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Domestic Origin Verification (DOV)

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Purpose

This document provides the requirements of a Domestic Origin Verification (DOV) 

Audit Program. The DOV program is an audit-based program to verify contractors', 

subcontractors', suppliers', or processors' procedures for ensuring that fruits, nuts, and 

vegetables sold to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) are of 100 percent U.S. origin. The DOV program is a fee-for-service 

program open to all suppliers and their subcontractors. Contractors may choose the DOV 

program in place of the document trace-back otherwise required for each contract to 

verify compliance with domestic origin requirements. The USDA, AMS, Fruit and 

Vegetable Programs (FV), Commodity Procurement Division (CPD) announcements and 

invitations define the domestic origin requirements.

Scope

DOV Specific Requirements apply to applicants who voluntarily request participation in 

the DOV program. Applicants must meet all the applicable requirements outlined in this 

document to participate in the DOV program. 

Due to the nature of an applicant’s operation or its products, specific requirements may 

be considered for exclusion. The applicant shall explain why specific requirements 

should be excluded with respect to their operation and DOV program. Exclusions are 

limited to requirements in this document within Sections 3.2.a, 3.2.b, and 4.2. Exclusions 

could also apply to either Sections 2.0.a or 2.0.b, not both. Exclusions shall not affect the 

applicant’s ability to provide conforming components or products that meet the domestic 

origin requirements in the USDA, AMS, FV, CPD announcements and invitations. 

References

USDA, AMS FV, CPD announcement and invitations 

DOV Program General Policies and Procedures 

DOV Quick Guide 

Definitions

See DOV Glossary of Terms

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1.0 General Program Requirements

Applicants shall submit a documented program that addresses the following DOV 

Specific Requirements:

a. General Requirements - Establishing, documenting, implementing, and 

maintaining its DOV procedures and processes; 

b. Requirements for Receiving or Purchasing Components or Products - 

Selecting growers and suppliers based on their ability to provide 

components or products that are of domestic origin; 

c. Identification and Verification Method - Identifying each end item 

component or product and describing the method for documenting that it 

came from domestic growers;

d. Monitoring the DOV Process - Verifying the method for (1) documenting 

that each end item component or product is of domestic origin, (2) 

preventing the use of components or products not intended for the DOV 

program, and (3) controlling non-conforming components or products; and

e. Corrective Action - Taking corrective action to eliminate the cause of nonconformances encountered.

 

The domestic origin verification procedures shall be established, documented, 

implemented, and maintained to ensure that products delivered to the USDA conform to 

the USDA domestic origin requirements. 

These procedures and processes shall be organized in a manner that provides easy access 

for reference and auditing (i.e., a manual). 

Top management shall designate a management representative who, regardless of other 

responsibilities, shall have responsibility and authority that includes: 

a. Ensuring the DOV procedures needed for the applicant’s DOV process are 

established, implemented, and maintained, and 

b. Reporting to the applicant’s top management on performance of its DOV 

program and process.

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2.0 Requirements for Receiving or Purchasing Components or Products 

The applicant shall have a verifiable written procedure addressing receiving or 

purchasing domestic origin components or products from growers and suppliers. This 

relates to components and products that are similar to that delivered to the USDA.

Note: A grower is an individual or entity that develops a fruit, nut, or 

vegetable through a process of natural growth to maturity (e.g., plants, 

cultivates, grows, and harvests).

Note: A supplier is someone whose business is to supply a particular service or 

commodity including, but not limited to, raw materials, components, or 

finished products (i.e., individual, processor, subcontractor, broker, or 

contractor). For the purposes of this document, “supplier” does not 

include growers. 

a. If components are received from growers, the written verifiable procedure 

shall: 

1. Describe the process used to (1) communicate the domestic origin 

requirement to growers, and (2) select growers based on their 

ability to provide components or products of domestic origin (e.g., 

making it a requirement of purchase, including in its contracts, 

field checks, etc.). 

2. Include a current list of growers, along with evidence that they are 

domestic growers (domestic addresses and/or field locations, etc.). 

If there are non-domestic growers, they must be identified as such 

and included in the procedure described in section 4.2.

b. If components or products are received from suppliers, the written 

verifiable procedure shall:

1. Describe the process used to (1) communicate the domestic origin 

requirement to suppliers, and (2) select suppliers based on their 

ability to provide components or products of domestic origin. 

2. Include a current list of all suppliers who supply components or 

products similar to those used in USDA contracts, regardless of 

whether or not the components or products are intended for use in 

USDA contracts. The list of suppliers shall show the respective 

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components or products for each supplier. If components or 

products from a supplier are used for domestic components in the 

applicant’s DOV process, the list shall include whether that 

supplier also handles non-domestic components or products. 

