Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Recording Information on Form SC-356 (June 2017)

SCI Division Inspection Series

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RECORDING INFORMATION ON FORM SC-356

Record the necessary information for inspection of a lot on the "Application for Inspection and 

Certificate of Sampling" Form SC-356. See the example of the SC-356 on the final pages of this 

instruction for letter codes shown as red letters that align with the fields described below.

a. To be completed by USDA,

b. Name, address and E-mail address of applicant,

c. Name and address of receiver or buyer,

d. Name of party requesting the inspection if other than the applicant,

e. Contract or order number if applicable,

f. Date available for sampling/inspection,

g. Where and to whom the certificate and fee bill are to be mailed,

h. Method of delivery of distribution,

i. Type and name of product,

j. Location of product where sampling is to take place and contact information for that 

location,

k. Type of packing and packaging,

l. Information on previous inspections of the same lot or portions of the lot (if applicable) 

including certificate numbers and area office where certified.

m. Quality requirements of the receiver, if applicable.

n. Additional requirement(s) of inspection request.

o. Applies to “Unofficial Sample(s) Submitted by Applicant” only. Check box to indicate. 

The requesting party should also complete the name and title of requestor and signature of 

requestor blocks on the Certificate of Sampling (reverse side) of the Application for 

Inspection. 

p. Applies to Section 8e Import Product Inspection only.

Enter the following additional information in this section:

• Importer of record,

• Date of arrival,

• Port of entry,

• Name of vessel and voyage number,

• Customs entry number,

• Bill of lading number,

• Broker’s reference number,

• FCE number,

• Port of export,

• Harmonized Tariff Code for the commodity being imported,
SCI Division Inspection Series Recording Information on Form SC-356

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• Container number, and

• Country of origin of the product.

q. Applies to Export Certification only.

Enter the following additional information in this section:

• Port of export,

• Port of entry,

• Vessel name,

• Voyage number,

• Date of freezing,

• Freezing temperature, and

• Storage temperature of the product.

r. Lot number,

Size, 

Description, 

Number and type of containers in each case, and 

Container code marks.
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SCI Division Inspection Series Recording Information on Form SC-356

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