United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9180.17 January 4, 2011

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: FMD PPMAB

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INSPECTION OF EXPORT WHEAT LOTS FOR CANADA THISTLE SEED

Contents

INSPECTION OF EXPORT WHEAT LOTS FOR CANADA THISTLE SEED ������������������������1

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

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

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

4. PROCEDURE�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. QUESTIONS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Directive 9180.17 January 4, 2011

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive establishes procedures for examining export wheat shipments to 

Argentina and Korea for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) seeds

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive replaces Directive 9180.17, dated 7/20/04. This directive is revised 

include inspection procedures for containerized export wheat shipments and to make

other minor editorial changes

3. POLICY

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), a program of the Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS), will assist the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in 

the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for wheat shipments to Argentina and Korea 

by examining these shipments for thistle-like seeds. Official personnel will notify APHIS 

if thistle-like seeds are detected so APHIS may positively identify suspect seed before 

issuing a phytosanitary certificate since these countries prohibit the importation of 

Canada thistle seed

4. PROCEDURE

a. Basis of Determination. The analysis of Canada thistle seed is made on the sam

basis as the grading factors. For vessels, analyze each sublot for the presence

of thistle-like seeds based on a 1,000-gram sample (sample as a whole). For

container shipments; if the containers are inspected on an individual (per 

container) grade basis, the basis of determination for the presence of thistle-like 

seeds is a 1,000-gram sample (sample as a whole). If the containers are graded

on a composite basis, the 1,000-gram sample (sample as a whole) composite 

sample for the containers is used for the analysis of Canada thistle seed

Detecting Thistle-Like Seed. Canada thistle seed is much smaller than a wheat

kernel and is easily removed from the analytical sample by using a dockage tester 

and hand sieves. Check the dockage and the fine material removed with a .064 x 

3/8 oblong-hole sieve from the dockage-free sample to facilitate the detection of 

thistle-like seeds
FGIS Directive 9180.17 January 4, 2011

Page 3

b. Identifying Thistle-Like Seeds. The following photographs depict the relative size 

Canada thistle to wheat and compares Canada thistle to Bull thistle (similar in size 

and appearance)

Inspection for thistle seed must also include a search for seeds contained in the

flowering part of the plant. This material is usually removed as part of dockage.

c. Reporting Result

(1) Ship Sublots

(a) If a sublot sample does not contain any thistle-like seeds, record 

“Canada thistle seed – None found” in the “Remarks” section of the 

inspection log or work record

Complete an “Insects in Grain Report” Form FGIS-921-2 with all 

pertinent information and in the “Remarks” section record “Canada 

thistle-seed – None found”

 (b) If a sublot sample contains one or more suspect thistle-like seeds that 

 are similar to Canada thistle seeds:

1 Record the number of suspect seeds in the “Remarks” section of 

the inspection log or work record along with who was notified and 

when
FGIS Directive 9180.17 January 4, 2011

Page 4

2 Notify the exporter of the number of suspected seeds detected

3 Notify the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Seed Regulatory 

and Testing Branch at 704-810-8870. Overnight the suspect seeds

to the following address for final determination:

Chief

USDA, AMS

Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch

801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C

Gastonia, NC 28054-2193

4 Complete an “Insects in the Grain Report” Form FGIS- 921-2 

detailing all information involving the sublot sample, forward a copy 

of the FGIS-921-2 along with the mailed sample

5 Field office/federal-state managers and managers of official service

providers will coordinate the efficient transfer of information/suspect 

seed results with the local APHIS/Plant Protection and Quarantine 

(PPQ) office and grain facility.

(2) Containerized Shipments

(a) If a containerized shipment sample, or a containerized shipment 

component sample does not contain any thistle-like seeds, record 

“Canada thistle seed – None found” in the “Remarks” section of the 

inspection log or work record

 Complete an “Insects in the Grain Report” Form FGIS-921-2 with all 

pertinent information and in the “Remarks” section record “Canada 

thistle-seed- None found”

(b) If a containerized shipment sample, or a containerized shipment 

component sample contains one or more suspect thistle like seeds that 

are similar to Canada thistle seeds:

1 Record the number of suspect seeds in the “Remarks” section of 

the inspection log or work record along with who was notified and 

when

2 Notify the exporter of the number of suspected seeds detected

3 Notify the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Seed Regulatory 

and Testing Branch at 704-810-8870. Overnight the suspect seeds

to the following address for final determination:
FGIS Directive 9180.17 January 4, 2011

Page 5

Chief

USDA, AMS

Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch

801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C

Gastonia, NC 28054-2193

4 Complete an “Insects in the Grain Report” Form FGIS- 921-2 

detailing all information involving the sublot sample, forward a copy 

of the FGIS-921-2 along with the mailed sample

5 Field office/federal-state managers and managers of official service

providers will coordinate the efficient transfer of information/suspect 

seed results with the local APHIS/Plant Protection and Quarantine 

(PPQ) office and grain facility.

PPQ will not issue a federal phytosanitary certificate for any lot that has not had the 

Canada thistle seeds removed

5. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions regarding this procedure to the Policies, Procedures, and Market

Analysis Branch at (202) 720-0228