Chemical analyses are performed to detect the presence of aflatoxin in lots of shelled peanuts and peanut products, as well as in other nuts and agricultural products. In addition, proximate chemical analyses for quality determination are performed on oilseeds.

Words used in the regulations in this subpart in the singular form will import the plural, and vice versa, as the case may demand. As used throughout the regulations in this subpart, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms will be construed to mean:

Aflatoxin. A toxic metabolite produced by the molds Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius. The aflatoxin compounds fluoresce when viewed under UV light as follows: aflatoxin B1 and derivatives with a blue fluorescence, aflatoxin B2 with a blue-violet fluorescence, aflatoxin G1 with a green fluorescence, aflatoxin G2 with a green-blue fluorescence, aflatoxin M1 with a blue-violet fluorescence, and aflatoxin M2 with a violet fluorescence. These closely related molecular structures are referred to as aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, M1, M2, GM1, B2a, G2a, R0, B3, 1-OCH3B2, and 1-CH3G2.

Peanut Administrative Committee (PAC). The committee established under the United States Department of Agriculture Marketing Agreement for Peanuts, 7 CFR part 998, which administers the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the aflatoxin control program for domestically produced raw peanuts, for peanut shellers. The Peanut Administrative Committee (PAC) headquarters are at 2537 Lafayette Plaza Drive Suite A; Albany, Georgia 31707.

Peanut Marketing Agreement. The agreement concerning the regulations and instructions set forth since July 12, 1965, by the Peanut Administrative Committee for the marketing of peanuts entered into by handlers of domestically produced peanuts under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Peanuts. The seeds of the legume Arachis hypogaea, and includes both inshell and shelled nuts.

Seed. Any vegetable or other agricultural plant ovule having an embryo that is capable of germinating to produce a plant.

(a) Aflatoxin testing services. The aflatoxin analyses for peanuts, peanut products, dried fruits, grains, edible seeds, tree nuts, shelled corn products, cottonseed, oilseed products and other commodities are performed at the following 6 locations for AMS Science and Technology (S&T) Aflatoxin Laboratories:

(b) Peanuts, peanut products, and oilseed testing services. (1) The Science and Technology (S&T) Aflatoxin Laboratories at Madill, Oklahoma and Blakely, Georgia will perform other analyses for peanuts, peanut products, and a variety of oilseeds. The analyses for oilseeds include testing for free fatty acids, ammonia, nitrogen or protein, moisture and volatile matter, foreign matter, and oil (fat) content.

(2) All of the analyses described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section performed on a single seed sample are billed at the rate of one hour per sample. Any single seed analysis performed on a single sample is billed at the rate of one-half hour per sample. The standard hourly rate shall be as specified in § 91.37(a) of this subchapter.

(c) Vegetable oil testing services. The analyses for vegetable oils are performed at the USDA, AMS, Science and Technology (S&T) Midwestern Laboratory, 3570 North Avondale Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618-5391. The analyses for vegetable oils will include the flash point test, smoke point test, acid value, peroxide value, phosphorus in oil, and specific gravity. The fee charged for any single laboratory analysis for vegetable oils shall be obtained from the Midwestern Laboratory Director and it is based on the hourly fee rates and charges as specified in 7 CFR part 91, subpart I.

Official analyses for peanuts, nuts, corn, oilseeds, and related vegetable oils are found in the following manuals:

(a) Approved Methods of the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC), American Association of Cereal Chemists/Eagan Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55121-2097.

(b) ASTA's Analytical Methods Manual, American Spice Trade Association (ASTA), 560 Sylvan Avenue, P.O. Box 1267, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.

(c) Analyst's Instruction for Aflatoxin (August 1994), S&T Instruction No. 1, USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, Science and Technology, 3521 South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456.

(d) Official Methods and Recommended Practices of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), American Oil Chemists' Society, P.O. Box 3489, 2211 West Bradley Avenue, Champaign, Illinois 61821-1827.

(e) Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, Volumes I & II, AOAC INTERNATIONAL, 481 North Frederick Avenue, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-2417.

(f) Standard Analytical Methods of the Member Companies of Corn Industries Research Foundation, Corn Refiners Association (CRA), 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20006.

(g) U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center's Military Specifications, approved analytical test methods noted therein, Code NPP-9, Department of Defense Single Stock Point (DODSSP) for Military Specifications, Standards, Building 4/D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094.

(a) The fee charged for any laboratory analysis for aflatoxins and other mycotoxins shall be obtained from the Laboratory Director for aflatoxin laboratories at the Dothan administrative office as follows: USDA, AMS, Science & Technology, 3119 Wesley Way, Suite 6, Dothan, Alabama 36305, Voice Phone: 334-794-5070, Facsimile: 334-792-1432.

(b) The charge for the aflatoxin testing of raw peanuts under the Peanut Marketing Agreement for subsamples 1-AB, 2-AB, 3-AB, and 1-CD is a set cost per pair of analyses and shall be set by cooperative agreement between the Peanut Administrative Committee and AMS Science and Technology program.

The fee charged for any laboratory analysis for oilseeds shall be obtained from the Laboratory Director for aflatoxin laboratories at the Dothan administrative office as listed in 7 CFR 93.14(a).