§ 361.5 - Sampling of seeds.  


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  • § 361.5 Sampling of seeds.

    (a) Sample sizes. As provided in § 361.4(b), samples of seed will be taken from each lot of seed being imported for seeding (planting) purposes to determine whether any seeds of noxious weeds listed in § 361.6(a) are present. The samples shall be drawn in the manner described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. Unused portions of samples of rare or expensive seeds will be returned by APHIS upon request of the importer.

    (1) A minimum sample of not less than 1 quart shall be drawn from each lot of agricultural seed; a minimum sample of not less than 1 pint shall be drawn from each lot of vegetable seed, except that a sample of 14 pint will be sufficient for a vegetable seed importation of 5 pounds or less. The minimum sample shall be divided repeatedly until a working sample of proper weight has been obtained. If a mechanical divider cannot be used or is not available, the sample shall be thoroughly mixed, then placed in a pile; the pile shall be divided repeatedly into halves until a working sample of the proper weight remains. The weights of the working samples for noxious weed examination for each lot of seed are shown in column 1 of table 1 of this section. If the lot of seed is a mixture, the following methods shall be used to determine the weight of the working sample:

    (i) If the lot of seed is a mixture consisting of one predominant kind of seed or a group of kinds of similar size, the weight of the working sample shall be the weight shown in column 1 of table 1 of this section for the kind or group of kinds that comprises more than 50 percent of the sample.

    (ii) If the lot of seed is a mixture consisting of two or more kinds or groups of kinds of different sizes, none of which comprises over 50 percent of the sample, the weight of the working sample shall be the weighted average (to the nearest half gram) of the weight shown in column 1 of table 1 of this section for each of the kinds that comprise the sample, as determined by the following method:

    (A) Multiply the percentage of each component of the mixture (rounded off to the nearest whole number) by the sample sizes shown in column 1 of table 1 of this section;

    (B) Add all these products;

    (C) Total the percentages of all components of the mixtures; and

    (D) Divide the sum in paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section by the total in paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(C) of this section.

    (2) It is not ordinarily practical to sample and test small lots of seed offered for entry. The maximum sizes of lots of each kind of seed not ordinarily sampled are shown in column 2 of table 1 of this section.

    (3) The maximum sizes of lots of each kind of seed allowed entry without sampling for sowing for experimental or breeding purposes as provided in § 361.4(a)(4) are shown in column 3 of table 1 of this section.

