BACKGROUND
The grain inspection industry and Official Agencies are bound to an abundance of requirements regarding container inspections. There are instructions written in directives, program notices, policy bulletins, and sections of other handbooks, supplemented by website FAQs and various emails or memos over the years. Further, there are instructions that are not necessarily container-specific but that must be considered as well including to weights, exporter registrations, and fumigation.
Some instructions are conflicting, unclear, or may supersede others. The scattering of instructions makes it extremely difficult for (1) customers and potential customers to understand their requirements, (2) Official agencies to maintain compliance, (3) for all parties to train and supervise their employees, and (4) to easily identify solutions when unusual circumstances or requests arise.
Much of the time, these containers are being loaded for exports further compounding the need for clarity, consistency, and compliance to ensure the gold standard of the Official system is maintained.
OBJECTIVES AND DISCUSSION
The committee will engage in a brief review of the need, relevant work that may already be in progress, and establish priorities for streamlining container instructions.
NEXT STEPS
The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee will have the opportunity to discuss this topic at the next scheduled meeting and provide guidance on how to move forward.