USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS 

BOT1 

BULK OIL AND TALLOW 

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS 

Effective Date: 09/01/05 
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS 

BOT1 

BULK OIL AND TALLOW 

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS 

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS_____________________________________ 1

A. Crude Degummed Soybean Oil_________________________________________________________1

B. Fully Refined Soybean Oil ____________________________________________________________1

C. Crude Corn Oil _____________________________________________________________________2

D. Crude Sunflower Seed Oil (including nusun) ______________________________________________3

E. Tallow ____________________________________________________________________________3

Section 1.2 SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS _________________________________________ 4

Section 1.3 WEIGHTS__________________________________________________________ 4
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Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS 

Section 1.1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

A. Crude Degummed Soybean Oil 

1. The quality of the crude degummed soybean oil shall correspond to the 

following specifications described in Rule 103 of the National Oilseed 

Processors Association’s Yearbook & Trading Rules. 

 

2. Physical Requirements: 

Crude Degummed Soybean Oil shall be pure soybean oil, produced from 

fair average quality crude soybean oil from which the major portion of the 

gums naturally present has been removed by hydration and mechanical or 

physical separation. It shall be equal in quality to soybean oil produced 

for domestic consumption. Product which deviates from the specifications 

of this contract shall be rejected. 

3. Analytical Requirements: 

The chemical analysis to determine quality shall include the qualitative 

test for fish oil and marine animal oils and shall be negative. 

Item Max. Min. Method 

Unsaponifiable Matter 1.5% Ca 6a-40 

Free Fatty Acids, as Oleic 0.75% Ca 5a-40 

Moisture, Volatile Matter and 

Insoluble Impurities 0.3% M&V Ca 2d-25 

 Ca 3a-46 

Flash Point 250°F Cc 9c-95 

Phosphorous 0.02% Ca 12-55 

4. Discounts: 

If the product to be delivered by the contractor does not meet the 

analytical requirements above, but falls within the ranges listed below, the 

product may be delivered to the Government, but the purchase price will 

be reduced in accordance with the following schedule of discounts. 

Free Fatty Acids 0.76% - 0.85% 0.2% of contract price 

 0.86% - 0.95% 0.4% of contract price 

 0.96% - 1.05% 0.6% of contract price 

 1.06% - 1.15% 0.9% of contract price 

 1.16% - 1.25% 1.2% of contract price 

Phosphorous .021% 0.2% of contract price 

 .022% 0.4% of contract price 

 .023% 0.6% of contract price 

 .024% 0.9% of contract price 

 .025% 1.2% of contract price 

B. Fully Refined Soybean Oil 
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1. Fully Refined Soybean Oil shall meet the following specifications, as 

described in Rule 103 of the National Oilseed Processors Association’s 

Yearbook & Trading Rules. 

2. Physical Requirements: 

Fully Refined Soybean Oil sold for export shall be pure soybean oil. It 

shall be produced from fair average quality crude soybean oil from which 

essentially all of the free fatty acids and non-oil substances have been 

removed by chemical treatments and by mechanical or physical 

separation. The oil shall be a.) clear and brilliant in appearance at 70-

85°F, b.) free from settlings or foreign matter of any kind, and c.) bland 

and free from rancid, painty, musty, soapy, fishy, metallic, beany, and 

other foreign or undesirable odors and flavors when tested. Product which 

deviates from the specifications of this contract shall be rejected. 

3. Analytical Requirements: 

The chemical analysis to determine quality shall include the qualitative 

test for fish oil and marine animal oils and shall be negative. Preservatives 

(GRAS) are permitted. 

Item Max. Min. Method 

Color, Lovibond 

20 Yellow 

2.0 Red 

 Cc 13b-45 

Free Fatty Acids, as Oleic 0.05% by weight Ca 5a-40 

Peroxide Value 2.0 meq./kgm. Cd 8-53 

Cold Test 5.5 hrs Cc 11-53 

Fat Stability – AOM 

8 hrs35 meq./kgm. 

Cd 12-57 

Moisture + Volatile Matter 0.10% by weight Ca 2d-25 

C. Crude Corn Oil 

1. The oil shall meet the specifications as described in Rule 6.14 of the 

National Institute of Oilseed Products Trading Rules. 

