United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9070.6 September 25, 2023

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: QACD 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and 

policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity 

(including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income 

derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, 

in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 

complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, 

large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 

Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, 

found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed 

to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 

form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) 

fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF

THE U. S. GRAIN STANDARDS ACT AND

THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ACT OF 1946

Contents

REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1

THE U. S. GRAIN STANDARDS ACT AND ������������������������������������������������������������������������

THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ACT OF 1946�����������������������������������������������������������������1

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

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

3. POLICY �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

4. REPORTING PROGRAM VIOLATIONS �������������������������������������������������������������������������

5.REPORTING NON-PROGRAM MATTERS �������������������������������������������������������������������������

6.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Attachment �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6
FGIS Directive 9070.6 September 25, 2023

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive establishes procedures for reporting violations of provisions in the U.

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

the regulations and instructions thereunder. These programs are administered by

the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), a program area within the Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS)

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive supersedes FGIS Program Directive 9070.6, dated 7-19-2023. Thi

directive reflects updated roles and responsibilities of Official Service Provider 

management

3. POLICY

In accordance with Departmental Regulation 1700-2, “OIG Organization and 

Procedures,” dated January 13, 2023, agency heads are responsible for action that 

ensures the enforcement of laws, Department regulations, and agency instructions

In addition, agency heads are responsible for issuing guidelines requiring that known 

or suspected violations of laws or regulations are expeditiously reported to OIG

Moreover, section 800.185(g) of the regulations under the USGSA and section 868.8 o

the regulations under the AMA require that violations of existing statutes, regulations, 

or instructions be promptly reported. Reports under this directive are covered under

USDA’s privacy policy which can be found at: https://www.usda.gov/privacy-poli

4. REPORTING PROGRAM VIOLATIONS

a. Program Activities. Violations pertaining to USGSA or AMA related progra

matters (e.g., handling, sampling, grading, weighing, testing, etc.) shall be report

as follows:

(1) Official agency personnel, field office employees, and warehouse samplers

shall immediately report USGSA or AMA violations to their supervisor

Licensees or authorized personnel who know or suspect their supervisor(s) 

of violations or believe that their supervisor(s) will suppress or ignore their 

violation report, shall report the violation to the Quality Assurance and 

Compliance Division (QACD) by:

(a) Calling TOLL-FREE at 1-800-998-FGIS (3447) or (202) 720-0228. Th

toll-free number can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or;

(b) Reporting the violation online at https:

www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/us-grain-standards-act/report

(2) Official agency managers (OMA) who receive reports or have knowledge 

about violations shall immediately notify the FGIS supervising field office.
FGIS Directive 9070.6 September 25, 2023

Page 3

(3) FGIS field office managers and headquarters personnel shall report violations

to QACD

b. Responsibilitie

(1) Any individual reporting a violation shall provide details concerning the 

violation(s). So far as practicable, the information shall include such of the

following items as may be applicable:

(a) The name and address of each person and of the agent, if any, 

representing such person in the transaction involved;

(b) Place where the alleged violation occurred;

(c) Quantity and quality or grade of each kind of product or article involved;

(d) Date of alleged violation;

(e) Car initial and number, if carlot;

(f) Shipping and destination points;

(g) If a sale, the date, sale price, and amount actually received;

(h) If a consignment, the date, reported proceeds, gross, net;

(i) Amount of damage claimed, if any;

(j) statement of other material facts, including terms of contract; and

(k) So far as practicable, true copies of all available papers relating to 

the transaction complained about, including shipping documents, letters, 

telegrams, invoices, manifests, inspection certificates, accounts of sales 

and any special contracts or agreements

(2) FGIS field office managers shall:

(a) Report USGSA and/or AMA violation(s) to the QACD

(b) Advise official personnel that reported incidences are covered under the 

department’s privacy policy

(c) Ensure official personnel and FGIS licensed personnel are aware 

the form FGIS-110, “Reporting Alleged or Suspected Bribery Attempts 

to the Office of Inspector General,” is available at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/fgis-
FGIS Directive 9070.6 September 25, 2023

Page 4

(d) Ensure OAMs, official personnel, and licensed personnel are trained on

and aware of their reporting responsibilities regarding violations as 

outlined in this directive as well as the FGIS violations webpage: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/us-grain-standards-a

reporting

(3) Official Agency Managers shall:

(a) Report USGSA and/or AMA violation(s) to their supervising field office.

