(a) Warehouse receipts may be:

(1) Negotiable or non-negotiable;

(2) For a single unit, multiple units, identity preserved or commingled lot; and

(3) In a paper or electronic format that, besides complying with the requirements of the Act, must be in a format as prescribed in the applicable licensing or provider agreement and authorized by AMS.

(b) The warehouse operator must:

(1) At the request of a depositor of an agricultural product stored or handled in a warehouse licensed under the Act, issue a warehouse receipt to the depositor;

(2) Not issue a warehouse receipt for an agricultural product unless the agricultural product is actually stored in their warehouse at the time of issuance;

(3) Not issue a warehouse receipt until the quality, condition and weight of such an agricultural product is ascertained by a licensed inspector and weigher;

(4) Not directly or indirectly compel or attempt to compel the depositor to request the issuance of a warehouse receipt omitting the statement of quality or condition;

(5) Not issue an additional warehouse receipt under the Act for a specific identity-preserved or commingled agricultural product lot (or any portion thereof) if another warehouse receipt representing the same specific identity-preserved or commingled lot of the agricultural product is outstanding. No two warehouse receipts issued by a warehouse operator may have the same warehouse receipt number or represent the same agricultural product lot;

(6) When issuing a warehouse receipt and purposefully omitting any information, notate the blank to show such intent;

(7) Not deliver any portion of an agricultural product for which they have issued a negotiable warehouse receipt until the warehouse receipt has been surrendered to them and canceled as prescribed in the applicable licensing agreement;

(8) Not deliver more than 90% of the receipted quantity of an agricultural product for which they have issued a non-negotiable warehouse receipt until such warehouse receipt has been surrendered or the depositor or the depositor's agent has provided a written order for the agricultural product and the warehouse receipt surrendered upon final delivery; and

(9) Deliver, upon proper presentation of a warehouse receipt for any agricultural product, and payment or tender of all advances and charges, to the depositor or lawful holder of such warehouse receipt the agricultural product of such identity, quantity, grade and condition as set forth in such warehouse receipt.

(c) In the case of a lost or destroyed warehouse receipt, a new warehouse receipt upon the same terms, subject to the same conditions, and bearing on its face the number and the date of the original warehouse receipt may be issued.

Warehouse operators must file with AMS the name and genuine signature of each person authorized to sign warehouse receipts for the licensed warehouse operator, and will promptly notify AMS of any changes with respect to persons authorized to sign.

Paper warehouse receipts must be issued as follows:

(a) On distinctive paper specified by AMS;

(b) Printed by a printer authorized by AMS; and

(c) Issued, identified and maintained in a consecutive order.

(a) Warehouse operators issuing EWR under the Act may issue EWR's for the agricultural product stored in their warehouse. Warehouse operators issuing EWR's under the Act must:

(1) Only issue EWR's through one AMS-authorized provider annually;

(2) Inform AMS of the identity of their provider, when they are a first time user of EWR's, 60 calendar days in advance of issuing an EWR through that provider. AMS may waive or modify this 60-day requirement as set forth in § 869.2(b);

(3) Before issuing an EWR, request and receive from AMS a range of consecutive warehouse receipt numbers that the warehouse will use consecutively for issuing their EWR's;

(4) When using an authorized provider, issue and cancel all warehouse receipts as EWR's;

(5) Cancel an EWR only when they are the holder of the warehouse receipt;

(6) Be the holder of an EWR to correct information contained within any required data field;

(7) Receive written authorization from AMS at least 30 calendar days before changing providers. Upon authorization, they may request their current provider to transfer their EWR data from its Central Filing System (CFS) to the CFS of the authorized provider whom they select; and

(8) Notify all holders of EWR's by inclusion in the CFS at least 30 calendar days before changing providers, unless otherwise required or allowed by AMS.

(b) An EWR establishes the same rights and obligations with respect to an agricultural product as a paper warehouse receipt and possesses the following attributes:

(1) The holder of an EWR will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as the holder of a paper warehouse receipt.

(2) Only the current holder of the EWR may transfer the EWR to a new holder.

(3) The identity of the holder must be confidential and included as information for every EWR.

(4) Only one person may be designated as the holder of an EWR at any one time.

(5) A warehouse operator may not issue an EWR on a specific identity-preserved or commingled lot of agricultural product or any portion thereof while another valid warehouse receipt representing the same specific identity-preserved or commingled lot of agricultural product remains not canceled. No two warehouse receipts issued by a warehouse operator may have the same warehouse receipt number or represent the same agricultural product lot.

(6) An EWR may only be issued to replace a paper warehouse receipt if requested by the current holder of the paper warehouse receipt.

(7) Holders and warehouse operators may authorize any other user of their provider or the provider itself to act on their behalf with respect to their activities with this provider. This authorization must be in writing, and acknowledged and retained by the warehouse operator and provider.

(c) A warehouse operator not licensed under the Act may, at the option of the warehouse operator, issue EWRs in accordance with this subpart, except this option does not apply to a warehouse operator that is licensed under State law to store agricultural products in a warehouse if the warehouse operator elects to issue an EWR under State law.