A-A-20135E

June 3, 2015

SUPERSEDING

A-A-20135D

December 30, 2009

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

SUGAR, WHITE, REFINED, AND SUGAR, BROWN

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized

the use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers refined white sugar and brown sugar (sugar) packed in 

commercially acceptable containers, suitable for use by Federal, State, local governments, other 

interested parties; and as a component of operational rations. Please note: This document does 

not guarantee purchase of this item by USDA.1

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers must specify the following:

- Type(s) and style(s) of sugar desired (Sec. 3).

- When analytical requirements are different than specified (Sec. 7.1).

- When analytical requirements need to be verified (Sec. 7.2).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 10.3) or USDA certification (Sec. 10.4).

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following:

- Agricultural practice(s) of sugar desired (Sec. 3).

- Food Defense (Sec. 10.1) and Manufacturer’s Quality Assurance (Sec. 10.2). Purchaser 

may specify one of the following combinations: Sec. 10.1.1 with 10.2.1 or 10.1.2 with 

10.2.2.

- Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 11).

3. CLASSIFICATION. The sugar must conform to the following list which must be specified 

in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

1 For USDA purchase specifications please visit the following websites: Commodity Purchase Specifications for Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS) and Commodity Purchase Specifications for Farm Service Agency (FSA).

METRIC

AMSC N/A FSC 8925

 
A-A-20135E

Types, styles, and agricultural practices.

2

Type I - White (refined)

Style A - Granulated (fine or extra fine)

Style B - Granulated (superfine)

Style C - Powdered or confectioners

Type II - Brown

Style A - Light

Style B - Dark

Type III - Other (turbinado, demerara, etc.) as specified by the purchaser

Agricultural Practice 1 - Conventional

Agricultural practice 2 - Organic

4. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S NOTES. Manufacturer’s/distributor’s 

products must meet the requirements of the:

- Processing guidelines (Sec. 5).

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 6).

- Analytical requirements: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 7).

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 8).

- Regulatory requirements (Sec. 9).

- Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 10).

- Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 11).

5. PROCESSING GUIDELINES.

5.1 Processing. The sugar must be processed in accordance with Current Good Manufacturing 

Practices (21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 110). 

5.2 Food security. The sugar must be processed and transported in accordance with the Food 

and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Guidance for Industry: Food Producers, Processors, and 

Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.3 This guidance identifies the 

kinds of preventive measures food manufacturers, processors, or handlers may take to minimize 

the risk that food under their control will be subject to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or 

terrorist actions. The implementation of enhanced food security preventive measures provides 

2 Not all options are available from every manufacturer. Check with the manufacturer/distributor for availability. 3 http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm. 

2

 
A-A-20135E

for the security of a plant’s production processes and includes the storage and transportation of 

pre-production raw materials, other ingredients, and postproduction finished product.

5.3 Organic ingredients. When organic sugar is specified in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the sugar must be produced, handled, and labeled in accordance with the USDA 

organic regulations by an operation that is certified organic in accordance with the requirements 

of the National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205). A Certificate of Organic Production or 

Handling must be provided to verify that the product was processed and handled in accordance 

with the USDA organic regulations.

6. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

6.1 Raw ingredients. The sugar must be obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets. Organic 

sugar must be obtained from organically grown sugar cane or sugar beets and meet the 

requirements of the National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205).

6.2 Finished product.

6.2.1 Odor, flavor, and color.

6.2.1.1 Type 1, White, refined. The finished sugar must be white free flowing crystals and be 

free of odors.

6.2.1.2 Type II, Style A - Brown, light. The finished sugar must have a soft texture and 

uniform light to medium golden brown color. The sugar must have a mild sweet molasses odor

and flavor.

6.2.1.3 Type II, Style A – Brown, dark. The finished sugar must have a soft texture and 

uniform brown color. The sugar must have a sweet molasses odor and flavor. 

6.2.2 Consistency. The finished sugar must not contain lumps larger than 12.7 mm (0.5 in) in 

their greatest dimension that can not be broken by light finger pressure.

6.2.3 Foreign material. The finished sugar must be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

foreign material such as, but not limited to, metal, wood, glass, insect parts, or dirt. 

7. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS.

7.1 Physical granulation and chemical requirements. Unless otherwise specified in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the sugar must comply with the following requirements:

3
A-A-20135E

TABLE I. Physical granulation requirements

Type and 

Style

Sieve size (U.S. Standard No.)

No. 

