USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

 Farm Service Agency 

 Kansas City Commodity Office 

 P.O. Box 419205, MS 8698 

 Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

IFD4 

INFANT FORMULA

 

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: August 16, 2013
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

IFD4 

INFANT FORMULA

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 INFANT FORMULA REQUIREMENTS_________________________________1

Section 1.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS _________________________________1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS _______________________ 2

Section 2.1 GENERAL __________________________________________________________2

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS________________________2

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS _____________________________________2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS _____________________________________3

Section 2.5 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER__________________________________3
IFD4 Page 1 of 3

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 INFANT FORMULA REQUIREMENTS

A. Quality of Product 

The infant formula shall conform Solicitation requirements and to the 

Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20172C, dated 4/4/2012, which is 

available at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3007481.

B. Production Requirements

(1) The product delivered to the Government shall have been manufactured 

in the United States from ingredients which were produced in the United 

States; except that the vitamin folacin may be of domestic or foreign 

production. Exceptions for any ingredients to be used other than folacin 

shall be approved in writing by the Contracting Officer (CO). 

(2) Contractors shall immediately provide the CO copies of any written 

complaints and summaries of any verbal complaints received by the 

contractor or the manufacturer about the infant formula delivered under 

the contract. The manufacturer shall inform the CO of actions taken in 

response to complaints received.

Section 1.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

All infant formula plants producing infant formula shall comply with all applicable 

requirements of the FDA Infant Formula Act of 1980 and the 1986 Amendments, and the 

current edition of the Infant Formula Program - Import and Domestic, Chapter 21 - Food 

Composition, Standards, Labeling and Economics. The production, transportation, 

processing, handling, sampling, analysis, labeling, and sale of infant formula products 

shall also comply with said regulations.

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to ensure that 

the product meets the commodity specifications. The results shall be evidenced 

by a Certificate of Analysis (COA).

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet 

contract requirements.
IFD4 Page 2 of 3

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials requirements used 

under this contract. 

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at the 

time of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered has a 

history of successful distribution and use in domestic commercial channels and is 

sold on the commercial market with an established level of consumer acceptance.

B. Container and packaging requirements are those customarily used in the current 

commercial shipping practices and shall comply with: 

(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4. 

(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be 

printed on the principal display panel of the food label. 

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be shown on 

the commercial bill of lading.

(4) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe stacking 

height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation with the 

shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe stacking height.

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all commerciallabeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD 

DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.”

(6) Powder infant formula shall include a measuring scoop and shall be 

equipped with a plastic lid for reclosure after opening. 

(7) Cans of infant formula shall be free of excessive dents and distortions, 

free of rust, and other effects of improper storage.

C. A company name or brand name shall be shown on all shipping containers. 

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the requirements of the 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe contact with the packaged product. 

The contractor shall obtain and maintain documentation from the container or 

packaging material manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging 

materials used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s 

regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as required in the 

Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3. 
IFD4 Page 3 of 3

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to: 

USDA/FSA/DACO

Room 5755 – South Bldg, STOP 0551 

1400 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, DC 20250-0551 

ATTN: Packaging

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from a foreign 

country and/or the package and container is manufactured in a foreign country, 

the package and container SHALL NOT display country of origin labeling. 

Phrases similar to but not inclusive of, “Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or 

“Product of [Name of Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited. 

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of packaged 

products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped). 

B. Pallets shall be:

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the 

packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage. 

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners 

or slats.

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products. 

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 50 

percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load. 

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping 

containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the 

stretch wrap.

D. Pallet loads shall be:

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping 

containers overhang the edges of pallets.

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a 

manner that prevents shifting during transit.

Section 2.5 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER

A lot code or official inspection certificate number shall be legibly marked on all primary 

shipping materials. Contractors may use any type of lot coding system provided a unique 

code is used to identify each lot under a contract. When requested contractors shall 

provide to the Government an explanation of the lot coding system utilized.