain in a combined lot and shiplot shall include the official inspection log as prescribed in the instructions. The original copy of each inspection log shall be retained by the agency or field office that performed the inspection. If the inspection is performed by an agency, one copy of the inspection log shall be promptly sent to the appropriate field office.

(c) Other forms. Any detailed test that cannot be completely recorded on a pan ticket or an inspection log shall be recorded on other forms prescribed in the instructions. If the space on a pan ticket or an inspection log does not permit showing the full name for an official factor or an official criteria, an approved abbreviation may be used.

(d) File samples—(1) General. The record for an official inspection service based, in whole or in part, on an examination of a grain in a sample shall include one or more file samples as prescribed in the instructions.

(2) Size. Each file sample shall consist of an unworked portion of the official sample or warehouseman's sample obtained from the lot of grain and shall be large enough to permit a reinspection, appeal inspection, or Board appeal inspection for the kind and scope of inspection for which the sample was obtained. In the case of a submitted sample inspection, if an undersized sample is received, the entire sample shall be retained.

(3) Method. Each file sample shall be retained in a manner that will preserve the representativeness of the sample from the time it is obtained or received by the agency or field office until it is discarded. High moisture samples, infested samples, and other problem samples shall be retained according to the instructions.

(4) Uniform system. To facilitate the use of file samples, agencies shall establish and maintain a uniform file sample system according to the instructions.

(5) Forwarding samples. Upon request by the supervising field office or the Board of Appeals and Review, each agency shall furnish file samples (i) for field appeal or Board appeal inspection service, or (ii) for monitoring or supervision. If, at the request of the Service, an agency locates and forwards a file sample for an appeal inspection, the agency may, upon request, be reimbursed at the rate prescribed in § 800.74 by the Service.

(a) Scale ticket, scale tape, or other weight records. In addition to the official certificate, the record for each Class X or Class Y weighing service shall consist of a scale ticket, a scale tape, or any other weight record prescribed in the instructions.

(b) Weighing logs. The record of a Class X or Class Y weighing service performed on bulk grain in a combined lot or bulk shiplot grain shall include the official weighing log as prescribed in the instructions. The original copy of each weighing log shall be retained by the field office or agency that performed the weighing.

The record for each official equipment testing service or activity consists of an official equipment testing report as prescribed in the instructions. Upon completion of each official equipment test, one or more copies of the completed testing report may, upon request, be issued to the owner or operator of the equipment. The testing report shall show the (a) date the test was performed, (b) name of the organization and personnel that performed the test, (c) names of the Service employees who monitored the testing, (d) identification of equipment that was tested, (e) results of the test, (f) names of any interested persons who were informed of the test results, (g) number or other identification of the approval tag or label affixed to the equipment, and (h) other information required by the instructions.

(a) Volume of work report. Field offices and agencies shall prepare periodic reports showing the kind and the volume of inspection and weighing services that they performed. The report shall be prepared and copies shall be submitted to the Service according to the instructions.

(b) Record of withdrawals and dismissals. Field offices and agencies shall maintain a complete record of requests for official inspection or weighing services that are withdrawn by the applicant or that are conditionally withheld or dismissed. The record shall be prepared and maintained according to the instructions.

(c) Licensee record. Licensees, including licensed warehouse samplers, shall (1) keep the license issued to them by the Service and (2) keep or have reasonable access to a complete record of the Act, the standards, the regulations, and the instructions.

(a) Required issuance. An official certificate shall be issued for each inspection service and each weighing service except as provided §§ 800.84, 800.129, and 800.139 and paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Distribution—(1) General—(i) Export. The original and at least three copies of each certificate will be distributed to the applicant or applicant's order. One copy of each certificate shall be retained by the agency, field office, or Board of Appeals and Review.

(ii) Nonexport. The original and at least one copy of each certificate will be distributed to the applicant or to the applicant's order. In the case of inbound trucklot grain, one copy shall be delivered by the applicant to the person who owned the grain at the time of delivery. One copy of each certificate shall be retained by the agency, field office, or Board of Appeals and Review.

(iii) Local movements of shiplot grain. When shiplot grain is offered for inspection as a single lot and a portion of the lot is returned to the elevator, certificates representing the inspection service shall not be issued unless (A) requested by the applicant or (B) deemed necessary by official personnel.

(2) Reinspection and appeal inspection services. In addition to the distribution requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, one copy of each reinspection or appeal inspection certificate shall be distributed to each interested person of record or the interested person's order and to the agency or field office that issued the superseded certificate.

(3) Additional copies. Additional copies of certificates will be furnished to the applicant or interested person upon request. Fees for extra copies may be assessed according to the fee schedules established by the agency or the Service.

(c) Prompt issuance. The results of the inspection or weighing service shall be reported to the applicant on the date the inspection or weighing service is completed. Certificates shall be issued as soon as possible, but no later than the close of business on the next business day. Upon request of an agency or a field office, the requirements of this paragraph may be waived by the Service when results have been reported before issuing the certificate.

(d) Who may issue certificates—(1) Authority. Certificates for inspection or Class X weighing services may be issued only be official personnel who are specifically licensed or authorized to perform and certify the results reported on the certificate. Certificates for Class Y weighing services may be issued only by individuals who are licensed or authorized or are approved to perform and certify the results.

(2) Exception. The person in the best position to know whether the service was performed in an approved manner and that the determinations are accurate and true should issue the certificate. If the service is performed by one person, the certificate should be issued by that person. If the service is performed by two or more persons, the certificate should be issued by the person who made the majority of the determinations or the person who makes the final determination. Supervisory personnel may issue a certificate when the individual is licensed or authorized to perform the service being certificated.

(e) Name requirement. On export certificates, the typewritten name and signature of the individual issuing the certificate shall appear on the original and all copies. On all other certificates, the name or signature of the individual issuing the certificate shall appear on the original and all copies. Upon request by the applicant, the name and signature may be shown on all other certificates.

(f) Authorization to affix names—(1) Requirements. The name or signature of official personnel may be affixed to official certificates which are prepared from work records signed or initialed by the person whose name will be shown. An agent affixing the name and signature shall (i) be employed by the agency or Service; (ii) have been designated to affix names and signatures; and (iii) hold a power of attorney from the person whose name and signature will be affixed. The power of attorney shall be on file with the agency or Service.

(2) Initialing. When a name or signature is affixed by an authorized agent, the initials of the agent shall appear directly below or following the signature of the person.

(g) Advance information. Upon request, the contents of an official certificate may be furnished in advance to the applicant and any other interested party, or to their order, and any additional expense shall be borne by the requesting party.

(h) Certification after dismissal. An official certificate cannot be issued for a service after the request has been withdrawn or dismissed.

(a) General. Official certificates shall show the information and statements required by § 800.161 through § 800.165 and the instructions. The Administrator shall approve any other information and statements reported. Information shall be reported in a uniform, accurate, and concise manner, be in English, be typewritten or handwritten in ink, and be clearly legible.

(b) Required format. Official certificates shall be uniform in size, shape, color, and format and conform to requirements prescribed in the instructions. Upon request and for good cause, the Service may approve special design certificates. All information and statements shall be shown on the front of the certificate, except that on domestic grain certificates, (1) approved abbreviations for official factors and official criteria, with their meanings, may be shown on the back and (2) the identification of carriers or containers in a combined-lot inspection may be shown on the back if ample space is not available on the front. When information is recorded on the back of the certificate, the statement “See reverse side” must be shown on the front.

(c) Required information. Each official certificate shall show the following information in accordance with the instructions:

(1) For an agency issuing export certificates or the Federal Grain Inspection Service, “United States Department of Agriculture—Federal Grain Inspection Service;”

(2) For a designated agency, the name of the agency, as applicable;

(3) Captions identifying the kind of service;

(4) A preprinted serial number and lettered prefix;

(5) “Original” or “copy,” as applicable;

(6) “Divided lot,” “duplicate,” or “corrected,” as applicable;

(7) The identification of the carrier or container;

(8) The date the service was performed;

(9) The date and method of sampling;

(10) The kind of movement and the level of service performed;

(11) The grade and kind or “Not Standardized Grain,” as applicable;

(12) The results of the service performed;

(13) The location of the issuing office;

(14) The location of the grain when the service was performed;

(15) A space for remarks;

(16) Whether a reinspection or appeal inspection service was based in whole or in part on file samples when file samples are used;

(17) A statement reflecting the results of a stowage examination, when applicable;

(18) Seal records, when applicable; and

(19) The name of the person issuing the certificate.

