United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers

Résumé

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the regulations governing the United States (U.S.) Standards for Condition of Food Containers. AMS regularly reviews standards to determine if they meet current industry practices. Based on our most recent review, we believe that the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers needs to be revised. The revisions are necessary in order to provide standards that reflect current industry practices. Revisions to the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers include simplifying Tables I, I-A, II, II-A, III, III-A, and III-B for sampling plans for normal, tightened, and reduced condition of container inspection to reflect the type of sampling plan used (single or double). It also includes updating the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs), Tables IV-- Metal Containers, V--Glass Containers, VI--Rigid and Semirigid Containers, VII--Flexible Containers (Plastic, Cello, Paper, Textile, etc.), and X--Defects of Label, Marking, or Code (currently Table VIII) to incorporate new defects and updating current defects to include defects that would correspond to new packaging technologies such as aseptic packaging, metal cans with easy o