Farm Service Agency

Kansas City Commodity Office

P.O. Box 419205, MS 8698

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

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BULK OIL AND TALLOW

FOR USE IN 

INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Effective Date: November 1, 2013

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT

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BULK OIL AND TALLOW

FOR USE IN

INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

PART 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS____________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 Crude Degummed Soybean Oil ________________________________ 1

Section 1.2 Fully Refined Soybean Oil_____________________________________ 2

Section 1.3 Crude Corn Oil _____________________________________________ 3

Section 1.4 Crude Sunflower Seed Oil (Including Nusun®) ___________________ 3

Section 1.5 Tallow _____________________________________________________ 4

PART 2 SAMPLING, ANALYSIS AND SURVEY _______________________________ 5

PART 3 WEIGHTS _________________________________________________________ 6

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Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 Crude Degummed Soybean Oil

A. Quality:

The quality of the Crude Degummed Soybean Oil shall correspond to the 

following specifications described in Rule 103, Section 3 of the National

Oilseed Processors Association’s Trading Rules for the Purchase and Sale 

of Soybean Oil, dated October 2012. Product which deviates from these 

specifications shall be rejected.

B. Analytical Requirements:

The chemical analysis to determine quality shall include the qualitative 

test for fish oil and marine animal oils as prescribed by Association of 

Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) Method No. 974.20 and shall be 

negative.

Item Max. Min. AOCS 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 2c-25

 Ca 3a-46

Flash Point 250°F Cc 9c-95

Phosphorus 0.02% Ca 12-55

C. 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.

Item Range Discount

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

Phosphorus .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

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D. 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.

Section 1.2 Fully Refined Soybean Oil

A. Quality:

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 refining treatments. It shall meet the following specifications, 

as described in Rule 103, Section 3 of the National Oilseed Processors 

Association’s Trading Rules for the Purchase and Sale of Soybean Oil,

dated October 2012. Product which deviates from these specifications 

shall be rejected.

B. Analytical Requirements: 

The chemical analysis to determine quality shall include the qualitative 

test for fish oil and marine animal oils as prescribed by AOAC Method 

No. 974.20, and shall be negative. Preservatives (GRAS) are permitted.

Item Max. Min. AOCS

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 8b-90

Cold Test 5.5 hrs Cc 11-53

Fat Stability – AOM

8 hrs35 meq./kgm.

Cd 12b-92

Moisture + Volatile 

Matter 0.10% by weight Ca 2c-25

Unsaponifiable Matter 1.5% Ca 6a-40

C. Physical Requirements:

The oil shall:

1) be clear and brilliant in appearance at 70-85°F

2) be free from settlings or foreign matter of any kind

3) have a clean, fresh flavor and shall be free from rancid, beany, painty, 

sour, or other objectionable flavors or odors, as specified in U.S. 

Department of Agriculture Specification A-A-20091D, dated May 7, 

2002 at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3006232.

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Section 1.3 Crude Corn Oil

A. Quality:

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

National Institute of Oilseed Products Trading Rules, dated July 2013.

B. Analytical Requirements:

Item Maximum Basis

Free Fatty Acids, as Oleic 5.0% 3.0%

Moisture and Impurities 1.0% 0.5%

C. Discounts:

1) The free fatty acids, as oleic, shall be discounted 0.5% of the 

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

proportion.

2) The moisture and impurities shall be discounted 0.1% of the 

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

proportion.

D. Physical Requirements:

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

average quality. Product which deviates from these specifications shall be 

rejected.

Section 1.4 Crude Sunflower Seed Oil (Including Nusun®)

A. Quality:

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

following specifications contained in the American Fats and Oils 

Association (AFOA) Trade Rules for Vegetable Oils (Export Contract), 

Rules 14A-14B, or any modifications agreed to, that are in effect on the 

date the contract is entered into.

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B. 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%

C. Discounts:

Free Fatty Acid, as Oleic, shall be discounted 0.1% of the invoice value 

for each 0.1% of free fatty acid in excess of 2.0%; fractions in proportion.

D. 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 these 

specifications shall be rejected.

Section 1.5 Tallow

A. Quality:

The quality of the tallow shall correspond to the specifications contained

in Rule 7 of the Trade Rules of the American Fats and Oils Association

(AFOA) for Animal Tallow and Grease (Export Contract), or any 

modifications 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.

B. Analytical Requirements:

Specifications #

Grade

Titre

Minimum

FFA

Maximum

FAC

Maximum

R&B

Maximum

MIU

Maximum

Edible Tallow 41.0 0.75 3 none *

Lard (Edible) 38.0 0.50 ** none *

Top White Tallow 41.0 2.00 5 0.50 1

All Beef Packer Tallow 42.0 2.00 none 0.50 1

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Specifications #

Grade

Titre

Minimum

FFA

Maximum

FAC

Maximum

R&B

Maximum

MIU

Maximum

Extra Fancy Tallow 41.0 3.00 5 none 1

Fancy Tallow 40.5 4.00 7 none 1

Bleachable Fancy 

Tallow 40.5 4.00 none 1.50 1

Prime Tallow 40.5 6.00 13-11B none 1

Special Tallow 40.0 10.00 21 none 1

No. 2 Tallow 40.0 35.00 none none 2

“A” Tallow 39.0 15.00 39 none 2

Choice White Grease 36.0 4.00 13-11B none 1

Yellow Grease *** **** 39 none 2

“Technical Tallow 

(inedible)” as Grade 1A 41.0 0.75 3 none *

Used Cooking Oil *** 15.00 39 none 2

# Impurities shall not exceed 0.15% except as otherwise negotiated by buyer and seller 

on a contract-by-contract basis.

* Moisture maximum 0.20%. Insoluble Impurities maximum 0.05%

** Lovibond Color 5 1/4 inch cell – Max. 1.5 Red. Lard Peroxide Value 4.0 ME/K Max.

*** Titre minimum, when required, to be negotiated between buyer and seller on a 

contract-by-contract basis.

**** FFA Maximum, when required, to be negotiated between buyer and seller on a 

contract-by-contract basis.

C. Deviations/Discounts:

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

11 will apply.

D. 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.

Part 2 SAMPLING, ANALYSIS AND SURVEY

A. Upon receipt of the ten day pre-advice, 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 paragraphs that will 

perform the sampling, analysis and surveying service.

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

independent surveyor(s) and commercial chemist(s) at the contractor’s 

expense. When utilizing the services of a private, independently owned 

and operated laboratory, the following applies:

1. 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.

2. All samples shall be obtained in accordance with American Oil 

Chemists’ Society Method C 1-47.

3. The chemical analysis by commercial chemist(s) shall be 

performed under methods prescribed in the Trading Rules of the 

National Oilseed Processors Association or the American Fats and 

Oils Association, as applicable.

C. Prior to loading, each tank into which the commodity is to be loaded shall 

be examined by the independent surveyor to determine that the tanks(s) 

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

commodity.

D. Sampling, Analysis and Inspection procedures shall be performed in 

accordance with the trading rules governing the commodity.

Part 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. See the Master Solicitation for Commodity 

Procurements dated 10/31/2013, Part 3 Contract Clauses, Section A.2.(f.).

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