United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9180.59 April 8, 2014

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.

COMPOSITE SAMPLE ANALYSIS FOR COMBINED LAND CARRIER INSPECTIONS

Contents

COMPOSITE SAMPLE ANALYSIS FOR COMBINED LAND CARRIER INSPECTIONS��������1

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

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

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

4. POLICY ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. QUESTIONS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Directive 9180.59 April 28, 2014

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive transmits enhanced guidelines for compositing samples from multiple land 

carriers (e.g., railcars, containers) into a single sample for inspection analysis whe

requested. Official personnel may combine samples from a maximum of 5 railcars, 15 

trucks, or 20 containers of bulk shipments of grain or pulses (beans, peas, or lentils) into 

one sample for a single lot grade

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive revises the existing directive of the same number and name, dated 

11/20/06, to specify the maximum number of containers which may be combined for a 

single lot grade

3. BACKGROUND

Composite sample analysis for railcars (maximum five cars per sample) was permitted 

for aflatoxin determinations in 1990. In response to market demands for grain exports 

to Mexico, FGIS Program Bulletin 95.7, dated 5/17/95, provided for the combining of 5 

export railcars maximum, or 15 export trucklots maximum, into one composite sample 

for single certification of all requested quality information.

The surge in containerized cargo shipments changed marketing strategies for U.

shippers and led to increased “booking” (a grouping of containers in a contract) sizes for 

containerized shipments. FGIS policy remained silent on limiting number of containers 

to accommodate the contractual requirements between the shippers and receivers of 

containerized shipments. However, in an effort to promote uniformity and consistency, 

FGIS has now limited the number of containers that can be combined to form a single 

lot

4. POLICY

Upon request by the applicant for service, official personnel may combine samples from 

a maximum of 5 railcars or 15 trucks or 20 containers into one sample for analysis

Unlike the CuSum plan, it is not necessary to sample the carriers comprising the 

requested composite sample in the order they were loaded

To form a composite sample from multiple carriers, official personnel must sample each 

individual carrier and examine the sample for odor, insects, and condition. Samples 

representing carriers containing grain that has an odor, or is out of condition, may not be 

composited with other samples to form a composite sample
FGIS Directive 9180.59 April 28, 2014

Page 3

Samples representing individual carriers that contain insects, but are not “infested” by 

definition in the U.S. Standards for Grain, may be composited with other samples that 

are “OK” for odor and condition to form a composite sample of the lot. For individual 

carriers that meet the definition of “infested”, the shipper has the following options:

a. Remove the “infested” carrier from the unit (e.g., unit train, booking);

b. Include the “infested” carrier in the composite lot and fumigate the “infested” 

carrier; or

c. Include the “infested” carrier in the composite lot, elect not to fumigate the 

“infested” carrier, and receive a grade certificated for the composite lot with the 

special grade “infested”.

If official personnel are recording phytosanitary information on the FGIS 921-2, “Insects 

in Grain Report”, concerning the number and type of insects found in carriers, they must 

indicate on the form if a carrier was fumigated, and provide fumigation information (as 

supplied by the fumigator) in the appropriate section of the form.

Since the checks for odor, insects, and condition are made on the basis of individual 

sample analysis, composite type samples should not be downgraded or designated 

with the special grade “infested”, except as stated in “item c” above, due to any one of 

these factors. If an insect or insects are found in a composite sample do not count them

towards the infested criteria

Certify the results for each group on a single certificate that includes the identity of each 

carrier represented by the composite sample.

Each carrier is considered a unit when recording inspection volumes or applying unit 

fees for billing purposes.

5. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions concerning this directive to Policies, Procedures, and Market 

Analysis Branch, at (202) 720-0228.