[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR868.31]

[Page 631-632]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
  CHAPTER VIII--GRAIN INSPECTION, PACKERS AND STOCKYARD ADMINISTRATION 
      (FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION SERVICE), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 868--GENERAL REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart A--Regulations
 
Sec. 868.31  Kinds of inspection services.

    (a) General. The inspection of commodities shall be according to 
the--
    (1) Standards of class, grade, other quality designation, quantity, 
or condition for such commodities promulgated by the Administrator; or
    (2) Specifications prescribed by Federal agencies; or
    (3) Specifications of trade associations or organizations; or
    (4) Other specifications as requested by applicant; or
    (5) The instructions.

The kinds of services provided and the basis for performing the services 
include those specified in paragraphs (b) through (m) of this section. 
Some or all of these services are provided when performing a complete 
inspection service.
    (b) Quality inspection service. This service consists of official 
personnel--
    (1) Obtaining representative sample(s) of an identified commodity 
lot;

[[Page 632]]

    (2) Examining, grading, or testing the sample(s);
    (3) Examining relevant records for the lot; and
    (4) Certifying the results.
    (c) Submitted sample inspection service. This service consists of 
official personnel grading or testing a sample submitted by the 
applicant and certifying the results.
    (d) Examination service. This service consists of official personnel 
examining supplies without the use of special laboratory equipment or 
procedures to determine conformance to requirements requested by the 
applicant and certifying the results.
    (e) Checkweighing service (container). This service consists of 
official personnel--
    (1) Weighing a selected number of containers from a commodity lot;
    (2) Determining the estimated total gross, tare, and net weights or 
the estimated average gross or net weight per filled container; and
    (3) Certifying the results.
    (f) Bulk weighing service. This service consists of official 
personnel--
    (1) Completely supervising the loading or the unloading of an 
identified lot of bulk or containerized commodity,
    (2) Physically weighing or completely supervising the weighing of 
the commodity; and
    (3) Certifying the results.
    (g) Checkloading service. This service consists of official 
personnel--
    (1) Performing a stowage examination;
    (2) Computing the number of filled commodity containers loaded 
aboard the carrier;
    (3) Observing the condition of commodity containers loaded aboard 
the carrier;
    (4) If practicable, sealing the carrier; and
    (5) Certifying the results.
    (h) Checkcounting service. This service consists of official 
personnel determining the total number of filled outer containers in a 
lot to determine that the number of containers shown by the applicant is 
correct and certifying the results.
    (i) Condition inspection service. This service consists of official 
personnel determining the physical condition of the commodity by 
determining whether an identifiable commodity lot is water damaged, fire 
damaged, or has rodent or bird contamination, insect infestation, or any 
other deteriorating condition and certifying the results.
    (j) Condition of food containers service. This service consists of 
official personnel determining the degree of acceptability of the 
containers with respect to absence of defects which affect the 
serviceability, including appearance as well as usability, of the 
container for its intended purpose and certifying the results.
    (k) Observation of loading service. This service consists of 
official personnel determining that an identified lot has been moved 
from a warehouse or carrier and loaded into another warehouse or carrier 
and certifying the results.
    (l) Plant approval service.\1\ This service consists of official 
personnel performing a plant survey to determine if the plant premises, 
facilities, sanitary conditions, and operating methods are suitable to 
begin or continue inspection service.
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    \1\ Compliance with the requirements in this paragraph does not 
excuse failure to comply with all applicable sanitation rules and 
regulations of city, county, State, Federal, or other agencies having 
jurisdiction over such plants and operations.
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    (m) Stowage examination service. 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 suitable to store or carry commodities and certifying the 
results.