(d) Required statements. Each official certificate shall include the following statements according to the instructions: (1) A statement that the certificate is issued under the authority of the United States Grain Standards Act; (2) a nonnegotiability statement; (3) a warning statement; and (4) a statement referencing the certificate number and date. Each official certificate for an official sample-lot inspection service shall include a caption “U.S. Grain Standards Act” and a USDA-FGIS shield ghosted across the front. Each official certificate for a warehouseman's sample-lot inspection, a submitted sample inspection, or Class Y weighing service shall include a statement that the certificate does not meet the requirements of section 5 of the Act of warehouseman's sample-lot inspection, the word “QUALIFIED;” for submitted sample inspections, the words “Not Officially Sampled;” for Class Y weighing, the words “Class Y Weighing” screened across the front.

(e) Permissive information and statements—(1) Certificates. Information and statements requested by the applicant but not required by the regulations or instructions may be shown on the certificate if the information or statements have been approved in the instructions or on a case-by-case basis by the Administrator.

(2) Letterhead. Information and statements requested by the applicant but not required by the regulations or instructions may be shown on letterhead stationary of the Service or an agency when (i) ample space is not available for reporting the information or statements on the certificate, (ii) letterhead stationary is determined to be more suitable than the official certificate, and (iii) the certificate is referenced on the letterhead stationary and distributed according to § 800.160. Letterhead stationary of the Service shall be used for all export grain.

(a) General. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, each official certificate for grade shall show:

(1) The grade and factor information required by the Official U.S. Standards for Grain;

(2) The test weight of the grain, if applicable;

(3) The moisture content of the grain;

(4) The results for each official factor for which a determination was made;

(5) The results for each official factor that determined the grade when the grain is graded other that U.S. No. 1;

(6) Any other factor information considered necessary to describe the grain; and

(7) Any additional factor results requested by the applicant for official factors defined in the Official U.S. Standards for Grain.

(b) Cargo shipments. Each official certificate for grade representing a cargo shipment shall show, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, the results of all official grade factors defined in the Official United States Standards for Grain for the type of grain being inspected.

(c) Test weight for canola and soybeans. Official canola inspection certificates will show, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the official test weight per bushel only upon request by the applicant. Official soybean inspection certificates will show, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the official test weight per bushel unless the applicant requests that test weight not be determined. Upon request, soybean test weight results will not be determined and/or reported on the official certificate.

(d) Aflatoxin test for corn. Official corn export certificates shall show, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the official aflatoxin test results if required under § 800.15(b).

(a) General. When shiplot grain is offered for inspection or Class X weighing as a single lot and is certificated as a single lot, the applicant may exchange the official certificate for two or more divided-lot certificates. This applies to original inspection, reinspection, appeal inspection, Board appeal inspection, and Class X weighing services.

(b) Application. Requests for divided-lot certificates shall be made (1) in writing; (2) by the applicant who filed the inital request; (3) to the office that issued the outstanding certificate; (4) within 5 business days of the outstanding certificate date; and (5) before the identity of the grain has been lost.

(c) Quantity restrictions. Divided-lot certificates shall not show an aggregate quantity different than the total quantity shown on the superseded certificate.

(d) Surrender of certificate. The certificate that will be superseded shall (1) be in the custody of the agency or the Service; (2) be marked “Void;” and (3) show the identification of the divided-lot certificates.

(e) Certification requirements. The same information and statements, including permissive statements, that were shown on the superseded certificate shall be shown on each divided-lot certificate. Divided-lot certificates shall show (1) a statement indicating the grain was inspected or weighed as an undivided lot; (2) the terms “Divided Lot-Original,” and the copies shall show “Divided Lot-Copies;” (3) the same serial number with numbered suffix (for example, 1764-1, 1764-2, 1764-3, and the like); and (4) the quantity specified by the request.

(f) Issuance and distribution. Divided-lot certificates shall be issued no later than the close of business on the next business day after the request and be distributed according to § 800.160.

(g) Limitations. No divided-lot certificate can be issued (1) for grain in any shipment other than shiplot grain inspected or weighed as a single lot or (2) for an export certificate which has been superseded by another export certificate. After divided-lot certificates have been issued, further dividing or combining is prohibited except with the approval of the Service.

(h) Use of superseded certificate prohibited. As of the date of the divided-lot certificate, the superseded certificate will be void and shall not be used or represent the grain.

Upon request, a duplicate certificate may be issued for a lost or destroyed official certificate.

(a) Application. Requests for duplicate certificates shall be filed: (1) in writing; (2) by the applicant who requested the service covered by the lost or destroyed certificate; and (3) with the office that issued the initial certificate.

(b) Certification requirements. The same information and statements, including permissive statements, that were shown on the lost or destroyed certificate shall be shown on the duplicate certificate. Duplicate certificates shall show (1) the terms “Duplicate-Original” and the copies shall show “Duplicate-Copies” and (2) a statement that the certificate was issued in lieu of a lost or destroyed certificate.

(c) Issuance. Duplicate certificates shall be issued as promptly as possible and distributed according to § 800.160.

(d) Limitations. Duplicate certificates will not be issued for certificates that have been superseded.

(a) General. The accuracy of the statements and information shown on official certificates shall be verified by the individual whose name or signature is shown on the certificate, or by the authorized agent who affixed the name or signature. Errors found during this process shall be corrected according to this section.

(b) Who may correct. Only official personnel or their authorized agents may make corrections, erasures, additions, or other changes to official certificates.

(c) Corrections prior to issuance—(1) Export certificates. No corrections, erasures, additions, or other changes can be made to an export certificate. If any error is found prior to issuance, a new certificate shall be prepared and issued and the incorrect certificate marked “Void.”

(2) Other than export certificates. No corrections, erasures, additions, or other changes shall be made to other than export certificates which involve identification, grade, gross, tare, or net weight. If errors are found, a new certificate shall be prepared and issued and the incorrect certificate marked “Void.” Otherwise, errors may be corrected provided that (i) the corrections are neat and legible, (ii) each correction is initialed by the individual who corrects the certificate, and (iii) the corrections and initials are shown on the original and all copies.

(d) Corrections after issuance—(1) General. If errors are found on a certificate at any time up to a maximum of 1 year after issuance, the errors shall be corrected by obtaining the incorrect certificate and replacing it with a corrected certificate. When the incorrect certificate cannot be obtained, a corrected certificate can be issued superseding the incorrect one.

(2) Certification requirements. The same statements and information, including permissive statements, that were shown on the incorrect certificate, along with the correct statement or information, shall be shown on the corrected certificate. According to this section and the instructions, corrected certificates shall show (i) the terms “Corrected-Original” and “Corrected-Copy;” (ii) a statement identifying the superseded certificate and the corrections; (iii) a statement indicating the superseded certificate was not surrended if the incorrect certificate was not surrendered; and (iv) a new serial number. In addition, the incorrect certificate shall be marked “Void” when submitted.

(e) Limitations. Corrected certificates cannot be issued for a certificate that has been superseded by another certificate or on the basis of a subsequent analysis for quality.

(f) Use of superseded certificate prohibited. As of the date of issuance of the corrected certificate, the superseded certificate will be void and shall not be used to represent the grain.

Official certificates may be photo copied or similarly reproduced.

(a) Term of license. Each license shall terminate in accordance with the termination date shown on the license and as specified in paragraph (b) of this section. The termination date for a license shall be no less than 5 years or more than 6 years after the issuance date for the initial license; thereafter, every 5 years. Upon request of a licensee and for good cause shown, the termination date may be advanced or delayed by the Administrator for a period not to exceed 60 days.

(b) Termination schedule for licenses. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, licenses shall terminate on the last day of the month shown in the following schedule:

(c) Termination notices. The Service shall issue notice of termination to licensees and to their employers at least 60 days before the termination date. The notice shall (1) provide detailed instructions for requesting renewal of licenses; (2) state whether a reexamination will be required; and (3) if a reexamination will be required, show the nature and scope of the reexamination. Failure to receive a notice from the Service shall not exempt a licensee from the responsibility of having the license renewed on or before the termination date.

(d) Renewal of licenses. Licenses that are renewed shall show the permanent license number, the date of renewal, and the word “Renewed.”

(e) Termination of suspended licenses. Any suspension of a license, including voluntary suspension or suspension by change in employment, shall not affect the termination date of the license. If a licensee applies for renewal of the license prior to the termination date, the license will not terminate during the period of suspension.