2. Physical Requirements 

The crude corn oil shall be pure and produced only from corn of fair 

average quality. Product which deviates from the specifications of this 

contract shall be rejected. 

3. Analytical Requirements: 

Item Maximum Basis 

Free Fatty Acids, as Oleic 5.0% 3.0% 

Moisture and Impurities 1.0% 0.5% 
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4. Discounts 

A. The free fatty acids, as oleic, shall be discounted 0.5% of the 

contract value for each 1.0% in excess of 3.0%, fractions in 

proportion. 

B. The moisture and impurities shall be discounted 0.1% of the 

contract value for each 0.1% in excess of 0.5%, fractions in 

proportion. 

D. Crude Sunflower Seed Oil (including Nusun) 

1. The quality of the crude sunflower seed oil shall correspond to the 

following specifications contained in the American Fats and Oils 

Association Inc. Rulebook for Vegetable Oils (Export Contract), Rule 14. 

2. Physical Requirements 

The crude sunflower seed oil (including Nusun) shall be pure and 

produced only from sunflower seeds of fair average quality by hydraulic, 

expeller or solvent extraction process. Product which deviates from the 

specifications of this contract shall be rejected. 

3. Analytical Requirements: 

Item Max. Min. Method 

Flash Point 250OF Cc 9b-55 

Halphen Test Negative 

Saponification Value 194 188 

Unsaponifiable 1.3% 

Free Fatty Acid, as Oleic 3.0% Basis 2.0% 

Moisture and Volatile Matter 0.5% Ca 2d-25 

Insoluble Impurities 0.3% Ca 3-46 

Color (in 5 1⁄4 inch cell or tube), 

Bleached, 

After Refining 

2.5 Red Cc 13b-45 

Cc 8g-52 

Ca 9a-52 

Linolenic Acid 1.0% 

Oleic Acid (as % of TFA) 

(applicable for Nusun only) 

75% 55% 

4. Discounts. Free Fatty Acid, as Oleic, shall be discounted 0.1% of the 

contract value for each 0.1% of free fatty acid in excess of 2.0%; fractions 

in proportion. 

E. Tallow 

1. The quality of the tallow shall correspond to the specifications contained 

in Rule 7 of the Rules of the American Fats and Oils Association (AFOA) 

for animal tallow and grease (export contract), or any modifications 
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agreed to, that are in effect on the date the contract is entered into. The 

grade and commodity specifications shall be specified in the solicitation. 

2. Physical Requirements 

The bulk tallow shall contain only fluids and fatty acids natural to the 

product except for such other substances in such amounts as might occur 

unavoidably in accordance with industry practice. Commodities are to be 

free from sludge and tank bottoms. 

3. Deviations 

All the tolerances and discounts as provided for in AFOA rules 9, 10, and 

11 will apply. 

Section 1.2 SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS

A. Upon receipt of the ten day preadvice, or at KCCO’s request, the contractor shall 

furnish a statement showing the name and address of the persons, firms or agency 

designated in the following paragraph that will perform the sampling, analysis and 

surveying service, and the load berth(s). 

B. The drawing of samples and laboratory analysis will be performed by independent 

surveyor(s) and commercial chemist(s) at contractor’s expense. When utilizing 

the services of a private, independently owned and operated laboratory the 

following applies: 

C. The samples shall be drawn from each ship’s tank(s). When more than one (1) 

shipper supplies material for a commingled shipment, a representative sample of 

each shipper’s material shall be secured, prior to commingling. 

D. All samples shall be obtained in accordance with American Oil Chemists’ Society 

Method C 1-47. 

E. The chemical analysis by commercial chemist(s) shall be performed under 

methods prescribed in the Trading Rules of the National Soybean Processors 

Association or the American Fats and Oils Associations, as applicable. 

Section 1.3 WEIGHTS

Determination of weight shall be by an independent surveyor mutually agreeable to the 

Government and the contractor. The weight shall be determined at the time of loading 

onboard the vessel. Before such loading, each tank into which the bulk commodity is to 

be loaded shall be examined by such independent surveyor to determine that the tank(s) 

are clean and otherwise suitable for receipt and carriage of the bulk commodity.