---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 87k"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "87k"
heading: "Standardizing commercial inspections"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/87k"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Grain Standards"
---

# §87k. Standardizing commercial inspections

- (a) **Testing equipment—** To promote greater uniformity in commercial [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g) inspection results, the [Secretary](/usc/7/75.md?p=a) may work in conjunction with the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, or other appropriate governmental, scientific, or technical organizations to—
  - (1) identify inspection instruments requiring standardization under [subsection (b)](#b);
  - (2) establish performance criteria for commercial [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g) inspection instruments;
  - (3) develop a national program to approve [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g) inspection instruments for commercial inspection; and
  - (4) develop standard reference materials or other means necessary for calibration or testing of approved instruments.
- (b) **General inspection procedures—** To ensure that producers are treated uniformly in delivering [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g), the [Secretary](/usc/7/75.md?p=a) shall develop practical and cost-effective procedures for conducting commercial inspections of [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g) with respect to the application of quality factors, that result in premiums and discounts. The procedures shall be made available to country elevators and others making first-point-of-delivery inspections.
- (c) **Inspection services and information—** To encourage the use of equipment and procedures developed in accordance with subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/7/75.md?p=a) shall provide for [official inspection](/usc/7/75.md?p=i) services by the [Secretary](/usc/7/75.md?p=a), [States](/usc/7/75.md?p=e), and [official inspection](/usc/7/75.md?p=i) agencies and provide information on the proper use of sampling and inspection equipment, application of the [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g) standards, and availability of [official inspection](/usc/7/75.md?p=i) services, including appeals under this chapter.
- (d) **Standardized aflatoxin equipment and procedures—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/75.md?p=a) shall—
  - (1) establish uniform standards for testing equipment; and
  - (2) establish uniform testing procedures and sampling techniques;

  that may be used by processors, refiners, operators of [grain](/usc/7/75.md?p=g) elevators and terminals, and others to accurately detect the level of aflatoxin contamination of corn in the [United States](/usc/7/75.md?p=d).


## Source credit

(Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. B, § 22, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XX, § 2009, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3931; amended Pub. L. 103–156, §§ 11, 13(b)(2), Nov. 24, 1993, 107 Stat. 1528, 1529; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 293(a)(7), (8), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3237.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act” and was translated as reading “this part”, meaning part B of act Aug. 11, 1916, known as the United States Grain Standards Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–354 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing and “Secretary” for “Service” in subsec. (c).

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–156, § 11, substituted “, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, or other appropriate governmental, scientific, or technical organizations” for “and the National Conference on Weights and Measures” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–156, § 13(b)(2), substituted “subsections (a) and (b)” for “subsection (a) and (b)”.