(f) Surrender of license. Each license that is terminated, suspended, or canceled under the provisions of §§ 800.175 through 800.178 or is suspended, revoked, or not renewed for cause under the provisions of § 800.179 shall be promptly surrendered to the field office.

(g) Marking terminated, canceled, or revoked licenses. Each terminated, canceled, or revoked license surrendered to the Service shall be marked “Canceled.”

Upon request by a licensee, the Service may cancel a license or suspend a license for a period of time not to exceed 1 year. A license that has been voluntarily suspended shall be returned by the Service upon request by the licensee within 1 year, subject to the provisions of § 800.172; a license that has been cancelled shall be considered void and shall not be subject to return or renewal.

A license issued to an individual who is employed by an agency shall be automatically suspended when the individual ceases to be employed by the agency. If the individual is reemployed by the agency or employed by another agency within 1 year of the suspension date and the license has not terminated in the interim, upon request of the licensee, the license will be reinstated subject to the provisions of §§ 800.172 and 800.173.

Licenses may be summarily revoked upon a finding that the licensee has been convicted of any offense either prohibited by section 13 of the Act or prohibited by Title 18 of the United States Code, with respect to the performance of services under the Act.

(a) General. A license may be suspended or revoked or may be refused renewal or return (if suspended) for causes prescribed in section 9 of the Act.

(b) Procedure for summary action. Under section 9 of the Act, any license may, without first affording the licensee (hereafter in this section the “respondent”) an opportunity for a hearing, be summarily suspended pending final determination, whenever the action is considered to be in the best interest of the official inspection system. Such action shall be effective upon receipt of notice from the Service by the respondent. Within 30 calendar days after issuing a notice of summary action, the Service shall afford the respondent an opportunity for a hearing as provided under paragraph (c) of this section. Pending final determination, the Service may terminate the action if alternative employment arrangements satisfactory to the Service can be and are made for the respondent by the employer of the respondent.

(c) Procedure for other than summary action. Except as provided for in paragraph (a) of this section, before the Service refuses to renew, or suspends or revokes a license, or refuses to return a suspended license, the respondent shall be (1) notified of the proposed action and the reasons therefor, and (2) afforded (i) an opportunity to express his/her views on the proposed action in an informal manner, or (ii) at the request of the respondent, a hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary under Various Statutes (7 CFR, part 1, subpart H).

A license may be summarily canceled when (a) the license has been under voluntary or automatic suspension for a period of 1 year and there has been no request for return of the license or a request for return of the license has been dismissed in accordance with § 800.172; or (b) the licensee has died or fails to surrender the license in accordance with § 800.175(f).

(a) Requirement. (1) Any individual who performs or represents that he or she is licensed or authorized to perform any or all inspection or Class X weighing services under the Act must be licensed or authorized by the Service to perform each service.

(2) Any individual who performs or represents that he or she is licensed or authorized, or an approved weigher, to perform Class Y weighing services under the Act must be licensed or authorized, or approved, by the Service to perform this service.

(b) Excepted activities. A license or authorization, or approval for weighing, under the Act and regulations is not required for (1) opening or closing a carrier or container of grain, or transporting or filing official samples, or similar laboring functions; (2) typing or filing official inspection and weighing certificates or other official forms or performing similar clerical functions; (3) performing official equipment testing functions with respect to official inspection equipment; (4) performing inspection, weighing, or scale testing functions that are not conducted for the purposes of the Act; or (5) performing scale testing functions by a State or municipal agency or by the employees of such agencies.

(c) 30-day waiver. A prospective applicant for a license as a sampler, inspection technician, or weighing technician may, for a period of time not to exceed 30 calendar days, help perform those official sampling, inspection, or Class X or Class Y weighing services for which the applicant desires to be licensed, under the direct physical supervision of an individual who is licensed to perform the services. The supervising individual shall be fully responsible for each function performed by the prospective applicant and shall initial any work form prepared by the prospective applicant.

(d) No fee by Service. No fee will be assessed by the Service for licensing an individual employed by an agency or contractor.

(e) Fee by agency. At the request of the Service, an agency may help examine an applicant for a warehouse sampler's license for competency and may assess a fee in accordance with the provisions of § 800.70. The fee shall be paid by the applicant or by the elevator that employs the applicant.

(a) Prohibitions. No person may be licensed or authorized who has a conflict of interest as defined in section 11 of the Act or specified in § 800.187.

(b) Exceptions to prohibitions—(1) Conflict by agency. An employee of an agency that has a conflict of interest that is waived by the Administrator under section 11(b)(5) of the Act may be licensed: Provided, That the employee has no conflict of interest other than the agency conflict of interest.

(2) Warehouse samplers. A qualified employee of an elevator may be licensed to perform specified sampling services under the Act in accordance with the provisions of § 800.174(a)(2).

(c) General qualifications—(1) Inspection and weighing. To obtain a license to perform inspection or weighing services under the Act, an individual must be employed by an agency to perform the services and must otherwise be found competent in accordance with this section and § 800.173.

(2) Specified technical services. To obtain a license to perform specified sampling, inspection testing, weighing, and similar services under the Act, an individual must (i) be employed by an agency to perform the services, or (ii) enter into or be employed under a contract with the Service to perform the services, and (iii) otherwise be found competent in accordance with this section and § 800.173.

(3) Warehouse sampler. To obtain a warehouse sampler's license, an applicant must be employed by an elevator to perform sampling services and otherwise be found competent in accordance with this section and § 800.173.

(4) Requirements. To be considered competent, an individual must (i) meet the qualifications specified in § 800.173; and (ii) have available the equipment and facilities necessary to perform the services for which the individual is to be licensed.

(d) Competency determinations—(1) Agency samplers and technicians. The competency of an applicant for a license as a sampler, inspection technician, or weighing technician shall be determined by (i) the chief inspector or the chief weighmaster, as applicable, of the agency that employs the applicant or, in the case of a warehouse sampler, the agency that is assigned the area in which the elevator that employs the sampler is located, and (ii) the field office supervisor.

(2) Inspectors, weighers, contract samplers, and technicians. The competency of an applicant for a license as an inspector or weigher or any license issued under the terms of a contract with the Service shall be determined by the Service.

(3) Examinations. A determination of competency of an applicant for a license shall include an evaluation of the results of examinations or reexaminations under § 800.173.

(a) General. An application for a license, the renewal of a license, or the return of a suspended license shall be made to the Service on forms furnished by the Service. Each application shall (1) be in English, (2) be typewritten or legibly written in ink, (3) show all information prescribed by the application form, and (4) be signed by the applicant.

(b) Additional information. An applicant shall furnish any additional information considered necessary by the Service for consideration of an application.

(c) Withdrawal. An application for a license may be withdrawn by an applicant at any time.

(d) Review of applications—(1) General procedure. Each application shall be reviewed to determine whether the applicant and the application comply with the Act and the regulations.

(2) Application and applicant in compliance. If it is determined that the applicant and the application comply with the Act and the regulations, the requested license shall be granted.

(3) Application not in compliance. If an application does not comply with this section and the noncompliance prevents a satisfactory review by the Service, the applicant shall be provided an opportunity to submit any needed information. If the needed information is not submitted by the applicant within a reasonable time, the application may be dismissed.

(4) Applicant not in compliance. If it is determined that an applicant does not comply with the provisions of the Act and §§ 800.171, 800.173, and 800.187 at the time the application is submitted, the applicant shall be provided an opportunity to comply. If the applicant cannot comply within a reasonable period of time, the application shall be dismissed.

(e) Procedure for dismissal. If a dismissal involves an application for a renewal of a license or for the return of a suspended license, the dismissal shall be performed in accordance with the provisions of § 800.179. All other dismissals shall be performed by promptly notifying the applicant and the employer of the applicant of the reasons for the dismissal.

(a) General. Applicants for a license and individuals who are licensed to perform any or all official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services shall, at the discretion of the Service, submit to examinations or reexaminations to determine their competency to perform the official inspection or weighing functions for which they desire to be, or are, licensed.

(b) Time and place of examinations and reexaminations. Examinations or reexaminations under this section shall be conducted by official personnel designated by the Service and shall be given at a reasonable time and place in accordance with the instructions.

(c) Scope of examinations and reexaminations. Examinations or reexaminations may include oral or written tests on the applicable provisions of the Act, the regulations, the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, the procedures for the inspection and weighing of grain under the Act, the instructions, on-site performance evaluations, and vision or olfactory examinations.

(d) Competency standards—(1) Inspection. An individual may be found to be incompetent to perform official inspection services if the individual (i) has a color-vision deficiency; (ii) cannot meet the physical requirements necessary to perform the functions; (iii) cannot readily distinguish between the different kinds and classes of grain, or the different conditions in grain, including heating, musty, sour, insect infestation, and smut; (iv) cannot demonstrate a technical ability to operate grain sampling, testing, and grading equipment; (v) does not have a working knowledge of applicable provisions of the Act, the regulations, the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, and the instructions; (vi) cannot determine work-related mathematical computations; or (vii) cannot prepare legible records in English.

(2) Weighing. An individual may be found to be incompetent to perform Class X or Class Y weighing services under the Act if the individual (i) does not meet the requirements of paragraphs (d)(1)(ii), (v), (vi), and (vii) of this section or (ii) cannot demonstrate a technical ability to operate grain weighing equipment.

(a) Scope of licenses and authorizations. Subject to the provisions of § 800.171, eligible individuals may be licensed or authorized by the Service to perform one or more services specified in this paragraph.

(1) Official samplers. Individuals employed by an agency or the Service or employed under the terms of a contract with the Service may be licensed or authorized, as applicable, to perform or supervise the performance of stowage examinations, grain sampling, and related technical services and to issue official certificates for the services performed by them.

(2) Licensed warehouse samplers. Elevator or warehouse employees may be licensed to sample grain and perform stowage examinations. No elevator employee shall be licensed to (i) sample export grain for inspection under the Act, (ii) test or grade grain, or (iii) certify the results of any inspection service under the Act.

(3) Official inspection technicians. Individuals employed by an agency or the Service or employed under the terms of a contract with the Service may be licensed or authorized to perform or supervise the performance of stowage examinations, grain sampling, or all or specified noninterpretive laboratory-testing services and to issue official certificates for the services performed by them.

(4) Official inspectors. Individuals employed by an agency or the Service may be licensed or authorized to perform and supervise the performance of stowage examinations, sampling, laboratory-testing, grading, and related services and to issue official certificates for the services performed by them.

(5) Official weighing technicians. Individuals who are employed by an agency or the Service to observe the loading, unloading, and handling of grain that has been or is to be weighed under the Act may be licensed or authorized to perform and supervise the performance of grain handling and stowage examination services and to issue official certificates for the services performed by them.

(6) Official weighers. Individuals employed by an agency or the Service may be licensed or authorized to perform and supervise the performance of grain handling, stowage examination, official weighing (Class X), and supervision of weighing (Class Y), and related services and to issue official certificates for the services performed by them.

(7) Authorized scale tester. Individuals employed by the Service may be authorized to test and supervise the testing of scales used for Class X and Class Y weighing services and to approve and certify scales based on the results of these tests.

(b) Condition for issuance—(1) Compliance with the Act. Each license is issued on the condition that the licensee will, during the term of the license, comply with the Act, the regulations, and the instructions.

(2) Possession of license. Each license shall be the property of the Service, but each licensee shall have the right to possess the license subject to the provisions of §§ 800.173, 800.186, and 800.187.

(c) Duplicate license. Upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction of a license, a duplicate will be issued by the Service.

(d) Retention of licenses. Each license shall be retained by the holder of the license in a manner that the license can be examined upon request by service personnel.

(a) General. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall, when performing official services or duties under the Act, comply with the Act, the regulations, and the instructions.

(b) Inspection and weighing services. Official personnel shall perform requested official inspection and Class X and Class Y weighing services (1) without discrimination, (2) as soon as practicable, and (3) in accordance with methods and procedures prescribed in the instructions.

(c) Sealing carriers or containers. Upon request, or in accordance with the instructions, official personnel shall (1) when feasible, affix security seals to doors, hatch covers, and similar openings on carriers or containers that contain grain that has been officially inspected or Class X or Class Y weighed under the Act and (2) show seal records on certificates and other official forms in accordance with the provisions of § 800.161.

(d) Scope of operations. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall operate only within the scope of their license or authorization and except as otherwise provided in § 800.117, operate only within the area of responsibility assigned to the official agency, field office, or contractor which employs them. Official personnel and warehouse samplers may perform official inspection or weighing services in a different area of responsibility with the specific consent of the Service.

(e) Working materials. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall be responsible for maintaining a working knowledge of the applicable provisions of the Act, the regulations, the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, the instructions, and all amendments and revisions thereto.

(f) Observation of services. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall permit any person (or the person's agent) who has a financial interest in grain that is being inspected or weighed under the Act, or in equipment that is being tested under the Act, to observe the performance of any or all official inspection, or Class X or Class Y weighing. Appropriate areas in the elevator may be specified by the Service in conjunction with the elevator management for observing each service. The areas shall be safe, shall afford a clear and unobstructed view of the performance of the services, but shall not permit a close over-the-shoulder type of observation by the interested person or the person's agent.

(g) Reporting violations. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall in accordance with the instructions promptly report (1) information which shows or tends to show a violation of any provision of the Act, the regulations, or the instructions, and (2) information on any instructions which have been issued to them by any official personnel or other persons which are contrary to the Act, the regulations, or the instructions.

(h) Related duties. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall, when practicable, assist in training other employees who desire to become licensed.

(i) Instructions by Service. Official personnel and warehouse samplers shall carry out all written instructions or oral directives issued to them by the Service and, upon request, inform the Service regarding inspection, weighing, or equipment testing services performed by them. Oral directives from the Service not found in written instructions shall be confirmed in writing, upon request.

(a) General. Official personnel and warehouse samplers must maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and impartiality to assure proper performance of their duties and responsibilities and to maintain public confidence in the services provided by them.

(b) Prohibited conduct; official personnel and warehouse samplers. No official personnel or warehouse sampler shall:

(1) Perform any official inspection, Class X or Class Y weighing, or equipment testing service unless licensed or authorized to do so;

(2) Engage in criminal, dishonest, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or other conduct prejudicial to the Department or the Service;

(3) Report for duty in an intoxicated or drugged condition, or consume intoxicating beverages or incapacitating drugs while on duty;

(4) Smoke in prohibited areas in elevators or perform official services in an unsafe manner that could endanger official personnel working on or about the premises;

(5) Make unwarranted criticisms or accusations against other official personnel, warehouse samplers, or employees of the Department; and

(6) Refuse to testify or respond to questions in connection with official inquiries or investigations.

(7) Coerce or attempt to coerce any person into providing any special or undue benefit to official personnel, approved weighers, or warehouse samplers.

(c) Prohibited conduct; official personnel. In addition to the conduct prohibited by paragraph (b) of this section, no official personnel shall:

(1) Solicit contributions from other official personnel or warehouse samplers for an employee of the Service, or make such a contribution. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the occasional voluntary giving or acceptance of gifts of a nominal value on special occasions;

(2) Take any action that might (i) create the appearance of a loss of impartiality or (ii) adversely affect the confidence of the public in the integrity of the inspection, weighing, or equipment testing services performed under the Act;

(3) Except as provided in § 800.76(a), engage in any outside (unofficial) work or activity that:

(i) May impair their efficiency in performing official functions; or

(ii) Consists in whole or in part of unofficial acts of sampling, stowage examination, inspection testing, equipment testing, inspection, or weighing services similar to the official services for which the employing agency is designated; or

(iii) May result in the acquisition of property interests that could create a conflict of interest as defined in section 11 of the Act; or

(iv) May tend to bring criticism on or otherwise embarrass the Department or the Service;

(4) Issue to other official personnel, warehouse samplers, or approved weighers any instructions or directives inconsistent with the Act, the regulations, the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, or the instructions;

(5) Organize or help establish a general or specialized farm organization, or act as an officer or business agency in, recruit members for, or accept office space or contributions from such an organization;

(6) Advocate that any general or specialized farm organization better represents the interest of farmers than any other organization or individual, or recommend that the responsibilities of any government agency be carried out through a general or specialized farm organization. Nothing in paragraph (c)(5) of this section shall prevent official personnel from holding membership in a general or specialized farm organization or prohibit official personnel from participating in the operation of local groups or organizations that conduct government-authorized programs.

(a) General. Warehouse samplers are exempt from the conflict-of-interest provisions of this section.

