Federal regulations · Through 2026-08-25 · Newer source version available

7 CFR 996.31: Outgoing quality standards.

(a) Shelled peanuts: No handler or importer shall ship or otherwise dispose of shelled peanuts for human consumption unless such peanuts are positive lot identified, chemically analyzed by a USDA laboratory or USDA-approved laboratory and certified “negative” as to aflatoxin, and certified by the Inspection Service as meeting the following quality standards:
Minimum Quality Standards—Peanuts for Human Consumption
[Whole kernels and splits: Maximum limitations]
Type and grade category Unshelled peanuts and damaged kernels and minor defects (percent) Total fall through sound whole kernels and/or sound split and broken kernels Foreign materials (percent) Moisture (percent)
Excluding Lots of “splits”
Runner 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Virginia (except No. 2) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Spanish and Valencia 3.50 6.00%; 16/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
No. 2 Virginia 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Runner with splits (not more than 15% sound splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Virginia with splits (not more than 15% sound splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Spanish and Valencia with splits (not more than 15% sound splits) 3.50 6.00%; 16/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Lots of “splits”
Runner (not less than 90% splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Virginia (not less than 90% splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
Spanish and Valencia (not less than 90% splits) 3.50 6.00%; 16/64 inch round screen .20 9.00
(b) Cleaned-inshell peanuts: No handler or importer shall ship or otherwise dispose of cleaned-inshell peanuts for human consumption unless such peanuts are Positive lot identified and are determined by the Inspection Service to contain:
(1) Not more than l.00 percent kernels with mold unless a sample of such peanuts, drawn by an inspector of the Inspection Service, is analyzed chemically by a USDA laboratory or a USDA-approved laboratory and certified “negative” as to aflatoxin;
(2) Not more than 3.50 percent peanuts with damaged or defective kernels;
(3) Not more than 10.00 percent moisture; or
(4) Not more than 0.50 percent foreign material.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 7—Agriculture
Subtitle B—Regulations of the Department of Agriculture
CHAPTER IX—AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (MARKETING AGREEMENTS AND ORDERS; FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
PART 996—MINIMUM QUALITY AND HANDLING STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED PEANUTS MARKETED IN THE UNITED STATES

Minimum Quality Standards—Peanuts for Human Consumption

[Whole kernels and splits: Maximum limitations]

Type and grade category Unshelled peanuts and damaged kernels and minor defects (percent) Total fall through sound whole kernels and/or sound split and broken kernels Foreign materials (percent) Moisture (percent)

Excluding Lots of “splits”

Runner 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Virginia (except No. 2) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Spanish and Valencia 3.50 6.00%; 16/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

No. 2 Virginia 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Runner with splits (not more than 15% sound splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Virginia with splits (not more than 15% sound splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Spanish and Valencia with splits (not more than 15% sound splits) 3.50 6.00%; 16/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Lots of “splits”

Runner (not less than 90% splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Virginia (not less than 90% splits) 3.50 6.00%; 17/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

Spanish and Valencia (not less than 90% splits) 3.50 6.00%; 16/64 inch round screen .20 9.00

(b) Cleaned-inshell peanuts: No handler or importer shall ship or otherwise dispose of cleaned-inshell peanuts for human consumption unless such peanuts are Positive lot identified and are determined by the Inspection Service to contain:

(1) Not more than l.00 percent kernels with mold unless a sample of such peanuts, drawn by an inspector of the Inspection Service, is analyzed chemically by a USDA laboratory or a USDA-approved laboratory and certified “negative” as to aflatoxin;

(2) Not more than 3.50 percent peanuts with damaged or defective kernels;

(3) Not more than 10.00 percent moisture; or

(4) Not more than 0.50 percent foreign material.

Collected 2026-08-27T02:24:01Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection