7 U.S.C. § 87k

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 87k - Standardizing commercial inspections

(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.

7 U.S.C. § 87k

Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. B, §22, as added Pub. L. 101-624, title XX, §20092009,, 104 Stat. 3931; amended Pub. L. 103-156, §§11, Nov. 24, 1993, 13, Nov. 24, 1993, 107 Stat. 1528, 1529; Pub. L. 103-354, title II, §293(a)(7), (8), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3237.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTThis 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.

AMENDMENTS1994- 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)".

Secretary: the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or delegates of the Secretary;
United States: the term "United States" means the States (including Puerto Rico) and the territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia);
grain: the term "grain" means corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, flaxseed, sorghum, soybeans, mixed grain, and any other food grains, feed grains, and oilseeds for which standards are established under section 76 of this title;
official inspection: the term "official inspection" means the determination (by original inspection, and when requested, reinspection and appeal inspection) and the certification, by official inspection personnel of the kind, class, quality, or condition of grain, under standards provided for in this chapter, or the condition of vessels and other carriers or receptacles for the transportation of grain insofar as it may affect the quality or condition of such grain; or other facts relating to grain under other criteria approved by the Secretary under this chapter (the term "officially inspected" shall be construed accordingly);