An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Agricultural

Marketing

Service 

Federal Grain Inspection 

Service

Field Management 

Division 

1400 Independence Ave. 

SW, Stop 3630

Washington, D.C. 20250

Voice (202) 720-0228

Fax (202) 690-3951

Hotline 1-800-998-3447

Reference #244 February 10, 2012

TO: FGIS POLICY BULLETIN BOARD

FROM: Robert Lijewski, Director 

 Field Management Division 

SUBJECT: Mycotoxin Reinspection Options for Unit Trains

ORIGINATING OFFICE: Policies, Procedures, and Market Analysis Branch

1. PURPOSE

This memorandum clarifies FGIS’s policy on disposition options for 

unit train composites and sublets exceeding contractual limits for 

mycotoxins ( e.g., aflatoxin, vomitoxin). 

2. BACKGROUND

Under FGIS instructions for unit train loading, an applicant can choose 

to have each car graded as an individual lot, load the unit train using 

the CuSum plan, use composite sample analysis, or use average 

composite analysis to achieve the desired quality. Combined lot 

procedures can be used to further combine multiple carriers on a 

single certificate. If the applicant requests multiple railcars on a single 

certificate, the applicant has several options for certification. These 

options also apply to mycotoxin testing, which was not specifically 

addressed in previous instructions.

3. POLICY

This policy applies to situations where an applicant elects to load a 

unit train using options outlined in Policy Bulletin Reference #238 

(using CuSum plan, composite sample analysis, or average composite 

analysis) and encounters an unacceptable my co toxin result. If a 

sublot or composite exceeds the contract limits for a mycotoxin, the 

applicant may either request a reinspection or remove the out-oftolerance grain from the lot. Mycotoxin reinspections on unit train 

sublot or composite material portions are based on the file sample of 

the sublet/composite sample.
Page 2

If the applicant elects to remove the material portion sub lot or offgrade composite from the unit train lot, the composite/sublot railcars 

will become eligible to be sampled and graded individually, or as 

a new lot, including using a different scope than by which it was 

originally loaded. For example: an applicant is loading a 75-car unit 

train of U.S. No. 2 0/B Yellow Com on a diverter type mechanical 

sampler using average composite procedures, and 5-car composites 

on aflatoxin (max 20 ppb ), and midway through the train, an aflatoxin 

composite exceeds 20 ppb. The applicant may remove that composite 

from the unit train and request a new sample to be taken from the 

5-cars on the basis of a probe sample. Please see the attached 

Questions and Answers for further information.

4. FILING INSTRUCTIONS

File a copy of this memo with the Grain Inspection Handbook, Book III, 

Chapter I, Inspection of Unit Trains, Shiplots, and Lash Barges, until 

the handbook is revised to include this change. Field office managers 

please ensure that a copy of this memorandum is provided to official 

agencies operating within their circuit. 

5. QUESTIONS 

Direct any questions concerning this policy to 

AMS - FGIS Policies Procedures Market Analysis Branch.