(b) Ensure official personnel are aware form FGIS-110, “Reporting Alleged

or Suspected Bribery Attempts to the Office of Inspector General,” is 

available at https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/fgis-

(c) Ensure official personnel are trained on and aware of their reporting 

responsibilities regarding violations as outlined in this directive as well as

on the FGIS violations webpage: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/us-grain-standards-a

reporting

(4) Licensed official personnel and field office employees.

(a) Report violations to program activities, bribes, assaults, and other 

incidences that could create the appearance of a loss of impartiality in 

accordance with this directive

5. REPORTING NON-PROGRAM MATTERS

a. Reporting non-program activities to the USDA Office of the Inspector General 

(OIG) include but not limited to bribes, assaults, waste, fraud, and abuse. For more

information please visit https://usdaoig.oversight.gov.  Reporting should be 

follows:

(1) Bribes: FGIS employees and official agency personnel who are offered a 

bribe or believe that a bribe was offered to, solicited by, or accepted by 

another FGIS or official agency employee shall report this information along 

with threats, assaults, fraud, waste, and abuse directly to the USDA OIG 

Bribery/Assault Line (800) 424-9121 or https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotli

and follow OIG’s instruction on the matter
FGIS Directive 9070.6 September 25, 2023

Page 5

(2) Assaults. An assault includes any crime threatened or committed agains

official personnel in connection to his, her, or their performance of official 

duties in accordance with provisions set forth in the USGSA or AMA. Official 

agency personnel and field office employees shall report such incidents to 

their local law enforcement agency and to the appropriate OIG Special 

Agent-In-Charge (see attachment) for the geographical area where the 

offense took place.

(a) Assaults at a USDA facility should also be reported to Federal Protective 

Services or general building security

6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Resources and additional information may be found at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/us-grain-standards-act/report

Contact information: FGIS Quality Assurance and Compliance Division; 

FGISQACD@usda.go
FGIS Directive 9070.6 September 25, 2023

Page 6

Attachment

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL HOTLINE

(800) 424-9121 (Toll-Free)

(202) 690-1622 Washington, D.

(202) 690-1202 (TDD) Telecommunications Device for the Deaf

usda_hotline@oig.usda.go  Electronic Ma

https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline Webpa

OIG REGIONAL OFFICES

REGION & AREA COVERED ADDRESS/TELEPHONE

Midwest: Illinois (northern and central judicial 

districts), Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, 

North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and 

Wisconsin

111 N. Canal Street Suite 32

Chicago, IL 60606-7296

Main Number: (312) 353-1358

Fax Number: (312) 353-8963

Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, District of 

Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, 

and West Virginia

26 Federal Plaza Room 1409

New York, NY 10278-0004

Main Number: (212) 264-8400

Fax Number: (212) 264-8416

Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 

Illinois (southern judicial district), Kentucky, 

North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, 

Tennessee, and the Virgin Islands

401 W. Peachtree Street NW Room 2329

Atlanta, GA 30308 

Main Number: (404) 730-3170 

Fax Number: (404) 730-3181

Southwest: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, 

Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, 

Oklahoma, and Texas

101 South Main Room 311

Temple, TX 76501

Main Number: (254) 743-6535

Fax Number: (254) 298-1358

Western: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, 

Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, 

Territory of Guam, Trust Territories of the 

Pacific, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

1333 Broadway Suite 400

Oakland, CA 94612

Main Number: (510) 208-6860

Fax Number: (510) 208-3751