United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: QACD IEB

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and 

policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity 

(including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income 

derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, 

in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 

complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, 

large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 

Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, 

found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed 

to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 

form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) 

fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

GRAIN HANDLING PRACTICES

Contents

GRAIN HANDLING PRACTICES �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1

1. PURPOSE �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

3. BACKGROUND �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

4. RESPONSIBILITIES ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. GRAIN HANDLING REQUIREMENTS �������������������������������������������������������������������������

6. DECEPTIVE PRACTICES �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

7. ENFORCEMENT �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Attachment 1 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8

Attachment 2 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9

Attachment 3 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10

Attachment 4 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive establishes procedures for carrying out the Grain Handling Practices 

provisions in sections 800.60 (Deceptive actions and practices) and 800.61 (Prohibite

grain handling practices) of the regulations under the United States Grain Standards 

Act (USGSA). It provides instructions for identifying and reporting both deceptive and

prohibited grain handling practices at domestic and export facilities

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive supersedes FGIS Program Directive 9070.5, Grain Handling Practices,

dated 02-22-2013. This directive is updated to reflect Federal Grain Inspection Service 

(FGIS) contact and reporting changes

3. BACKGROUND

The USGSA and its regulations provide guidelines for addressing various grain handling 

and deceptive practices. These requirements help maintain the integrity of the official 

system, foster the marketing of high quality grain in domestic and foreign commerce, 

and promote fair and honest inspection and weighing practices

These grain handling provisions apply market wide, not just to those who receive official 

services (i.e., Official Commercial Inspection Services). The requirements for identifying 

and reporting both deceptive and prohibited grain handling practices, however, are 

applicable to grain that is officially inspected or weighed, whether mandatory or 

permissive

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Grain handlers shall

(1) Comply with the grain handling and notice of deceptive practice requirements

set forth in sections 800.60 and 800.61 of the regulations and guideline

established in this directive;

(2) Submit requests for exemption(s) from the prohibited grain handling practices

to the AMS Administrator or his or her designee; and

(3) Provide notification to official personnel when grain is loaded into a carrier 

or container in a way that may cause the issuance of a false or incorrect 

official certificate. The handlers must give notice to FGIS or official agency 

personnel who are responsible for that geographical area before official 

services commence. Oral reports by grain handlers must be confirmed in 

writing within 2 business days. In addition, the written report must explain

the nature and extent of the action or practice in question (e.g., identify th

grain, stowage containers, the carrier(s), equipment, facility, and the official 

personnel or others involved, etc.
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

Page 3

b. Official personnel shall

(1) Be familiar with the material handling system(s) at their respective work 

site(s);

(2) Understand the grain handling and deceptive practice provisions, and how to

report suspected violations;

(3) To aid industry representatives to understand the USGSA, regulations, and 

FGIS instructions requirements through education, meetings, reminders, etc.;

and

(4) Observe grain handling operations during tours through a facility, including 

potential areas for diversion points, as applicable

5. GRAIN HANDLING REQUIREMENTS

a. General. Section 800.61 of the regulations outlines the prohibited and permitt

grain handling practices. These requirements differ slightly at domestic and export 

locations; consequently, we have addressed them separately in this directive

b. Export Facilitie

(1) Prohibited Practices. No person handling grain at export elevators or expor

port locations shall: (a) recombine or add dockage or foreign material 

including dust to any grain as defined in section 800.61 of the regulations; 

(b) blend different kinds of grain unless such blending results in grain being 

designated as Mixed Grain as defined in subpart F of the Official U.S. 

Standards for Grain; (c) add water to grain for purposes other than milling, 

malting, or similar processing operations; or (d) spray water on belts during 

grain handling

(2) Permitted Practices. Export handlers may: (a) blend grain of the sam

kind together to adjust quality. Recombine or add broken corn and broken

kernels to whole grain of the same kind, provided, no dockage or foreign 

material including dust is added to the broken corn or broken kernels; (b) treat 

grain to control insects and fungi; (c) treat grain with an additive, including 

vegetable or mineral oil to suppress dust during handling; (d) add confetti or 

similar material to grain for identifications purposes; (e) recombine or add 

grain removed from a bin during coring to grain of the same kind; and (f) add 

water to grain for milling, malting, or similar processing operations
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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(3) Monitoring. Official personnel must monitor the entire export facility (all 

grain movements) to ensure adherence with the grain handling provisions

The monitoring must occur routinely during normal tours and require 

knowledge about the facility’s grain handling, dust disposal, cleaning, and 

storage practices. Official personnel can obtain information about a facility’s 

operations through communication with company representatives or by 

reviewing documentation required by section 800.46(c) (2) of the regulation

Official personnel must document any equipment, process, or other 

malfunction and noncompliance situation on a work record. In addition, official 

personnel must document observations made during tours through a facility 

on an inspection log, weight log, or work record (e.g., observer, date, an

time, etc.

