--- kind: "range" citation: "7 C.F.R. §§ 29.2617–29.2639" title: "7" from: "29.2617" to: "29.2639" count: 23 url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/29.2617..29.2639" --- # §29.2617. Rule 1. Each grade shall be treated as a subdivision of a particular type. When the grade is stated in an inspection certificate, the type also shall be stated. # §29.2618. Rule 2. The determination of a grade shall be based upon a thorough examination of a lot of tobacco or of an official sample of the lot. # §29.2619. Rule 3. In drawing an official sample from a hogshead or other package of tobacco, two or more breaks shall be made at such points and in such manner as the inspector or sampler may find necessary to determine the kinds of tobacco and the percentage of each kind contained in the lot. All breaks shall be made so that the tobacco contained in the center of the package is visible to the sampler. Tobacco shall be drawn from at least two breaks from which a representative sample shall be selected. # §29.2620. Rule 4. All standard grades must be clean. # §29.2621. Rule 5. The grade assigned to any lot of tobacco shall be a true representation of the tobacco at the time of inspection and certification. If, at any time, it is found that a lot of tobacco does not comply with the specifications of the grade previously assigned it shall not thereafter be represented as such grade. # §29.2622. Rule 6. A lot of tobacco on the marginal line between two colors shall be placed in the color with which it best corresponds with respect to body or other associated elements of quality. # §29.2623. Rule 7. Any lot of tobacco which meets the specifications of two grades shall be placed in the higher grade. Any lot of tobacco on the marginal line between two grades shall be placed in the lower grade. # §29.2624. Rule 8. A lot of tobacco meets the specifications of a grade when it is not lower in any degree of any element of quality than the minimum specifications of such grade. # §29.2625. Rule 9. In determining the grade of a lot of tobacco, the lot as a whole shall be considered. Minor irregularities which do not affect over one percent of the tobacco shall be overlooked. # §29.2626. Rule 10. Any special factor approved by the Director of the Tobacco Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, may be used to show a peculiar side or characteristic of the tobacco which tends to modify the grade. # §29.2627. Rule 11. Interpretations, the use of specifications, and the meaning of terms shall be in accordance with determinations or clarifications made by the Chief of the Standards and Testing Branch and approved by the Director. # §29.2628. Rule 12. The use of any grade may be restricted by the Director during any marketing season, when it is found that the grade is not needed or appears in insufficient volume to justify its use. # §29.2629. Rule 13. Length shall be stated in connection with each grade of the A, B, and C groups, except strip grades, and may be stated in connection with the grades of other groups. The standard tobacco sizes shall be used. # §29.2630. Rule 14. Uniformity shall be expressed in percentages. These percentages shall govern the portion of a lot which must meet each specification of the grade. The minor portion must be closely related but may be of a different group, quality, and color from the major portion. Specified percentages of uniformity shall not affect limitations established by other rules. # §29.2631. Rule 15. Injury tolerance shall be expressed in percentages. The appraisal of injury shall be based upon the percentage of affected leaf surface or the degree of injury. In appraising injury, consideration shall be given to the normal characteristics of the group. # §29.2632. Rule 16. Any lot of tobacco of the B, C, or X groups containing over 30 percent of mixed color or variegated leaves or over 30 percent of mixed color and variegated leaves combined shall be classified as “mixed” and designated by the color symbol “M.” # §29.2633. Rule 17. Any lot of tobacco containing 20 percent or more of greenish leaves or any lot which contains 20 percent of greenish and green leaves combined shall be designated by the color symbol “VF.” # §29.2634. Rule 18. Any lot of tobacco containing 20 percent or more of green leaves or any lot which is not crude but contains 20 percent or more of green and crude combined shall be designated by the color symbol “G.” # §29.2635. Rule 19. In the B, C, and X groups crude leaves shall be restricted to the fourth and fifth qualities of green grades. Any lot containing 20 percent or more of crude leaves shall be classified as Nondescript. # §29.2636. Rule 20. Tobacco damaged under 20 percent but which otherwise meets the specifications of a grade shall be treated as a subgrade by placing the special factor “U” after the grademark. Tobacco damaged 20 percent or more shall be designated “No-G.” # §29.2637. Rule 21. Sound tobacco that is wet or in doubtful-keeping order but which otherwise meets the specifications of a grade shall be treated as a subgrade by placing the special factor “W” after the grademark. This special factor does not apply to tobacco designated “No-G.” # §29.2638. Rule 22. Tobacco shall be designated No Grade, using the grademark “No-G,” when it is dirty, nested, offtype, semicured, damaged 20 percent or more, extremely wet or watered, or when it needs to be reworked, contains foreign matter, or has an odor foreign to type. # §29.2639. Rule 23. Tobacco in strip form which otherwise meets the specifications of a grade shall be treated as a subgrade by placing the special factor “S” preceding the grademark.