Agricultural Marketing Service

Commodity Procurement Program

P.O. Box 419205, MS 8698

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

PBD6

PACKAGED BUTTER

FOR USE IN 

DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: February 13, 2018

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
BFM6 Page 1 of 6

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

PBD5 

PACKAGED BUTTER

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

I. COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................... 1

1.1 COMMODITIES..............................................................................................................................1

1.2 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS ....................................................................................................2

1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE............................................................................................................3

II.PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS.............................................................................................................. 3

2.1 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS ..................................................................................................3

2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS............................................................................................4

2.3 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENT ..............................................................................................4

2.4 MONTH/YEAR OF PACK .........................................................................................................5

2.5 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER......................................................................................5

2.6 STATE AND PLANT NUMBER ................................................................................................ 5
BFM6 Page 2 of 6

I. COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Commodity Specifications

(1) Salted Butter. The productshall:

(a) be U.S. Grade A or higher and conform to the UnitedStates 

Standards for Grades of Butter which is available at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/Butter.pdf.

(b) not contain starter distillate ordiacetyle.

(c) be processed from fresh cream. The cream shall not have been 

neutralized and shall have an acid degree value (ADV) of 1.5or 

less.

(d) be one solid piece in each container and the surface shall be smoothly 

finished. The product will be subject to a keeping quality test of seven 

days incubation at 72 degrees F to be performed by Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS) at time of grading.

(2) Light Butter shall comply with the USDA Specifications for LightButter 

which is available at: Dairy Grading, Certification and Verification

B. Production Requirements

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

packaged in the United States from milk that was produced in the United 

States and not previously owned by the Government, and in plants that have 

been inspected and approved by the Dairy Grading Branch, Dairy Programs, 

AMS.

(2) The product shall be not more than 60 days old on the date of delivery to the 

Government.

(3) At the time of delivery to the Government, the product shall have a 

temperature not less than 35 degrees F and not greater than 40 degrees F.

C. Liability

The contractor shall be liable for losses for downgrades to Grade B due to a whey flavor 

or other latent defects which are discovered within 180 days of the date of delivery to 

the Government.

D. Net Weight Requirements

1. The product shall be packaged with 1-pound solid prints, 1/4-pound solid 

prints, patties, or 25 kilograms, whichever is stated in the solicitation.

2. Shipping containers shall be packed with 36/1-pound prints, 36 1/4-pound 

cartons (4 1/4- pound prints per carton), 18 1/4-pound cartons (4 1/4-pound 

prints per carton), 6/5-pound units of patties, or 25 kilogramcontainers.

3. Individual shipping containers packedwith:
BFM6 Page 3 of 6

(1) 36/1-pound prints or 36 1/4-pound cartons shall weigh not lessthan

35.75 net pounds;

(2) 18 1/4-pound cartons shall weigh not less than 17.75 netpounds;

(3) 6/5-pound units of patties shall weigh not less than 29.75 net pounds;

(4) 25 kilograms shall weigh not less than 55.115 net pounds.

4. The total net weight of all shipping containers test weighed by AMS 

within a lot shall not vary more than one-tenth (0.1) of one percent under 

the aggregate marked net weight of all shipping containers within the lot.

5. E. Discounts for Test WeightShortages

(1) Any lot with test weight shortage in excess of one-tenth (0.1) of one 

percent, but not more than one (1.0) percent, under the marked net weight 

of all shipping containers within the lot, shall be accepted by the 

Government in accordance with the discounts in the table below.

Discounts for Test Weight Shortage Discount Per Lot

Greater than 0.1% Up to and Including 0.2% $25.00

Greater than 0.2% Up to and Including 0.3% $50.00

Greater than 0.3% Up to and Including 0.4% $75.00

Greater than 0.4% Up to and Including 0.5% $110.00

Greater than 0.5% Up to and Including 0.6% $145.00

Greater than 0.6% Up to and Including 0.7% $180.00

Greater than 0.7% Up to and Including 0.8% $230.00

Greater than 0.8% Up to and Including 0.9% $280.00

Greater than 0.9% Up to and Including 1.0% $330.00

(2) Any lot with test weight shortages in excess of one (1.0) percent of the 

aggregate marked net weight of all shipping containers within the lot shall 

be rejected or, at the discretion of the contracting officer, accepted at 

discounts to be determined by theGovernment.

(3) In addition to the discounts specified above, individual shipping 

containers included in the sample test weighed in a lot which do not meet 

the minimum net weight requirements as specified herein shall result in 

discounts by the Government of $10.00 for the first shipping container and

$5.00 for each additional shipping container.

(4) An amendment shall not be required to reduce the contract quantityto 

reflect the aggregate of test weightshortages.

1.2 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS

“Kosher Only” products will be identified in the solicitation. Offerors shall not bid on these 

products unless they are properly certified to produce Kosher products. If awarded a contract, 

contractors shall:

(1) Comply with applicable dietary (Kosher) laws as established by the “613 Council 

of Kashruth,” and

(2) Contact the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York at 646-472-5365. A 

rabbinic supervisor will be sent to visit the plant to certify compliancewith the
BFM6 Page 4 of 6

applicable dietary (Kosher) laws.

1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

AMS shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to ensure that the product meets the 

commodity specifications. The quality, date(s) of manufacture, and weight will be evidenced by 

grading certificates issued by AMS.

If the product fails to meet contract specification on one or more factors on the first inspection, 

the contractor may arrange with AMS for subsequent inspections. The inspections may be 

conducted at origin or a subsequent point of delivery if the provisions of 7 CFR 58.22 through

58.32 issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, with respect to retest, 

appeal, and new inspections can be met. At the option of the contractor, rejected lots may be 

reworked including correcting packaging deficiencies and removing unsatisfactory containers, 

and such reworked lots may be resubmitted for AMS inspection. When subsequent inspections 

are made, the results of the last inspection shall be used as the basis of payment under the 

contract.

Examination and certification by AMS does not relieve the contractor of its responsibility to 

deliver the product which complies with all contractual and specification requirements.

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

requirements.

The butter delivered to the Government shall have been manufactured in the United States in plants 

that were inspected and approved by the Dairy Grading Branch, Dairy Programs Division, 

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The USDA AMS plant approval code must match the 

appropriate product or operation code for the commodity being manufactured.

II. PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

2.1 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only (including USDAApproved Grade Label packaging) 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 consumeracceptance.

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

shipping practices and shall complywith:

(1) Unitization requirements in Section2.3.

(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 themaximum safe stacking
BFM6 Page 5 of 6

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 

commercial- labeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR 

USDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.”

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

2.2 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.

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

specialist identified as responsible for this product. A list of AMS Commodity 

Procurement Staff assignments and contact info can be found at:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/AMS%20Commodity%20P

rocurement%20Staff%20Contact%20List.pdf

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 strictlyprohibited.

2.3 UNITIZATIONREQUIREMENT

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 foodproducts.
BFM6 Page 6 of 6

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 thatshipping 

containers overhang the edges of pallets.

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

manner that prevents shifting during transit.

E. USDA does not participate in a pallet exchange program. 

2.4 MONTH/YEAR OF PACK

A. The month/year of pack shall be shown on all shipping containers.

B. A date fill code may be applied in addition to, but not in lieu of, themonth/year 

of pack.

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.

2.6 STATE AND PLANT NUMBER

The State and plant number shall be printed on each shipping container. The State and plant 

number is assigned by the State and reported by AMS in “Dairy Plants Surveyed and 

Approved for USDA Grading Service.”