3.0 Identification and Verification Method

3.1 Identification

The applicant shall have a verifiable written procedure that uniquely identifies products 

(components or raw materials and/or finished products). It must include a detailed 

example along with an explanation of the identification (e.g., code or positive lot 

identification) used to represent each component or product requested for approval into 

the DOV program. If multiple components or products are requested for DOV program

approval, an explanation of each end item code or positive lot identification is needed for 

each component or product. 

The method for identifying the components or products shall be such that the 

identification transfers through phases of product realization, from receipt through 

processing to delivery (including warehousing and storage), as applicable. 

The identification shall also transfer back to purchased components or products and their

origin, as applicable. 

3.2 Verification Method

The applicant shall have a verifiable written procedure for the method used for 

documenting that the end item component or product is of domestic origin. The method

shall provide records that are verifiable back to a domestic grower or list of domestic 

growers. Through documentation, the applicant shall be able to provide the history, 

location, or activity (e.g., receiving, packing, processing, warehousing) of the component 

or product, as applicable, from the end item back to its domestic origin (growers). 

Note: An acceptable method for documenting domestic origin is trace-back. Methods of 

tracking or verifying domestic origin may vary depending on the facility. It may or 

may not include working back through every step of receiving, packing, processing, 

and/or warehousing. 

a. If raw components are not directly received from growers, and have gone 

through an intermediary facility or stage of receipt but have not changed 

form (i.e., have not been processed), the applicant shall include in its

verifiable written procedure how it ensures the components maintain their

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domestic origin integrity through the intermediary facilities or stages of 

receipt. These facilities or stages of receipt may include, but are not 

limited to, receiving stations, produce packing facilities, and/or 

warehouses, as applicable.

If the component has changed form (i.e., has been processed), follow the 

requirements in (b). 

b. If processed components or products are received or purchased from a 

supplier(s), the applicant shall include in its verifiable written procedure 

how the supplier ensures that the components or products maintain 

domestic origin integrity prior to receipt by the applicant.

Note: Current acceptable methods are: (1) the supplier is an “Approved 

DOV Program Participant” or (2) the applicant requests a trace-back 

from each supplier where the supplier’s components or products are 

used in a USDA contract. The applicant shall have a record of 

reviewing these trace-backs for adequacy. The trace-backs shall be on 

file, or the supplier’s “Approved DOV Program Participant” certificate 

shall be on file.

4.0 Monitoring the Domestic Origin Verification Process

4.1 Verification Activity

At least once a year, for each component or product in the DOV program, the applicant 

shall verify the method described in Section 3.2 and be able to show evidence of its

verification activity through records. If a non-conformance is found during the 

verification by the applicant, it shall be corrected. Non-conformances and their 

corrective action shall be documented. 

4.2 Segregating (Preventing the Use of) Components or Products Not Intended for Customers 

Requiring Domestic Origin

The applicant shall have a verifiable written segregation procedure addressing the process 

for segregating (preventing the use of) components or products that are non-domestic and 

those “not established” as domestic from those delivered to or destined for USDA, or 

destined for customers requiring only domestic origin products. Components or products 

that are similar to those destined for USDA are also required to be segregated. 

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a. As applicable, the verifiable written procedure shall include the process 

for segregating non-domestic components or products from products 

delivered to or destined for USDA, or destined for customers requiring 

only domestic product. The written procedure for known “non-domestic” 

components or products shall include: 

1. Positive identification - from receipt through processing, 

packaging, storage, and shipment - to show a clear distinction 

between the domestic components or products intended for USDA, 

and those non-domestic components or products that are not 

intended for USDA; 

2. Release authority; and 

3. Physical separation, as applicable.

b. As applicable, the verifiable written procedure shall also include the 

process for segregating components or products that are “not established” 

as domestic from those delivered to or destined for USDA, or destined for 

customers requiring domestic origin product. Components or products 

“not established” as domestic are those from suppliers who are either not 

“Approved DOV Program Participants,” or who do not provide trace-back 

on supplied components or products. The applicant is required to keep the 

suppliers’ tracebacks on file. The verifiable written procedure shall 

include: 

1. Positive identification - from receipt through processing, 

packaging, storage, and shipment - to show a clear distinction 

between the domestic components or products intended for USDA, 

and those “not established” as domestic; 

2. Release authority; and 

3. Physical separation, as applicable.

4.3 Controlling Non-conforming Components or Products 

The applicant shall have a verifiable written procedure to control non-conforming 

components or products in its DOV process. 

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