20

No. 40 No. 100 No. 200 No. 100 No. 140

Maximum to remain on (Percent) Maximum to pass through (Percent)

Type I, Style 

A 5 10

Type I, Style 

B 7 20

Type I, Style 

C 4 17

TABLE II. Chemical requirements

Type and Style

Minimum sucrose

(Percent)

Maximum ash

(Percent)

Maximum moisture

(Percent)

Type I, Style A 99.5 0.04 0.05

Type I, Style B 99.5 0.04 0.05

Type I, Style C 94.5 0.05 0.80

Type II, Style A 86.0 2.25 4.50

Type II, Style B 86.0 3.25 4.50

7.2 Product verification sampling. When USDA verification of analytical requirements is 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, analytical testing shall be performed on 

a composite sample. The composite sample shall be 113.4 g (4 oz) prepared from five randomly 

selected subsamples. Subsamples shall be a minimum of one packet/container and shall contain 

the appropriate number of packets/containers to yield a 113.4 g (4 oz) sample when composited.

7.3 Analytical testing. When specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, the 

analyses must be made in accordance with the following methods from the AOAC International 

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA) or the International Commission for Uniform Methods of 

Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA) as specified below:

Test Method

Sucrose 925.46, 977.20, 979.21, 996.04, GS2/3-14, or 

GS1/2/3/9-14

Ash, Brown Sugar 900.02C or GS1/3/4/7/8-134

Ash, White Sugar 900.02C or GS2/3/9-174

Moisture 925.45A (at 65°C [149°F]) or GS2/1/3/9-154

4 ICUMSA 

4

 
A-A-20135E

7.4 Test results. The test results for sucrose must be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent. The 

test results for ash and moisture must be reported to the nearest 0.01 percent. Any result not 

conforming to the analytical requirements will be cause for rejection of the lot.

8. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/ 

distributor must certify that the sugar provided meets the salient characteristics of this CID, 

conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the same 

sugar offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to require 

proof of conformance.

9. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered sugar must comply with all applicable 

Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, 

labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of the sugar in the commercial marketplace. Delivered 

sugar must comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 

the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

10. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser must specify 10.3, or 10.4. 

Purchaser may specify one of the following combinations: 10.1.1 with 10.2.1, or 10.1.2 with 

10.2.2.

10.1 Food defense. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a Food 

Defense System Survey (FDSS) must be conducted by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS), Fruit and Vegetable Program (FV), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division. Food 

defense requirements include a documented and operational food defense plan that provides for 

the security of a plant’s production processes and includes the storage and transportation of preproduction raw materials and other ingredients and postproduction finished product. The plan 

must address the following areas: (1) food security plan management; (2) outside and inside 

security of the production and storage facilities; (3) slaughter, when applicable, and processing, 

including all raw material sources; (4) shipping and receiving; (5) storage; (6) water and ice 

supply; (7) mail handling; (8) personnel security; and (9) transportation, shipping, and receiving.

10.1.1 FDSS. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a FDSS must be 

conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division. The FDSS verifies that operators of food 

establishments have implemented measures to minimize the risk of tampering or other criminal 

actions against the food under their control. An AMS, FDSS verifies the participating 

company’s adherence to the FDA’s Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and 

Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance. 

10.1.2 Food defense section of the Plant Systems Audit (PSA). When required in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, a food defense audit will be conducted as part of the 

PSA. The audit will be conducted by USDA, AMS, FV, SCI Division auditors. This verifies 

that operators of food establishments have implemented measures to minimize the risk of 

5
A-A-20135E

tampering or other criminal actions against the food under their control. The food defense 

section of the PSA verifies the participating company’s adherence to the FDA’s Guidance for 

Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures 

Guidance.

10.2 Manufacturer’s quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the product manufacturer will be required to provide evidence, by certificate that 

the manufacturing plant has undertaken one of the following quality assurance measures within 

12 months prior to providing a bid or no later than 10 business days from the date of the 

awarding of the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame 

may result in the contract being terminated for cause.

10.2.1 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, AMS, or other survey performed by 

a third party auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the 

contract. An AMS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of the survey, the manufacturer 

produces products in a clean sanitary environment in accordance with Current Good 

Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR Part 

110).

10.2.2 PSA. A PSA conducted by USDA, AMS, or other audit performed by a third party 

auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the contract. 

An AMS PSA verifies the manufacturer's capability to produce products in a clean sanitary 

environment in accordance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, 

Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR Part 110), and verifies that the manufacturer has in 

place an internal quality assurance program.

10.3 Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, 

or purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor must certify that the sugar distributed meets or 

exceeds the requirements of this CID.

