GIPSA establishes cooperative or reimbursable agreements with State and private agencies under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) to provide sampling or inspection services for miscellaneous processed commodities, graded commodities, and rice.

These cooperative programs allow State and private entities to provide Federal sampling, inspection and weighing services for rice, dry beans, peas, split peas, lentils, hops, and processed grain products on GIPSA's behalf.

Under this program, State agency employees perform certain Federal functions under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). Federally trained and licensed State or official agency employees may perform specified voluntary services, including sampling, bulk weighing, checkloading, checkweighing, condition examination, condition of container examination, stowage examination, sanitation inspection, falling number testing, aflatoxin/fumonisin testing and related services. GIPSA supervises the State employees who perform these functions on a fee basis.

Under this program GIPSA authorizes a State or an Official Agency to provide certain official services under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.). State and official inspection agencies perform a wide range of voluntary inspection activities and related functions for agricultural commodities administratively assigned to GIPSA under the Act. The functions are performed by Federally trained and licensed State and private Agency employees under the direct supervision of the State and Private Agency program managers and GIPSA oversight. The States and official agencies collect fees for these services.

Updated 04/25/06