Official personnel must note any malfunction in the equipment handling and/or

scale systems on a Form FGIS-9601 and notify elevator supervisor. Official

personnel will indicate on the form the type of malfunction and its location,

determine action to be taken or describe the conditions under which weighing

will continue and complete the date/time malfunction was rectified.

c. Domestic Facilitie

(1) Prohibited Practices. Persons handling grain at domestic elevators shall not

(a) add or recombine dockage or foreign material as defined in section 800.61 

of the regulations to any grain; (b) blend different kinds of grain unless such 

blending results in grain being designated as Mixed Grain as defined in 

subpart F of the Official U.S. Standards for Grain; (c) add water to grain for 

purposes other than milling, malting, or similar processing operations; or (d) 

spray water on belts during grain handling

(2) Permitted Practices. Domestic handlers may: (a) blend grain of the same kin

together to adjust quality. Recombine or add broken corn and broken kernels

to whole grain of the same kind, provided no dockage or foreign material is 

added to the broken corn or broken kernels; (b) treat grain to control insects 

and fungi; (c) treat grain with an additive, including vegetable or mineral oil 

to suppress dust during handling; (d) add confetti or similar material to grain 

for identification purposes; (e) recombine or add grain removed from bins(s) 

during coring to grain of the same kind; and (f) add water to grain for milling, 

malting, or similar processing operations

Although the statute does not prohibit domestic elevators from adding dust 

to grain, FGIS encourages these facilities to adopt the same dust disposal 

practices as export elevators, export port locations

(3) Monitoring. Official personnel should monitor a domestic facility’s operations 

during service delivery to ensure adherence with these requirements. The

monitoring should occur routinely and require knowledge about the facility’s 

grain handling, cleaning, and storage practices
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

Page 5

Official personnel must document noncompliance situations or observations 

made during tours through a facility on a work record

d. Reporting (Export and Domestic facilitie

Official personnel (licensed or authorized) must notify their supervisor 

anytime they observe a violation of the grain handling provisions. Supervisory

personnel will evaluate the situation and, as applicable, contact the agency 

or FGIS field office manager. The agency or FGIS manager must inform 

company representatives about the alleged noncompliance and notify the 

Quality Assurance and Compliance Division (QACD) at (202) 720-0228, or 

1-800-998-3447, toll free. The toll-free number can be assessed 24 hours a

day, 7 days a week, allowing for voice-mail messaging

e. Exemption

(1) General. The Administrator or his or her designee has authority to provide

exemptions to persons who ship grain directly to domestic end users or 

processors. These final sale transactions may be exempt from the prohibited 

practices outlined in paragraphs 5(b) (1) and (c) (1), if interested parties meet 

all qualifying criteria

(2) Domestic Final Sale Exemption Criteria. The Administrator may grant

exemptions for domestic final sale transactions provided:

(a) The purchaser consumes or processes the grain into a product(s) and

they do not reintroduce the grain into the marketplace;

(b) The purchaser does not blend or add products or by-products from the 

grain to grain in commercial channels, except an additive such as 

vegetable oil which the statute permits for use as a dust suppressant;

(c) The grain handler’s customers (processors or end users) submit a 

written exemption request for the handler. The request must include

the purchaser’s name (a company name if applicable), address, phone 

number, contact person, kind of grain, and receiving period. The grain

handler submits their request for a single or multiple shipments and 

shipping period, in addition to customer’s request. Send requests to:

FGIS.ODA@usda.g

(3) Approval. FGIS will review all requests for exemptions and recommend

appropriate action to the Administrator. FGIS will notify grain handlers,

purchasers, and field personnel regarding the approval status and maintain a 

list of companies who receive exemptions. Domestic Final Sale Exemptions

will remain in effect indefinitely, provided interested parties keep FGIS 

informed about any changes in the original agreement
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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6. DECEPTIVE PRACTICES 

a. General. Section 800.60 (Deceptive actions or practices) of the regulations deta

what can be deemed deceptive and thus a prohibited practice. FGIS’s policy is to

reduce or deter incidences of deception through conducting market evaluations 

and by initiating prompt administrative, civil, or referral of alleged criminal actions 

against violators

b. Deceptive Practices. The circumstances surrounding deceptive situations ma

vary; however, official personnel should aggressively examine any loading, 

handling, weighing, or sampling activity that suggests an attempt to deceive. The

following are some examples of deceptive situations involving officially inspected 

or weighed grain:

(1) Loading grain that is significantly different in quality (e.g., high damage 

kernels or foreign material, sour, musty, etc.) than other grain in the stowage

area near the bottom, toward the sides, or in the corners of carriers or 

containers;

(2) Loading grain on top of fertilizer or other non grain material;

(3) Diverting officially weighed grain to locations other than its designated carrier, 

container, or bin;

(4) Using materials or substances to mask grain odors;

(5) Altering or switching official samples; and

(6) Loading a different kind of grain (e.g., wheat beneath sunflower seeds, corn

beneath yellow soybeans, etc.) near the bottom, toward the sides, or in the

corners of carriers or containers;

c. Reporting. Official personnel must notify their supervisor anytime they observe

a deceptive practice situation. Supervisory personnel or their designee must further

inquire about the incident and, as applicable, contact the agency or field office 

manager for guidance. The agency or field office manager must notify QACD at 

(202) 720-0228 or 1-800-998-3447, toll free. Official personnel must confirm oral 

reports in writing and should include the following information, as applicable:

(1) Identification of the buyer, seller, merchandiser, carrier, or loading facility;

(2) The grain’s origin and/or destination;

(3) Copies of certificates(s), work records(s), photograph(s), and the name(s) of 

official or company personnel involved;
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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(4) A diagram(s) illustrating the problem (use attachment 1, 2, 3 or 4 to show the

 number and location of probed compartments, grain quality, etc.)

(5) A brief description (narrative) of the occurrence and indicate whether file

sample(s) are available; and

(6) List equipment or other devices used in the evaluation and provide results of 

auxiliary samples

Send written reports to: FGISQACD@usda.go

7. ENFORCEMENT

Grain handlers are responsible for adhering to the grain handling requirements set 

forth in the statutes, regulations, and FGIS instructions. QACD will evaluate reports

involving grain handling or deceptive practices and, based on the facts, will initiate the 

appropriate administrative or civil action. In certain instances, QACD will refer alleged

criminal action to the appropriate authorities

Attachments
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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Attachment 1

BUYER SELLER 

CARRIER IDENTIFICATION DATE & LOCATION SAMPLED 

LOADER DATE INSPECTED 

ORIGIN DESTINATION 

TIME & DATE LOADED MERCHANDISER 

 B-3 B-2 B-1

A B
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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Attachment 2

BUYER SELLER 

CARRIER IDENTIFICATION DATE & LOCATION SAMPLED 

LOADER DATE INSPECTED 

ORIGIN DESTINATION 

TIME & DATE LOADED MERCHANDISER 

Flat Bed Truck or

Container

(Side View)

(Top View) 

Hopper Bottom

Truck

(Side View) 
FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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Attachment 3

BUYER SELLER 

CARRIER IDENTIFICATION DATE & LOCATION SAMPLED 

LOADER DATE INSPECTED 

ORIGIN DESTINATION 

TIME & DATE LOADED MERCHANDISER 

Barge (Side View)

Aft

Forward

Barge (Top View)

Aft

Forward 
Attachment 4 

BUYER _________________________ SELLER _________________________________

CARRIER IDENTIFICATION ________ DATE & LOCATION SAMPLED ______________

LOADER ________________________ DATE INSPECTED ________________________

ORIGIN _________________________ DESTINATION ___________________________

TIME & DATE LOADED ____________ MECHANDISER __________________________

Ship (Top View)

H

H

H

H

H

H

H

ol

ol

ol

ol

ol

ol

ol

d 1

d 2

d 3

d 4

d 5

d 6

d 7

Ship (Side View)

Hold 1

Hold 2 Hold 3 Hold 4 Hold 5 Hold 6 Hold 7

FGIS Directive 9070.5 July 19, 2023

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