    Table 1

    Name of seed Working weight for noxious weed examination
    (grams)
    (1)
    Maximum weight of seed lot not ordinarily sampled
    (pounds)
    (2)
    Maximum weight of seed lot permitted entry for experimental or breeding purposes without sampling
    (pounds)
    (3)
    VEGETABLE SEED:
    Artichoke 500 25 50
    Asparagus 500 25 50
    Asparagusbean 500 25 50
    Bean 25 200
    Garden 500 100 500
    Lima 500 25 200
    Runner 500 25 200
    Beet 300 25 50
    Broadbean 500 25 200
    Broccoli 50 5 10
    Brussels sprouts 50 5 10
    Burdock, great 150 10 50
    Cabbage 50 5 10
    Cabbage, Chinese 50 5 10
    Cabbage, tronchuda 100 5 10
    Cantaloupe (see Melon)
    Cardoon 500 25 50
    Carrot 50 5 10
    Cauliflower 50 5 10
    Celeriac 25 5 10
    Celery 25 5 10
    Chard, Swiss 300 25 50
    Chicory 50 5 10
    Chives 50 5 10
    Citron 500 25 50
    Collards 50 5 10
    Corn, sweet 500 25 200
    Cornsalad 50 5 10
    Cowpea 500 25 200
    Cress, garden 50 5 10
    Cress, upland 35 5 10
    Cress, water 25 5 10
    Cucumber 500 25 50
    Dandelion 35 5 10
    Dill 50 5 10
    Eggplant 50 5 10
    Endive 50 5 10
    Gherkin, West India 160 25 50
    Kale 50 5 10
    Kale, Chinese 50 5 10
    Kale, Siberian 80 5 10
    Kohlrabi 50 5 10
    Leek 50 5 10
    Lettuce 50 5 10
    Melon 500 25 50
    Mustard, India 50 25 100
    Mustard, spinach 50 5 10
    Okra 500 25 50
    Onion 50 5 10
    Onion, Welsh 50 5 10
    Pak-choi 50 5 10
    Parsley 50 5 10
    Parsnip 50 5 10
    Pea 500 25 200
    Pepper 150 5 10
    Pumpkin 500 25 50
    Radish 300 25 50
    Rhubarb 300 5 10
    Rutabaga 50 5 10
    Sage 150 25 50
    Salsify 300 25 50
    Savory, summer 35 5 10
    Sorrel 35 5 10
    Soybean 500 25 200
    Spinach 150 25 50
    Spinach, New Zealand 500 25 50
    Squash 500 25 50
    Tomato 50 5 10
    Tomato, husk 35 5 10
    Turnip 50 5 10
    Watermelon 500 25 50
    AGRICULTURAL SEED:
    Agrotricum 500 100 500
    Alfalfa 50 25 100
    Alfilaria 50 25 100
    Alyceclover 50 25 100
    Bahiagrass 50 25 100
    Barrelclover 100 25 100
    Barley 500 100 500
    Bean, adzuki 500 100 500
    Bean, field 500 100 500
    Bean, mung 500 100 500
    Bean (see Velvetbean)
    Beet, field 500 100 500
    Beet, sugar 500 100 1,000
    Beggarweed 50 25 100
    Bentgrass, colonial 2.5 25 100
    Bentgrass, creeping 2.5 25 100
    Bentgrass, velvet 2.5 25 100
    Bermudagrass 10 25 100
    Bermudagrass, giant 10 25 100
    Bluegrass, annual 10 25 100
    Bluegrass, bulbous 40 25 100
    Bluegrass, Canada 5 25 100
    Bluegrass, glaucantha 10 25 100
    Bluegrass, Kentucky 10 25 100
    Bluegrass, Nevada 10 25 100
    Bluegrass, rough 5 25 100
    Bluegrass, Texas 10 25 100
    Bluegrass, wood 5 25 100
    Bluejoint 5 25 100
    Bluestem, big 70 25 100
    Bluestem, little 50 25 100
    Bluestem, sand 100 25 100
    Bluestem, yellow 10 25 100
    Bottlebrush-squirreltail 90 25 100
    Brome, field 50 25 100
    Brome, meadow 130 25 100
    Brome, mountain 200 25 100
    Brome, smooth 70 25 100
    Broomcorn 400 100 500
    Buckwheat 500 100 500
    Buffalograss:
    (Burs) 200 25 100
    (Caryopses) 30 25 100
    Buffelgrass:
    (Fascicles) 66 25 100
    (Caryopses) 20 25 100
    Burclover, California:
    (In bur) 500 100 500
    (Out of bur) 70 25 100
    Burclover, spotted:
    (In bur) 500 100 500
    (Out of bur) 50 25 100
    Burnet, little 250 25 100
    Buttonclover 70 25 100
    Canarygrass 200 25 100
    Canarygrass, reed 20 25 100
    Carpetgrass 10 25 100
    Castorbean 500 100 500
    Chess, soft 50 25 100
    Chickpea 500 100 500
    Clover, alsike 20 25 100
    Clover, arrowleaf 40 25 100
    Clover, berseem 50 25 100
    Clover, cluster 10 25 100
    Clover, crimson 100 25 100
    Clover, Kenya 20 25 100
    Clover, Ladino 20 25 100
    Clover, Lappa 20 25 100
    Clover, large hop 10 25 100
    Clover, Persian 20 25 100
    Clover, red 50 25 100
    Clover, rose 70 25 100
    Clover, small hop (suckling) 20 25 100
    Clover, strawberry 50 25 100
    Clover, sub (subterranean) 250 25 100
    Clover, white 20 25 100
    Corn, field 500 100 1,000
    Corn, pop 500 100 1,000
    Cotton 500 100 500
    Cowpea 500 100 500
    Crambe 250 25 100