(b) What constitutes a gratuity. For the purposes of these regulations, the term “gratuity” shall include any favor, entertainment, gift, tip, loan, payment for unauthorized or fictitious work, unusual discount, or anything of monetary value. The term shall not include (1) the occasional exchange of a cup of coffee or similar social courtesies of nominal value in a business or work relationship if the exchange is wholly free of any embarrassing or improper implications; (2) the acceptance of unsolicited advertising material such as pencils, pens, and note pads of nominal value if the material is wholly free of any embarrassing or improper implications; and (3) the exchange of the usual courtesies in an obvious family or personal relationship (including those between official personnel and their parents, spouses, children, or close personal friends) when the circumstances make it clear that the exchange is the result of the family or personal relationship, rather than a business or work relationship.

(c) Conflicts. In addition to the conflicts of interest prohibited by section 11 of the Act, the activities specified in this paragraph shall also be considered to be a conflict of interest. Accordingly, no official personnel shall, during the term of their license or authorization (including any period of suspension):

(1) Accept any gratuity.

(2) Accept any fee or charge or other thing of monetary value, in addition to the published fee or charge, for the performance of official inspection or weighing services under circumstances in which the acceptance could result, or create the appearance of resulting, in (i) the use of their office or position for undue private gain, (ii) an undertaking to give undue preferential treatment to any group or any person, or (iii) any other loss of independence or impartiality in the performance of official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services.

(3) Knowingly perform, or participate in performing, an inspection or weighing service on grain in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.

(4) Engage in the business by buying, selling, transporting, cleaning, elevating, storing, binning, mixing, blending, drying, treating, fumigating, or other preparation of grain (other than a grower of grain, or in the disposition of inspection samples); or in the business of cleaning, treating, or fitting carriers or containers for transporting or storing grain; the merchandising for nonfarm use of equipment for cleaning, drying, treating, fumigating, or otherwise processing, handling, or storing grain; or the merchandising of grain inspection or weighing equipment (other than buying or selling by official personnel of the equipment for use in the performance of their official services).

(5) Seek or hold any appointive or elective office in a grain industry organization or association. This provision does not apply to organizations of official inspectors or official weighers.

(6) Participate in any transaction involving the purchase or sale of corporate stocks or bonds, grain or grain-related commodities, or other property for speculative or income purposes if the transaction could reasonably be construed to interfere with the proper and impartial performance of official inspection for Class X or Class Y weighing services. Official personnel are not prohibited from (i) producing grain as a grower and selling the grain; (ii) making bona fide investments in governmental obligations, banking institutions, savings and loan associations, and other tangibles and intangibles that are clearly not involved in the production, transportation, storage, marketing, or processing of grain; or (iii) borrowing money from banks or other financial institutions on customary terms.

(d) Reports of interests. Official personnel shall report information regarding their employment or other business or financial interests which may be required by the Service.

(e) Avoiding conflicts of interest. Official personnel shall not acquire any financial interest or engage in any activity that would result in a violation of this § 800.187, or § 800.186, or section 11 of the Act and shall not permit their spouses, minor children, or blood relatives who reside in their immediate households to acquire any such interest or engage in any such activity. For the purpose of this section, the interest of a spouse, minor child, or blood relative who is a resident of the immediate household of official personnel shall be considered to be an interest of the official personnel.

(f) Disposing of a conflict of interest—(1) Remedial action. Upon being informed that a conflict of interest exists and that remedial action is required, an applicant for a license and official personnel shall take immediate action to end the conflict of interest and inform the Service of the action taken.

(2) Hardship cases. Applicants and official personnel who believe that remedial action will cause undue personal hardship may request an exception by forwarding to the Service a written statement setting forth the facts, circumstances, and reasons for requesting an exception.

(3) Failure to terminate. If a final determination is made by the Service that a conflict of interest does exist and should not be excepted, failure to terminate the conflict of interest shall subject: (i) An applicant for a license to a dismissal of the application; (ii) An employee of the Service to disciplinary action; and (iii) A licensee to license revocation.

No official personnel shall certify or otherwise state in writing (a) the year of production of grain, including use of terms such as “new crop” or “old crop”; (b) the place or geographical area where the grain was grown; or (c) the variety of the grain.

(a) Criminal prosecution. Official personnel and warehouse samplers who commit an offense prohibited by section 13 of the Act are subject to criminal prosecution in accordance with section 14 of the Act.

(b) Administrative action—(1) Other than Service employees. In addition to possible criminal prosecution, licensees and warehouse samplers are subject to administrative action in accordance with sections 9 and 14 of the Act.

(2) Service employees. In addition to possible criminal prosecution, employees of the Service are subject to disciplinary action by the Service.

(a) General. Eligible States may be delegated authority to perform official services (excluding appeal inspection) at export port locations within their respective States.

(b) Restrictions. Only the Service or the delegated State may perform official inspection, Class X, and Class Y weighing services at an export port location within the State. If official inspection services, at export port locations within the State, are performed by the Service, only the Service may perform Class X and Class Y weighing services at the locations. If official inspection services are performed by a delegated State, either the State or the Service may perform Class X and Class Y weighing services at the export port locations within the State.

(c) Who can apply. States which: (1) Were performing official inspection at an export port location under the Act on July 1, 1976, or; (2)(i) performed official inspection at an export port location at any time prior to July 1, 1976; (ii) were designated under section 7(f) of the Act on December 22, 1981, to perform official inspections; and (iii) operate in a State from which total annual exports of grain do not exceed, as determined by the Administrator, 5 per centum of the total amount of grain exported from the United States annually may apply to the Service for a delegation.

(d) When and how to apply. A request for authority to operate as a delegated State should be filed with the Service not less than 90 calendar days before the State proposes to perform the official service. A request for authority to operate as a delegated State shall show: (1) The export port location(s) where the State proposes to perform official inspection, Class X, and Class Y weighing services; (2) the estimated annual volume of inspection and weighing services for each location; and (3) the schedule of fees the State proposes to assess. A request for a revision to a delegation shall (i) be filed with the Service not less than 90 calendar days before the desired effective date, and (ii) specify the change desired.

(e) Review of eligibility and criteria for delegation. Each applicant for authority to operate as a delegated State shall be reviewed to determine whether the applicant meets the eligibility conditions contained in paragraph (c) of this section and the criteria contained in section 7(f)(1)(A) of the Act. The requested delegation may be granted if the Service determines that the applicant meets the eligibility conditions and criteria. If an application is dismissed, the Service shall notify the applicant promptly, in writing, of the reason(s) for the dismissal.

(f) Responsibilities—(1) Providing official services. Each delegated State shall be responsible for providing each official service authorized by the delegation at all export elevators at export port locations in the State. The State shall perform each official service according to the Act, regulations, and instructions.

(2) Staffing, licensing, and training. Delegated States shall employ official personnel on the basis of job qualifications rather than political affiliations. The State shall employ sufficient personnel to provide the services normally requested in an accurate and timely manner. The State shall only use personnel licensed by the Service for the performance of official services and shall train and assist its personnel in acquiring and maintaining the necessary skills. The State shall keep the Service informed of the employment status of each of its licensees and any substantial change in a licensee's duties.

(3) Rotation of personnel. Where feasible, each delegated State shall rotate licensees among elevators and other facilities as is necessary to preserve the integrity of the official inspection and weighting systems.

(4) Supervision. The State and its officials shall be responsible for the actions of the official personnel employed by the State, for direct supervision of the daily activities of such personnel, and for the conduct of official services and related activities in the State. The State shall supervise official activities according to the Act, regulations, and instructions and shall take action necessary to ensure that its employees are not performing prohibited functions and are not involved in any action prohibited by the Act, regulations, or instructions. Each State shall report to the Service information which shows or may show a violation of any provision of the Act, regulations, or instructions and information on any instructions which have been issued to State personnel by Service personnel or by any other person which are contrary to or inconsistent with the Act, regulations, or instructions.

(5) Conflict of interest. (i) General. The delegated State and any commissioner, director, employee, or other related person or entity shall not have a conflict of interest, as defined in section 11 of the Act and § 800.199 of the regulations. A conflict of interest may be waived pursuant to § 800.199(d).

(ii) Unofficial activities. The delegated State or personnel employed by the State shall not perform any unofficial service that is the same as any of the official services covered by the delegation.

(6) Fees. The delegated State shall charge fees according to § 800.70.

(7) Facilities and equipment. (i) General. The laboratory and office facilities of each delegated State shall be: Located; equipped; and large enough so that requested services are provided in an orderly and timely manner.

(ii) Equipment testing. Each delegated State shall test the equipment that it uses for official services according to the instructions.

