The contents of this web page do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. The following is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
- Stowage exams
Is a stowage exam required when we are only performing phytosanitary inspection?
Answer: No. APHIS does not require a stowage exam for phytosanitary inspection service. If the applicant does not obtain a stowage exam service in conjunction with sampling service then the sample may not be used for any official grade inspection determination.
- Use common insect names
When we report insects on the 921-2 can we use generic terms such as “OLI” and “Bran Bugs”?
Answer: No. Common insect names, such as rice weevil, confused flour beetle, etc. must be used.
- Difficult identification
If we find an insect that we cannot identify what should we do?
Answer: Contact the local APHIS office. In instances where official personnel cannot make a positive identification official personnel will send the insect to the APHIS office for identification.
- Where to send report
Where do we send the completed FGIS 921-2, Insects-in-Grain report?
Answer: Send the completed 921-2 to the applicant for service or the APHIS office designated by the applicant for service.
- What to do when finding an insect
What should we do if we find insects during a condition check?
Answer: Identify the insect, if possible and record the information on the 921-2 form. Additionally, whenever an insect is found official personnel must immediately notify the shipper with information concerning the container identification, number and type of insect, and whether the carrier is “infested” or “sample grade” due to insects according to FGIS definitions.
- Sampling date exceeds 30 days
What can a shipper do when the sampling date exceeds the APHIS time limit (30 days) for issuing a phyto certificate?
Answer: The shipper can request a new inspection on the container for phyto purposes provided that the grain is accessible for sampling purposes. A new inspection for phyto purposes is recorded on 921-2 form.
- Expired certificate
A shipper extended a booking for several weeks and as a result several containers did not make it onboard the ship until after the APHIS time limit of 30 days for the issuance of a phtyo certificate. Can the applicant request a re-inspection or appeal inspection on the basis of a file sample of the booking in order to get a new 921-2 and inspection certificate?
Answer: No. A new 921-2 cannot be issued on the basis of review inspection of a file sample, it can only be issued on the basis of a sample lot sampling service.
- DDG
While trans-loading Distillers Dried Grains (DDG) from a railcar to a container, we find larvae in the area underneath the railcar feeding on spilled DDG. However, we cannot identify the insects so they are sent to APHIS for identification. APHIS identifies the insects as larvae (Black Soldier Fly) of non-grain insects. What do we do?
Answer: We treat the larvae the same as a stored grain insect. If the larvae are found in, on, or about the DDG when it is trans-loaded from railcar to container, the lot will be considered as “infested” and the container will require fumigation.
- DDG-2
Which types of fumigation procedures (stationary & in-transit) are used for treating Distillers Dried Grains (DDG)? How are they officially reported on certificates, letterhead, and the 921-2 form?
Answer: Land carriers can be fumigated with fumigants approved by the EPA for the specific type of carrier. Methyl bromide must be used as a stationary treatment. Metal phosphide, carbon dioxide, and sulfuryl fluoride can be used as a stationary or in-transit method for fumigation.
We cannot state that the lot was fumigated according to official procedures because DDG is not on the list of acceptable commodities, and to our knowledge there hasn’t been any studies done on the efficacy of the treatment on DDG. However, we can witness the fumigation if requested by the applicant or APHIS, and use the use the following statement on the certificate, letterhead, or 921-2 form. “Container xyz was observed being fumigated with (quantity of fumigant) of (type of fumigant) after the lot was loaded into the carrier but the lot was not sampled and examined after fumigation.”
Publication Date
10/17/2018