    Crested dogtail 20 25 100
    Crotalaria, lance 70 25 100
    Crotalaria, showy 250 25 100
    Crotalaria, slenderleaf 100 25 100
    Crotalaria, striped 100 25 100
    Crotalaria, Sunn 500 25 100
    Crownvetch 100 25 100
    Dallisgrass 40 25 100
    Dichondra 50 25 100
    Dropseed, sand 2.5 25 100
    Emmer 500 100 500
    Fescue, Chewings 30 25 100
    Fescue, hair 10 25 100
    Fescue, hard 20 25 100
    Fescue, meadow 50 25 100
    Fescue, red 30 25 100
    Fescue, sheep 20 25 100
    Fescue, tall 50 25 100
    Flax 150 25 100
    Galletagrass:
    (Other than caryopses) 100 25 100
    (Caryopses) 50 25 100
    Grama, blue 20 25 100
    Grama, side-oats:
    (Other than caryopses) 60 25 100
    (Caryopses) 20 25 100
    Guar 500 25 100
    Guineagrass 20 25 100
    Hardinggrass 30 25 100
    Hemp 500 100 500
    Indiangrass, yellow 70 25 100
    Indigo, hairy 70 25 100
    Japanese lawngrass 20 25 100
    Johnsongrass 100 25 100
    Kenaf 500 100 500
    Kochia, forage 20 25 100
    Kudzu 250 25 100
    Lentil 500 25 100
    Lespedeza, Korean 50 25 100
    Lespedeza, sericea or Chinese 30 25 100
    Lespedeza, Siberian 30 25 100
    Lespedeza, striate 50 25 100
    Lovegrass, sand 10 25 100
    Lovegrass, weeping 10 25 100
    Lupine, blue 500 100 500
    Lupine, white 500 100 500
    Lupine, yellow 500 100 500
    Manilagrass 20 25 100
    Meadow foxtail 30 25 100
    Medick, black 50 25 100
    Milkvetch 90 25 100
    Millet, browntop 80 25 100
    Millet, foxtail 50 25 100
    Millet, Japanese 90 25 100
    Millet, pearl 150 25 100
    Millet, proso 150 25 100
    Molassesgrass 5 25 100
    Mustard, black 20 25 100
    Mustard, India 50 25 100
    Mustard, white 150 25 100
    Napiergrass 50 25 100
    Needlegrass, green 70 25 100
    Oat 500 100 500
    Oatgrass, tall 60 25 100
    Orchardgrass 30 25 100
    Panicgrass, blue 20 25 100
    Panicgrass, green 20 25 100
    Pea, field 500 100 500
    Peanut 500 100 500
    Poa trivialis (see bluegrass, rough)
    Rape, annual 70 25 100
    Rape, bird 70 25 100
    Rape, turnip 50 25 100
    Rape, winter 100 25 100
    Redtop 2.5 25 100
    Rescuegrass 200 25 100
    Rhodesgrass 10 25 100
    Rice 500 100 500
    Ricegrass, Indian 70 25 100
    Roughpea 500 100 500
    Rye 500 100 500
    Rye, mountain 280 25 100
    Ryegrass, annual 50 25 100
    Ryegrass, intermediate 80 25 100
    Ryegrass, perennial 50 25 100
    Ryegrass, Wimmera 50 25 100
    Safflower 500 100 500
    Sagewort, Louisiana 5 25 100
    Sainfoin 500 100 500
    Saltbush, fourwing 150 25 100
    Seasame 70 25 100
    Sesbania 250 25 100
    Smilo 20 25 100
    Sorghum 500 100 1,000
    Sorghum almum 150 25 100
    Sorghum-sudangrass hybrid 500 100 1,000
    Sorgrass 150 25 100
    Sourclover 50 25 100
    Soybean 500 100 500
    Spelt 500 100 500
    Sudangrass 250 25 100
    Sunflower 500 100 500
    Sweetclover, white 50 25 100
    Sweetclover, yellow 50 25 100
    Sweet vernalgrass 20 25 100
    Sweetvetch, northern 190 25 100
    Switchgrass 40 25 100
    Timothy 10 25 100
    Timothy, turf 10 25 100
    Tobacco 5 1 1
    Trefoil, big 20 25 100
    Trefoil, birdsfoot 30 25 100
    Triticale 500 100 500
    Vaseygrass 30 25 100
    Veldtgrass 40 25 100
    Velvetbean 500 100 500
    Velvetgrass 10 25 100
    Vetch, common 500 100 500
    Vetch, hairy 500 100 500
    Vetch, Hungarian 500 100 500
    Vetch, Monantha 500 100 500
    Vetch, narrowleaf 500 100 500
    Vetch, purple 500 100 500
    Vetch, woolypod 500 100 500
    Wheat, common 500 100 500
    Wheat, club 500 100 500
    Wheat, durum 500 100 500
    Wheat, Polish 500 100 500
    Wheat, poulard 500 100 500
    Wheat × Agrotricum 500 100 500
    Wheatgrass, beardless 80 25 100
    Wheatgrass, fairway crested 40 25 100
    Wheatgrass, standard crested 50 25 100
    Wheatgrass, intermediate 150 25 100
    Wheatgrass, pubescent 150 25 100
    Wheatgrass, Siberian 50 25 100
    Wheatgrass, slender 70 25 100
    Wheatgrass, streambank 50 25 100
    Wheatgrass, tall 150 25 100
    Wheatgrass, western 100 25 100
    Wildrye, basin 80 25 100
    Wild-rye, Canada 110 25 100
    Wild-rye, Russian 60 25 100
    Zoysia Japonica (see Japanese lawngrass)
    Zoysia matrella (see Manilagrass)

