Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

Overview of the USDA Online Procedures for Requesting Derogations for

Somatic Cell and Standard Plate Count Using the Electronic Trade Document

Exchange System (eTDE) and Electronic Document Creation System (eDocs)

To request Derogations for farms whose production is used in the Turkey Export Certification 

programand whose milk exceeds the Turkey requirements for Somatic Cell Count and Standard 

Plate Counts, milk suppliers must register to use the Electronic Trade Document Exchange

System (eTDE).

eTDE provides a secure environment for sharing trade documentation with 

governments andbusinesses across the supply chain.

To work within this security framework, there are several actions that new users and companies

must take:

 Individuals must obtain level 2 eAuthentication

 Companies must be registered in eTDE

 First time users must go to eTDE - www.eTDE.usda.gov and will be directed to a 

profilepage to request party and role association.

1. If your company is already registered on eTDE go to 

https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/registration?targetUrl=https:%2F%2Fwww.eauth.usd

a.gov%2Feauth%2Fb%2Fusda%2Flogin and register for eAuthentication account as a 

Customer. Here is where you will request Level 2 access. You will receive an email informing 

you of of access or denial of Level 2 access.

a. If you have been denied Level 2 access, please follow the information provided for 

obtaining Level 2 status.

b. If you have been granted Level 2 access, continue to www.etde.usda.gov/etde/ and log 

in using the same credentials you created for eAuthentication.
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

1. Select Create an Account

2. Select Create an Account
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

3. Select Register for a level 2 Account.

2. Once you have logged in using the same credentials, you will be brought to another screen 

where you will fill out your entity (business) information. 

a. Fill out the eTDE User Registration Request.

i. If you would like to be the Entity Administrator, select “Register New Entity 

and Become Entity Administrator”

ii. This option assigns you as the administrator for your business’ account. You 

will also be the point of contact for approving new users for your business’ 

account. 

iii. If you would like to be a User for your business account, select “Entity 

Information Same as Work Information”.

3. Review all information and select Request Registration. This will submit your registration 

request for ETDE. 

4. You will be taken to a new screen that will show your profile information that is for your 

reference.

• If you are a new Entity Administrator, please email DairyExportsQuestions@usda.gov, and 

provide your first/last name and entity name. In addition to your credentials, please state that 

you are requesting approval for ETDE access.

• If you are a new User, you will need to contact your Entity Administrator for access.

o Tell your Entity Administrator to go to www.etde.usda.gov and “Manage User Access” and 

follow prompts to approving the requested user. 

• If you are a new User and you do not know who your Entity Administrator is, please email 

DairyExportsQuestions@usda.gov, and provide your first/last name and entity name. In addition 

to your credentials, please state that your Entity Administrator is unknown. 

Once you are approved as a user and/or Entity Administrator, please proceed to EDOCS to 

access EDOCS. Here is where you will apply for SPC and SCC Derogations.
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

4. Select ‘Login to eDocs’. Enter User ID and Password

The first screen shows two tabs: ‘In Progress’ and ‘Submitted’ – these queues show you what certificates

you have submitted and which ones you are still working on ‘in progress’.
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

5. Select Derogation Request in the grey bar.

The first screen shows two tabs: In Progress and Submitted – these queues show you what certificates

or derogations you have submitted and which ones you are still working on ‘in progress’. There is a

“Create Derogation Request” link in the top right-hand corner of the page. Select this to begin a new

request.
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

This is the screen view when you select “Create Derogation Request”:

Choose the appropriate template for the type of notification or derogation you need.

• Notification - Notify USDA the first month the rolling mean goes over 400,000 for SCC or

100,000 for SPC

• Derogation – Annual derogation when a farm has been out of compliance for three

consecutive months after a notification has been submitted

• Seasonal Derogation – When a farm is in compliance 9 months of the year, has

satisfactory production methods but is still not able to meet the requirements during

certain seasonal periods due to circumstances outside the control of the farm.

Example of Notification:
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

Example of Annual Derogation:

Example of Seasonal Derogation:
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022

Milk suppliers can create up to 60 custom templates.

If you are requesting a second (or higher) derogation you must maintain an Affidavit from the farm

indicating two steps being taking to try to bring the counts back into compliance or meet the other

requirements for a renewal. A copy of this form is available on the Turkey Dairy Export Certification

Program Website. Affidavit for Producer Corrective Action (doc)

Example of Affidavit for Corrective Action
Derogations - Overview of the USDA Online Procedures – January 2022