7 U.S.C. § 87k: Standardizing commercial…

Summary

The Secretary can work with NIST, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, or other science and government groups to pick which inspection tools need standard rules, set how those tools must perform, create a national approval program for them, and provide materials for calibration. The Secretary must also make simple, low-cost procedures for commercial grain inspections that decide premiums and discounts, and share those procedures with country elevators and other first-delivery inspectors. The Secretary must arrange official inspection services (federal, state, or approved agencies) and give guidance on sampling, equipment use, standards, and appeals. The Secretary must also create uniform testing equipment standards, testing steps, and sampling methods that processors, refiners, elevator and terminal operators, and others can use to detect aflatoxin levels in U.S. corn.

Title 7, §87k

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Testing equipment

To promote greater uniformity in commercial grain inspection results, the Secretary may work in conjunction with the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, or other appropriate governmental, scientific, or technical organizations to—

(1)identify inspection instruments requiring standardization under subsection (b);

(2)establish performance criteria for commercial grain inspection instruments;

(3)develop a national program to approve grain inspection instruments for commercial inspection; and

(4)develop standard reference materials or other means necessary for calibration or testing of approved instruments.

(b)General inspection procedures

To ensure that producers are treated uniformly in delivering grain, the Secretary shall develop practical and cost-effective procedures for conducting commercial inspections of grain with respect to the application of quality factors, that result in premiums and discounts. The procedures shall be made available to country elevators and others making first-point-of-delivery inspections.

(c)Inspection services and information

To encourage the use of equipment and procedures developed in accordance with subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall provide for official inspection services by the Secretary, States, and official inspection agencies and provide information on the proper use of sampling and inspection equipment, application of the grain standards, and availability of official inspection services, including appeals under this chapter.

(d)Standardized aflatoxin equipment and procedures

The Secretary shall—

(1)establish uniform standards for testing equipment; and

(2)establish uniform testing procedures and sampling techniques;

that may be used by processors, refiners, operators of grain elevators and terminals, and others to accurately detect the level of aflatoxin contamination of corn in the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act” and was translated as reading “this part”, meaning part B of act Aug. 11, 1916, known as the United States Grain Standards Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–354 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing and “Secretary” for “Service” in subsec. (c). 1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–156, § 11, substituted “, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, or other appropriate governmental, scientific, or technical organizations” for “and the National Conference on Weights and Measures” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–156, § 13(b)(2), substituted “subsections (a) and (b)” for “subsection (a) and (b)”.

§87k Standardizing Commercial Inspections