    (b) Method of sampling.

    (1) When an importation consists of more than one lot, each lot shall be sampled separately.

    (2) For lots of six or fewer bags, each bag shall be sampled. A total of at least five trierfuls shall be taken from the lot.

    (3) For lots of more than six bags, five bags plus at least 10 percent of the number of bags in the lot shall be sampled. (Round off numbers with decimals to the nearest whole number, raising 0.5 to the next whole number.) Regardless of the lot size, it is not necessary to sample more than 30 bags.

    (4) When the lot of seed to be sampled is comprised of seed in small containers that cannot practically be sampled as described in paragraph (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section, entire unopened containers may be taken in sufficient number to supply a sample that meets the minimum size requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

    (c) Drawing samples. Samples will not be drawn unless each container is labeled to show the lot designation and the name of the kind and variety of each agricultural seed, or kind and variety of each vegetable seed, appearing on the invoice and other entry papers, and a declaration has been filed by the importer as required under § 361.2(a). In order to secure a representative sample, an APHIS inspector will draw equal portions from evenly distributed parts of the quantity of seed to be sampled; the APHIS inspector, therefore, must be given access to all parts of that quantity.

    (1) For free-flowing seed in bags or in bulk, a probe or trier shall be used. For small free-flowing seed in bags, a probe or trier long enough to sample all portions of the bag shall be used. When drawing more than one trierful of seed from a bag, a different path through the seed shall be used when drawing each sample.

    (2) For non-free-flowing seed in bags or bulk that may be difficult to sample with a probe or trier, samples shall be obtained by thrusting one's hand into the seed and withdrawing representative portions. The hand shall be inserted in an open position with the fingers held closely together while the hand is being inserted and the portion withdrawn. When more than one handful is taken from a bag, the handfuls shall be taken from well-separated points.

    (3) When more than one sample is drawn from a single lot, the samples may be combined into a composite sample unless it appears that the quantity of seed represented as a lot is not of uniform quality, in which case the separate samples shall be forwarded together, but without being combined into a composite sample.

    (d) In most cases, samples will be drawn and examined by an APHIS inspector at the port of first arrival. The APHIS inspector may release a shipment if no contaminants are found and the labeling is sufficient. If contaminants are found or the labeling of the seed is insufficient, the APHIS inspector may forward the sample to the USDA Seed Examination Facility (SEF), Beltsville, MD, for analysis, testing, or examination. APHIS will notify the owner or consignee of the seed that samples have been drawn and forwarded to the SEF and that the shipment must be held intact pending a decision by APHIS as to whether the seed is within the noxious weed seed tolerances of § 361.6 and is accurately labeled. If the decision pending is with regard to the noxious weed seed content of the seed and the seed has been determined to be accurately labeled, the seed may be released for delivery to the owner or consignee under the following conditions:

    (1) The owner or consignee executes with Customs either a Customs single-entry bond or a Customs term bond, as appropriate, in such amount as is prescribed by applicable Customs regulations;

    (2) The bond must contain a condition for the redelivery of the seed or any part thereof upon demand of the Port Director of Customs at any time;

    (3) Until the seed is approved for entry upon completion of APHIS' examination, the seed must be kept intact and not tampered with in any way, or removed from the containers except under the monitoring of an APHIS inspector; and

    (4) The owner or consignee must keep APHIS informed as to the location of the seed until it is finally entered into the commerce of the United States.