United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9180.16 July 22, 1999

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.

INSPECTION OF EXPORT LOTS OF SOYBEANS FOR RAGWEED SEEDS

Contents

INSPECTION OF EXPORT LOTS OF SOYBEANS FOR RAGWEED SEEDS ����������������1

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

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

3. REQUEST FOR SERVICE ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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

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

6. QUESTIONS �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Directive 9180.16 July 22, 1999

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive establishes procedures for examining export soybean shipments to 

Russia for common ragweed seeds (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and giant ragweed 

seeds (Ambrosia trifida L.). The analysis of this inspection factor is provided under the 

authority of the U.S. Grain Standards Act, as amend

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Russian plant quarantine regulations prohibit the entry of certain lots of soybeans that

contain more than 0.5 percent of common and giant ragweed see

3. REQUEST FOR SERVICE

The inspection of export lots for ragweed seeds is provided by the Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) and delegated States as a qualitative examination. The examination may

only be performed on sublot samples. Interested parties wishing to receive ragweed

inspections should contact their local AMS field office or State inspection office. 

Please note that this determination is not required for most export shipments; ragweed 

inspections shall only be provided upon request

4. PROCEDURE

For each sublot sample, official inspection personnel shall perform a cursory check on 

the 1,000-gram work portion for ragweed seed. For identification purposes, refer to the

official line print “Common and Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia) Seed.”

a. If a sublot sample does not appear to contain an appreciable number of ragweed

seeds (e.g., less than 100), show less than or equal to 0.5 precent (<0.5 perce

on the inspection log

b. If a sample appears to contain a significant number of ragweed seeds (e.g. 100 or 

more) perform a detailed analysis on the sample. Determine the percentage of

ragweed seeds on the basis of the 125-gram portion that is used for determination 

of foreign material

(1) If the sublot sample is found to contain an amount less than or equal to 0.

percent ragweed seed, show “(<0.5)” on the inspection log.

(2) If the sample is found to contain 0.6 percent or more ragweed seeds, show

the percent of ragweed seeds on the inspection log to the nearest tenth 

percent. Immediately notify the applicant for inspectio
FGIS Directive 9180.16 July 22, 1999

Page 3

5. CERTIFICATION

Show one of the following statements on the inspection certificate or on letterhead 

paper. The wording of these statements may be modified provided the meaning is not 

altered and the appropriate FGIS field office or federal-state office manager approves 

the statements

a. If no sublot was found to contain 0.6 percent or more of ragweed seeds, show th

following statement in the Remarks section of the export inspection certificate. 

“This lot of soybeans was examined and found to contain 0.5 percent or less of 

ragweed seeds.”

b. If one or more sublots were found to contain 0.6 percent or more of ragwee

seeds, show the following statement in the Remarks section of the export 

inspection certificate: 

“Approximately (number of bushels/tons) of soybeans were found to contain 0.6 

percent or more of ragweed seeds.”

6. QUESTIONS

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

Market Analysis Branch (PPMAB)