United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9180.18 April 21, 2003

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: FMD PPMAB

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 

TDD).

To file a complaint, write to the USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity 

employer.

SPECIAL QUALITY FACTOR INFORMATION FOR WHEAT AND MALTING BARLEY

SHIPMENTS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Contents

SPECIAL QUALITY FACTOR INFORMATION FOR WHEAT AND MALTING BARLEY ��������1

SHIPMENTS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION �������������������������������������������������������������������������1

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

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

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

4. PROCEDURE�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. CERTIFICATION ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

6. QUESTIONS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Directive 9180.18 April 23, 2014

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive transmits procedures for reporting special quality factor information in the

“Remarks” section of official export inspection certificates for wheat and malting barley

shipments destined for countries in the European Union

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This is a new directive.

3. BACKGROUND

a. Effective January 1, 2003, the European Commission (EC) adopted Commission 

Regulations (EC) No 2377/2002 and No 2378/2002 to recognize the Federal 

Grain Inspection Service’s (FGIS) Official Export Grain Inspection Certificate as a 

certificate of conformity for import duties.

b. Import duties for wheat and malting barley are based on special quality factor 

information

4. PROCEDURE

a. Provide special quality factor inspection service, upon request. Applicants must

include this request as part of their application for services

b. Determine special quality factors according to official inspection procedures and

the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, as follows:

(1) Wheat Quality Factors:

(a) Protein. Determined using FGIS procedures.

(b) Test Weight. Determined using FGIS procedures then converted to 

kilograms per hectoliter (kg/hL).

(c) Impurities. The sum of dockage, foreign material, and heat damaged 

kernels as determined using FGIS procedures

(d) Hard Vitreous Amber Color. Hard and vitreous kernels of amber color as 

determined using FGIS procedures. Applicable only to durum wheat.

(2) Malting Barley Quality Factors.

(a) Damaged Grains. Damaged kernels as determined using FGIS 

procedures

(b) Sound and Fair Merchantable Barley. Sound barley and grains damaged 

by frost or fungus as determined using FGIS procedures.
FGIS Directive 9180.18 April 23, 2014

Page 3

(c) Test Weight. Determined using FGIS procedures then converted to 

kilograms per hectoliter (kg/hL).

(d) Moisture. Determined using FGIS procedures.

c. Report the special quality factor inspection results in the “Remarks” section of the

inspection certificate.

5. CERTIFICATION

Show the following information in the “Remarks” section of the “Official Export Grain

Inspection Certificate.”

a. Wheat Shipment

(1) Protein: _____%, (moisture basis).

(2) Test weight: _____ kg/hL.

(3) Impurities: _____%.

(4) Hard Vitreous Amber Color: _____%.

(Applicable only to durum wheat.)

b. Malting Barley Shipments.

(1) Damaged Grains: _____%.

(2) Sound and fair merchantable barley: _____%.

(3) Test weight: _____ kg/hL.

(4) Moisture: _____%.

6. QUESTIONS

Questions regarding this procedure should be directed to the Policies, Procedures, and 

Market Analysis Branch (PPMAB) at (202) 720-0228.