10.4 USDA certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order that 

product quality and acceptability or both be determined, the SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, 

must be the certifying program. SCI Division inspectors must certify the quality and 

acceptability of the sugar in accordance with SCI Division procedures, which include selecting 

random samples of the sugar, evaluating the samples for conformance with the salient 

characteristics of this CID and other contractual requirements, and documenting the findings on 

official SCI Division score sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when required in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, SCI Division inspectors will examine the sugar for 

conformance to the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) in effect 

on the date of the solicitation.

11. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking must be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

6
A-A-20135E

12. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 10.4 is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, USDA certification must include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of sugar and compliance with requirements in the following areas:

- Processing guidelines (Sec. 5).

- Salient characteristics (Sec. 6).

- Analytical requirements when specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order

(Sec. 7). When USDA analytical testing is specified, SCI Division inspection personnel 

must select samples and submit them to the USDA, Science and Technology Program

(S&TP) laboratory for analysis.

- Packaging requirements (Sec. 11 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order).

13. REFERENCE NOTES.

13.1 USDA services.

13.1.1 USDA certification and Plant Survey. For a USDA certification and plant survey 

contact the Associate Director, Inspection Operations, SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, 

Room 1536 South Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

20250-0240, telephone (202) 720-2482, fax (202) 720-0393, or via E-mail: 

Nathaniel.Taylor@ams.usda.gov.

13.1.2 USDA FDSS, and PSA. For a USDA FDSS and PSA contact the Chief, Auditing 

Services Branch, Inspection Operations, SCI Division, FV, AMS, USDA, Room 1536 South 

Building, STOP 0240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, 

telephone (202) 720-5021, fax (202) 260-8927, or via E-mail: fvaudits@ams.usda.gov.

13.1.3 Analytical testing and technical information contact. For USDA technical 

information on analytical testing, contact a member of the Laboratory Approval and Testing 

Division, S&TP, AMS, USDA, STOP 0272, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

DC 20250-0272, telephone (202) 690-0621 or via E-mail: KerryR.Smith@ams.usda.gov.

13.2 Sources of documents.

13.2.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental documents are as follows:

Copies of the AOAC International OMA may be obtained from: AOAC International, 2275 

Research Boulevard, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850-3250, telephone (301) 924-7077. 

Internet address: http://www.aoac.org for nonmembers and http://www.eoma.aoac.org for 

members and AOAC OMA subscribers. 

7
A-A-20135E

Copies of the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis may be 

obtained from: Verlag Dr. Albert Bartens KG, Lückhoffstr. 16, 14129 Berlin, Germany or 

on the internet at: http://www.bartens.com/.

13.2.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Applicable provisions of the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers are contained in 7 

CFR Part 42, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR Parts 500 to 503, and 

the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 to 199. These 

documents may be purchased from: Superintendent of Documents, New Orders, P.O. Box 

979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover/ NOVUS, 

and American Express) purchases may be made by calling the Superintendent of 

Documents on (866) 512-1800, (202) 512-1800. These documents may also be obtained free 

of charge on the Internet at: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR.

Copies of Guidance for Industry - Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security 

Preventive Measures Guidance is available online from: FDA, Center for Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) on the Internet at: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation

/FoodDefense/ucm083075.htm.

Copies of this CID and the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) are 

available from or provided to: Chief, Standardization Branch, USDA, AMS, FV, SCI 

Division, Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 

22406, telephone (540) 361-1130, Fax (540) 361-1199, via E-mail: CIDS@ams.usda.gov or 

on the Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/CommercialItemDescription.

Copies of this CID are also available online at: ASSIST Online (https://assist.dla.mil) or 

ASSIST Quick Search (http://quicksearch.dla.mil) or from the Standardization Documents 

Order Desk, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services, Building 4D, 700 

Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094. 

Beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc., and any data 

which may improve this document should be sent to: DLA Troop Support, ATTN: DLAFTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 or Fax (215) 737-2963, or via Email: dscpsubsweb@dla.mil.

8
A-A-20135E

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES:

Custodians DOJ - BOP

HHS - FDA

Army - GL USDA - FV

Navy - SA VA - OSS

Air Force - 35

DLA - SS

Review Activities PREPARING ACTIVITY:

Army - MD, QM DLA - SS

Navy - MC

(Project No. 8925-2015-001)

NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this 

document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency 

of the information above using the ASSIST Online database at https://assist.dla.mil.

Non-Discrimination Policy: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and 

applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where 

applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from 

any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the 

Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File an Employment Complaint: If you 

wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) within 45 days of the date of the alleged 

discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. Additional information can be found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html. To File a Program Complaint: If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 

discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a 

letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email 

at program.intake@usda.gov. Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to 

file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in 

Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or 

by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact 

USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

9