(8) Security. Each delegated State shall provide sufficient security to assure that official samples, records, equipment, and forms are reasonably secure from theft, alteration, or misuse.

(9) Certificate control system. Each delegated State shall establish a certificate control system for all official certificates it receives, issues, voids, or otherwise renders useless. The system shall provide for: (i) Recording the numbers of the official certificates printed or received; (ii) protecting unused certificates from fraudulent or unauthorized use; and (iii) maintaining a file copy of each certificate issued, voided, or otherwise rendered useless in a manner that would permit retrieval.

(10) Records. Each delegated State shall maintain the records specified in §§ 800.145 through 800.159.

(11) Notification to Secretary. A delegated State shall notify the Secretary of its intention to temporarily discontinue official inspection and/or weighing services for any reason, except in the case of a major disaster. The delegated State must provide written notification to the Service no less than 72 hours in advance of the discontinuation date.

(g) Termination—(1) Automatic termination. Failure to pay the user fees prescribed by the Service for supervisory costs related to official inspection and weighing services within 30 days after due shall result in the automatic termination of the delegation. The delegation shall be reinstated if fees currently due, plus interest and any further expenses incurred by the Service because of the termination, are paid within 60 days after the termination.

(2) Voluntary cancellation. A State may request that its delegation be canceled by giving 90 days written notice to the Service.

(3) Revocation. (i) Without hearing. The Administrator may revoke the delegation of a State without first affording the State opportunity for a hearing. Unless otherwise provided, the revocation shall be effective when the State receives a notice from the Service regarding the revocation and the reason(s) therefor.

(ii) Informal conference. At the discretion of the Administrator, before the delegation of a State is revoked under paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section, the Service may (A) notify the State of the proposed action and the reason(s) therefor, and (B) afford the State an opportunity to express its views in an informal conference before the Administrator.

(4) Review. At least once every 5 years, a delegated State shall submit to a review of its delegation by the Service in accordance with the criteria and procedures for delegation prescribed in section 7(e) of the Act, this section of the regulations, and the instructions. The Administrator may revoke the delegation of a State according to this subsection if the State fails to meet or comply with any of the criteria for delegation set forth in the Act, regulations, and instructions.

(h) Provision of services following termination. If a State's delegation is terminated, official services at the export port locations in the State shall be provided by the Service.

(a) General. Eligible persons or governmental agencies may be designated to perform official services (excluding appeal inspection) within a specified area (other than export port locations).

(b) Restrictions—(1) General. If official inspection services are performed in an area by a designated agency, Class X and Class Y weighing services in that area may be performed only by the designated agency if the agency applies for designation to provide weighing services and is found qualified by the Service. If the agency designated to provide official inspection services is found not qualified or does not apply, the Class X and Class Y weighing services may be performed by another available agency that is found qualified and is designated by the Service, or the official services may be performed by the Service.

(2) Interim authority. (i) By agency. A designated agency may perform official services outside its assigned area on an interim basis when authorized by the Service.

(ii) By Service. Official inspection services and/or Class X and Class Y weighing services may be performed by the Service in an area (other than export port locations) on an interim basis in accordance with sections 7(h) and 7A(c) of the Act.

(c) Who can apply. Any State or local governmental agency or any person may apply, subject to sections 7 and 7A of the Act, to the Service for designation as an official agency to perform official inspection services (excluding appeal inspection) and/or Class X and Class Y weighing services in a given area (other than export port locations) in the United States.

(d) When and how to apply. An application for designation should be filed with the Service, according to the provisions of the Federal Register notice which requests applicants for designation to perform official services in existing or new geographic areas. The application for designation:

(1) Shall be submitted on a form furnished by the Service;

(2) Shall be typewritten or legibly written in English;

(3) Shall show or be accompanied by documents which show all information requested on the form, or otherwise required by the Service; and

(4) Shall be signed by the applicant or its chief operating officer.

(e) Review of conditions and criteria for designation—(1) Application. Each application for a designation shall be reviewed to determine whether it complies with paragraph (d) of this section. If an application is not in compliance, the applicant shall be provided an opportunity to submit the needed information. If the needed information is not submitted within a reasonable time, as determined by the Service, the application may be dismissed. When an application is dismissed, the Service shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the reason(s) for the dismissal.

(2) Applicant. Each applicant for authority to operate as as designated agency shall be reviewed to determine whether the applicant meets the conditions and criteria contained in sections 7(f)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act, § 800.199 of the regulations, and paragraph (g) of this section. The requested designation may be granted if the Service determines that:

(i) The requested action is consistent with the need for official services;

(ii) The applicant meets the conditions and criteria specified in the Act and regulations;

(iii) The applicant is better able than any other applicant to provide official services; and

(iv) The applicant addresses concerns identified during consultations that the Service conducts with applicants for service to the satisfaction of the Service.

(f) Area of responsibility—(1) General. Each agency shall be assigned an area of responsibility by the Service. Each area shall be identified by geographical boundaries and, in the case of a State or local government, shall not exceed the jurisdictional boundaries of the State or the local government, unless otherwise approved by the Service. The area of responsibility may not include any export elevators at export port locations or any portion of an area of responsibility assigned to another agency that is performing the same functions, except as otherwise provided in § 800.117. A designated agency may perform official services at locations outside its assigned area of responsibility only after obtaining approval from the Service, or in accordance with provisions set forth in § 800.117.

(2) Amending. A request for an amendment to an assigned area of responsibility shall (i) be submitted to the Service in writing; (ii) specify the change desired; (iii) be signed by the applicant or its chief operating officer; and (iv) be accompanied by the fee prescribed by the Service. The assigned area may be amended if the Service determines that the amendment is consistent with the provisions and objectives of the Act, regulations, and instructions. Upon a finding of need, the Service may initiate action to change an assigned area of responsibility.

(3) Specified service points. An agency may change its specified service points by notifying the Service in advance. Interested persons may obtain a list of specified service points within an agency's area of responsibility by contacting the agency. The list shall include all specified service points and shall identify each specified service point which operates on an intermittent or seasonal basis.

(g) Responsibilities—(1) Providing official services. Insofar as practicable, each agency shall be responsible for providing at all locations in its assigned area each service authorized by the designation. An agency may, subject to Service approval, make arrangements with a neighboring agency to provide official services requested infrequently. The agency shall perform all official services according to the Act, regulations, and instructions in effect at the time of designation or which may be promulgated subsequently.

(2) Fees. The agency shall charge fees according to § 800.70.

(3) Staffing, licensing, and training—(i) General. The agency shall employ sufficient personnel to provide the official services normally requested in an accurate and timely manner. Each agency shall only use personnel licensed by the Service for the performance of official services and shall train and assist its personnel in acquiring and maintaining the necessary skills. Each agency shall keep the Service informed of the employment status of each of its licensees and any substantial change in a licensee's duties.

(ii) State agencies. State agencies shall employ official personnel on the basis of job qualifications rather than political affiliations.

(4) Rotation of personnel. Where feasible, each agency shall rotate licensees among elevators and other facilities as is necessary to preserve the integrity of the official inspection and weighing systems.

(5) Supervision. The agency and its officials shall be responsible for the actions of the official personnel employed by the agency, for direct supervision of the daily activities of such personnel, and for the conduct of official services and related activities at the agency. The agency shall supervise official activities, in accordance with the Act, regulations, and instructions, and shall take action necessary to ensure that its employees are not performing prohibited functions and are not involved in any action prohibited by the Act, regulations, or instructions. Each agency shall report to the responsible field office information which shows or may show a violation of any provision of the Act, regulations, or instructions and information on any instructions which have been issued to agency personnel by Service personnel or by any other person which are inconsistent with the Act, regulations, or instructions.

(6) Conflict of interest—(i) General. Each agency and any officer, director, stockholder, employee, or other related entity shall not have a conflict of interest, as defined in Section 11 of the Act and § 800.199 of the regulations. A conflict of interest may be waived pursuant to § 800.199(d). The agency shall advise the Service immediately of any proposed change in name, ownership, officers or directors, or control of the agency and, if a trust, any change affecting the trust agreement.

(ii) Unofficial activities. Except as provided in § 800.76(a), the agency or personnel employed by the agency shall not perform any unofficial service that is the same as the official services covered by the designation.

(7) Facilities and equipment—(i) General. The laboratory and office facilities of each agency shall be: Located; equipped; and large enough so that requested services are provided in an orderly and timely manner.

(ii) Equipment testing. Each agency shall test the equipment it uses for official services according to the instructions.

