United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Program Notice FGIS-PN-22-05 May 26, 2022

Distribution: FGIS, OSP Originating Office: TSDCover

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.

APPROVAL OF NEW LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) LAMPS 

Contents

APPROVAL OF NEW LIGHT EMMTTING DIODE (LED) LAMPS ����������������������������������������1

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

2.BACKGROUND �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

3.LAMP SPECIFICATIONS AND ADDITONAL INSTRUCTIONS ����������������������������������������

4.EFFECTIVE DATE ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5.FILING INSTRUCTIONS �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

6.QUESTIONS �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Notice PN-22-05 May 26, 2022

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This program notice announces that the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) has 

approved the NorthLuxTM 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio LED lamp for official 

use in inspection of all grains and commodities listed under the United States Grain 

Standards Act (USGSA) and the Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA) of 1946

2. BACKGROUND

The true color of a material or substance is best determined under natural daylight 

conditions, such as north-sky light on a semi-overcast day, or under artificial light in a 

room with muted tones. Since it is impossible to consistently maintain such lighting in

a laboratory setting, the FGIS requires artificial illumination that adequately simulates 

north-sky daylight in all grading laboratories to support grading accuracy

3. LAMP SPECIFICATIONS AND ADDITONAL INSTRUCTIONS

Approved Lamp information:

NorthLuxTM 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio 

Product Number: 4024.6

Product Size: T8

Color Temperature: 6500°K

Color Rendering Index: 95

Supplier: Waveform Lighting

 4400 NE 77th Avenue Suite 275

 Vancouver, Washington 98662

 https://www.waveformlighting.co

Additional LED lamp specifications

Table 1. LED Emitter Specifications

Lamp Radiation Specifications

1800 Lumens

Color Rendering Index > 95

Color Temperature 6500 °K

Rated Average Life > 50,000 Hours

Additional Instructions:

a. Fixtures over grading surfaces must contain either all approved fluorescent lamps 

or all approved LED lamps. A mixture of the technologies within a lighting fixture or 

bank of lighting is not allowed
FGIS Notice PN-22-05 May 26, 2022

Page 3

b. The height of fixtures above the grading surface may need adjustment to obtain 

the required light intensity reading of between 150 and 200 foot-candles (optimum 

180 foot-candles). When necessary, this adjustment must be made and verified to 

result in an appropriate light intensity for grading before work begins

c. For an updated list of approved lighting for official use in grain inspections, review

the List of Approved Equipment located at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/fgis/standardization/approved-equipm

4. EFFECTIVE DATE 

This program notice is effective upon receipt.

5. FILING INSTRUCTIONS

File a copy of this program notice with the Equipment Handbook. The handbook

will be revised later to include these changes. The List of Approved Equipment will

be updated. Field office managers must ensure that a copy of this memorandum is 

available to official agencies operating within their circuit.

6. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions concerning this program notice to the Inspection Instrumentation

Branch at (816) 702-3800