(8) Security. Each agency shall provide sufficient security to ensure that official samples, records, equipment, and forms are reasonably secure from theft, alteration, or misuse.

(9) Certificate control system. Each agency shall establish a certificate control system for all official certificates it receives, issues, voids, or otherwise renders useless. The system shall provide for (i) recording the numbers of the official certificates printed or received; (ii) protecting unused certificates from fraudulent or unauthorized use; and (iii) maintaining a file copy of each certificate issued, voided, or otherwise rendered useless in a manner that would permit retrieval.

(10) Records. Each agency shall maintain the records specified in §§ 800.145 through 800.159.

(h) Termination and renewal—(1) Triennial—(i) Termination. A designation shall terminate at a time specified by the Administrator, but not later than 5 years after the effective date of the designation. A notice of termination shall be issued by the Service to a designated agency at least 120 calendar days in advance of the termination date. The notice shall provide instructions for requesting renewal of the designation. Failure to receive a notice from the Service shall not exempt a designated agency from the responsibility of having its designation renewed on or before the specified termination date.

(ii) Renewal. Designations may be renewed, upon application, in accordance with criteria and procedures for designation prescribed in section 7(f) of the Act and this section of the regulations. The Administrator may decline to renew a designation if:

(A) The requesting agency fails to meet or comply with any of the criteria for designation set forth in the Act, regulations, and instructions, of

(B) The Administrator determines that another qualified applicant is better able to provide official services in the assigned area.

(2) Automatic termination. Failure to pay the user fees prescribed by the Service for supervisory costs related to official inspection and weighing services within 30 days after due shall result in the automatic termination of the designation. The designation shall be reinstated if fees currently due, plus interest and any further expenses incurred by the Service because of the termination, are paid within 60 days after the termination.

(3) Voluntary cancellation. An agency may request that its designation be canceled by giving 90 days written notice to the Service.

(4) Suspension or revocation of designation. (i) General. A designation is subject to suspension or revocation, under section 7(g)(3) of the Act, by the Service, whenever the Administrator determines that:

(A) The agency has failed to meet one or more of the criteria specified in section 7(f) of the Act or the regulations for the performance of official functions, or otherwise has not complied with any provision of the Act, regulations, or instructions, or

(B) Has been convicted of any violation of other Federal law involving the handling or official inspection of grain.

(ii) Summary suspension. The Service may, without first affording the agency (hereafter referred to in this paragraph as the “respondent”) an opportunity for a hearing, suspend a designation or refuse to reinstate a designation when the suspension period has expired, pending final determination of the proceeding whenever the Service has reason to believe there is cause for revocation of the designation and considers such action to be in the best interest of the official inspection and weighing system. A suspension or refusal to reinstate a suspended designation shall be effective upon the respondent's receipt of a notice from the Service. Within 30 calendar days following the issuance of a notice of such action, the Service shall afford the respondent an opportunity for a hearing under paragraph (h)(4)(iii) of this section. The Service may terminate the action if it finds that alternative managerial, staffing, financial, or operational arrangements satisfactory to the Service can be and are made by the respondent.

(iii) Other than summary suspension. Except as provided in paragraph (h)(4)(ii) of the section, before the Service revokes or suspends a designation, the respondent shall be: (A) Notified by the Service of the proposed action and the reason(s) therefor, and (B) afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary Under Various Statutes (7 CFR part 1, subpart H). Before initiating formal adjudicatory proceedings, the Service may, at its discretion, afford the respondent an opportunity to present its views on the proposed action and the reason(s) therefor in an informal conference. If, as a result of the informal conference, a consent agreement is reached, no formal adjudicatory proceedings shall be initiated.

(i) Provision of services following suspension or termination. If the designation of an agency is suspended, terminated, or the renewal of a designation is not granted, the Service shall attempt, upon a finding of need, to arrange for a replacement agency. If a qualified replacement agency cannot be designated on a timely basis, a qualified agency, if available, shall be designated on an interim basis. If a qualified agency is not available on an interim basis, the Service shall provide needed services on an interim basis.

(a) Who may apply. Any State, local government, or person may request approval to perform scale testing and certification under the Act.

(b) When and how to apply. A request for approval to perform scale testing and certification under the Act should be filed with the Service not less than 90 calendar days before the requested action's effective date. A request for approval to perform scale testing and certification shall:

(1) Show or be accompanied by documents which show all information required by the Service;

(2) Certify that each employee scheduled to perform official scale testing and certification services is competent to test weighing equipment and has a working knowledge of the regulations and instructions applicable to such services;

(3) Be accompanied by the fee prescribed in § 800.74; and

(4) Be signed by the applicant or its chief operating officer.

(c) Review of applicant. The review of an applicant for authority to perform scale testing and certification shall include an evaluation of the applicant's policies and procedures for testing and certifying scales for Class X and Class Y weighing.

(d) Termination—(1) Voluntary. A scale testing and certification organization may request cancellation of its approval by notifying the Service.

(2) Suspension or revocation of approval—(i) General. An approval is subject to suspension or revocation whenever the Administrator determines that the approved organization has violated any provision of the Act or regulations, or has been convicted of any violation involving the handling, weighing, or inspection of grain under Title 18 of the United States Code.

(ii) Summary suspension. The Service may, without first affording the organization an opportunity for a hearing, suspend an approval or refuse to reinstate an approval when the suspension period has expired, pending final determination of the proceeding whenever the Service has reason to believe there is cause for revocation of the approval and considers such action to be in the best interest of the official weighing system. A suspension or refusal to reinstate a suspended approval shall be effective when the organization receives a notice from the Service. Within 30 calendar days following the issuance of a notice of such action, the Service shall give the organization an opportunity for a hearing under paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section. The Service may terminate its action if it finds that alternative managerial, staffing, or operational arrangements satisfactory to the Service can be and are made by the organization.

(iii) Other than summary suspension. Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, before the Service revokes or suspends an approval, the organization shall be notified by the Service of the proposed action and the reason(s) therefor and shall be given an opportunity for a hearing. Before the Service initiates a hearing, it may, at its discretion, give the organization an opportunity to present its views on the proposed action and the reason(s) therefor in an informal conference. If a consent agreement is reached during the informal conference, no formal adjudicatory proceedings shall be initiated.

(a) Services contracted and who may apply. The Service may enter into a contract with any person, State, or governmental agency to perform on an occasional basis:

(1) Specified official sampling, laboratory testing, or other similar objective technical activities involved in the testing of grain for official factors or official criteria, and

(2) Monitoring activities in foreign ports with respect to export grain that has been inspected and weighed under the Act.

(b) Restrictions—(1) Conflict of interest. A person, State or governmental agency with a conflict of interest prohibited by section 11 of the Act or § 800.199 shall not be eligible to enter into a contract with the Service.

(2) Appeal service. An agency or employees of agencies shall not be eligible to enter into a contract with the Service to obtain samples for, or to perform other services involved in appeal inspection or Board appeal inspection services. However, agencies may forward file samples to the Service in accordance with § 800.156(d).

(3) Monitoring services. Agencies, employees of agencies, organizations, employees of organizations, and other persons that regularly provide official services to persons who export grain from the United States are eligible to enter into a contract with the Service to perform monitoring services on export grain in foreign ports only if they are under Service employees' direct supervision during monitoring activities.

(c) When and how to apply. An application for a contractual arrangement shall: (1) Be typewritten or legibly written in English; (2) conform to the invitation to bid or other instructions issued by the Service or be filed on a form furnished by the Service; (3) show or be accompanied by documents which show any information requested by the Service; and (4) be signed by the applicant or its chief operating officer. All contracts shall be issued by the Department and shall follow Departmental procedures.

(d) Termination and renewal. A contract with the Service shall terminate annually unless othewise provided in the contract. A contract may be renewed in accordance with Departmental procedures.

(e) Cancellation. A contract may, upon request of the governmental agency or person that entered into the contract with the Service, be canceled by the Department in accordance with the terms of the contract or Departmental procedures and regulations.

(a) Meaning of terms. For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall have the meaning given for them below:

(1) Grain business. The term “grain business” shall include (i) any entity that is engaged in the commercial transportation, storage, merchandising or other commercial handling of grain, which includes: The commercial buying, selling, transporting, cleaning, elevating, storing, binning, mixing, blending, drying, treating, fumigating, or other preparation of grain (other than as a grower of grain or the disposition of inspection samples); the cleaning, treating, or fitting of carriers or containers for transporting or storing of grain; the merchandising of equipment for cleaning, drying, treating, fumigating, or other processing, handling, or storing of grain; the merchandising of grain inspection and weighing equipment (other than the buying or selling by an agency or official personnel of the equipment for their exclusive use in the performance of their official inspection or Class X or Class Y weighing services); and the commercial use of official inspection and Class X or Class Y weighing services and (ii) any board of trade, chamber of commerce, grain exchange, or other trade group composed, in whole or in part, of one or more such entities.

(2) Interest. The term “interest” when used with respect to an individual, shall include the interest of a spouse, minor child, or blood relative who resides in the immediate household of the individual.

(3) Related. The term “related” when used in reference to a business or governmental entity means an entity that owns or controls another entity, or is owned or controlled by another entity, or both entities are owned or controlled by another entity.

(4) Substantial stockholder. The term “substantial stockholder” means any person holding 2 per centum or more, or 100 shares or more of the voting stock of the corporation, whichever is the lesser interest.

(b) Prohibited conflicts of interest. Unless waived on a case-by-case basis by the Administrator under section 11(b)(5) or the Act, the following conflicts of interest for a business or association are prohibited:

(1) Agency and contractor. No agency or contractor, or any member, director, officer, or employee thereof, and no business or governmental entity related to any such agency or contractor, shall be employed in or otherwise engaged in, or directly or indirectly have any stock or other financial interest in, any grain business or otherwise have any conflict of interest specified in § 800.187(b).

(2) Grain business. No grain business or governmental entity conducting any such business, or any member, director, officer, or employee thereof, and no other business or governmental entity related to any such entity, shall operate or be employed by, or directly or indirectly have any stock or other financial interest in, any agency or contractor.

(3) Stockholder in any agency or contractor. No substantial stockholder in any agency or contractor shall be employed in or otherwise engaged in, or be a substantial stockholder in, any grain business, or directly or indirectly have any other kind of financial interest in any such business or otherwise have any conflict of interest specified in § 800.187(b).

(4) Stockholder of a grain business. No substantial stockholder in any grain business shall operate or be employed by or be a substantial stockholder in, or directly or indirectly have any other kind of financial interest in an incorporated agency or contractor.

(5) Gratuity. No person described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall give to or accept from a person described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section any gratuity, and no person described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall give to or accept from a person described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section any gratuity. A “gratuity” is defined in § 800.187(a).

(c) Exempt conflicts of interest—(1) Agency and contractor. An agency or contractor may use laboratory or office space or inspection, weighing, transportation, or office equipment that is owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by a grain business or related entity when the use of the space or equipment is approved by the Service for the performance of onsite official services under the Act.

(2) Financial institution. A bona fide financial institution that has a financial relationship with one or more grain businesses or related entities may have a financial relationship with an agency, contractor, or related agency.

(3) Grain business. A grain business or related entity may furnish laboratory or office space or inspection, weighing, transportation, or office equipment for use by an agency, contractor, or field office when use of the space or equipment is approved by the Service for the performance of onsite official inspection or weighing services.

(d) Disposition of a conflict of interest. Upon being informed that a prohibited conflict of interest exists in the ownership, management, or operation of an agency and that remedial action is required, the agency shall take immediate action to resolve that conflict of interest and inform the Service of the action taken. An agency which believes that remedial action will cause undue economic hardship or other irreparable harm may request a waiver by forwarding to the Service a written statement setting forth the facts, the circumstances, and the reasons for requesting a waiver.

(a) General. Supervision of the activities described in this section shall be performed in accordance with the instructions.

(b) Administrative activities. Administrative activities subject to supervision include but are not limited to (1) providing staffing, equipment, and facilities for performing authorized services; (2) dismissing requests for services and withholding requested services; (3) maintaining official records; (4) assessing and collecting fees; (5) rotating official personnel; (6) implementing instructions for (i) recruiting official personnel, (ii) training and supervising official and approved personnel, (iii) work performance and work production standards; and (7) supervising and monitoring.

(c) Technical activities—(1) Equipment testing activities. Equipment testing activities subject to supervision include but are not limited to (i) implementing (A) the equipment performance requirements in parts 801 and 802 of this chapter and (B) the instructions for the operation of equipment used under the Act and for performing equipment-testing activities and (ii) performing equipment-testing activities by official personnel or by approved scale testing organizations.

(2) Inspection activities. Inspection activities subject to supervision include but are not limited to (i) implementing (A) the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, (B) official criteria, and (C) instructions for the performance of inspection activities and (ii) performing stowage examination, sampling, laboratory testing, grading, and certification activities by official personnel.

(3) Weighing activities. Weighing activities subject to supervision include but are not limited to (i) implementing (A) uniform weighing procedures and (B) instructions for the performance of weighing activities and (ii) performing (A) stowage examination, sampling (sacked grain), weighing, and certification activities by official personnel and (B) by approved weighers of weighing activities.

(4) Testing of prototype equipment activities. Prototype or proposed equipment is tested to determine whether the equipment will improve the performance of activities under the Act. Prototype equipment-testing activities subject to supervision include but are not limited to (i) implementing instructions for the testing of prototype equipment, (ii) testing prototype equipment by official personnel, and (iii) approving or denying the use of prototype equipment for use under the Act.

(a) General. Each of the administrative and technical activities identified in § 800.215 and the elevator and merchandising activities identified in this section shall be monitored in accordance with the instructions.

(b) Grain merchandising activities. Grain merchandising activities subject to monitoring for compliance with the Act include but are not limited to (1) failing to promptly forward an export certificate; (2) describing grain by other than official grades; (3) falsely describing export grain; (4) falsely making or using official certificates, forms, or marks; (5) making false quality or quantity representations about grain; and (6) selling export grain without a certificate of registration.

(c) Grain handling activities. Grain handling activities subject to monitoring for compliance with the Act include, but are not limited to:

(1) Shipping export grain without inspection or weighing;

(2) Violating any Federal law with respect to the handling, weighing, or inspection of grain;

(3) Deceptively loading, handling, weighing, or sampling grain; and

(4) Exporting grain without a certificate of registration.

(d) Recordkeeping activities. Elevator and merchandising recordkeeping activities subject to monitoring for compliance with the Act include those that are identified in section 12(d) of the Act and § 800.25 of the regulations.

(e) Other activities. Other activities subject to monitoring for compliance with the Act include but are not limited to (1) resolving conflicts of interest by official agencies or their employees; (2) providing access to elevator facilities and records; (3) improperly influencing or interfering with official personnel; (4) falsely representing that a person is official personnel; (5) using false means in filing an application for services under the Act; and (6) preventing interested persons from observing the loading, Class X or Class Y weighing, or official sampling of grain.

(a) General. Testing of equipment and prototype equipment described in this section shall be performed in accordance with the instructions.

(b) Inspection equipment. Each unit of equipment used in the official sampling, testing, or grading of grain, or in monitoring the official inspection of grain, shall be examined to determine whether the equipment is functioning in an approved manner. In addition, each unit of equipment for which official performance requirements have been established shall be tested for accuracy. For the purpose of this paragraph, diverter-type mechanical samplers used in obtaining warehouseman's samples shall be considered to be official inspection equipment used under the Act.

(c) Weighing equipment. Each unit of equipment used in the Class X or Class Y weighing of grain or in monitoring the Class X or Class Y weighing of grain, each related grain handling system, and each related computer system shall be examined to determine whether it is functioning in an approved manner. In addition, each unit of equipment for which official performance requirements have been established shall be tested for accuracy.

(d) Prototype equipment—(1) At request of interested party. Upon request of a financially interested party and with the concurrence of the Administrator, prototype grain inspection or weighing equipment may be tested by the Service for official use.

(2) Determination by Service. Upon a determination of need, the Service may develop, contract for, or purchase and test prototype grain inspection or weighing equipment for official use.

Any person desiring to complain of a rejection or disapproval of equipment by official personnel or of any alleged discrepancy in the testing of equipment under the Act by official personnel or by approved scale testing organizations may file a complaint with the Service.

(a) Approval. Equipment that is in use under the Act on the effective date of this section shall be considered conditionally to have been adopted and approved by the Service.

(b) Limitation on approval. This conditional approval shall not bar a later rejection or disapproval of the equipment by the Service upon a determination that the equipment (1) should be rejected for official use, or (2) is not functioning in an approved manner, or (3) is not producing results that are accurate within prescribed tolerances, or (4) is producing results that are otherwise not consistent with the objectives of the Act.