(1) Based upon standards established by the Federal Grain Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Washington state department of agriculture's (department) fees for the certification of hops are:

(2)(a) Before official sampling of baled hops takes place, each and every bale in a lot of hops must be readily accessible so that:

(i) Each bale can be properly stenciled; and

(ii) Samples can be drawn from the bales selected by the inspector.

(b) Official samples drawn from baled hops must be brought back to the laboratory by the inspector for grading analysis.

(3) The department may perform official lot inspection and/or certification of hops packaged by alternative methods (e.g., hops not baled prior to processing) subject to conditions specified in a written agreement between the department and the person(s) requesting the service.

(4)(a) Submitted samples provided by a grower or dealer for grading analysis must be representative of the lot(s) and the hop material.

(b) Submitted samples must be delivered to the laboratory.

(1) Before official sampling of baled hops takes place, each and every bale in a lot of hops must be readily accessible so that:

(a) Each bale can be properly stenciled (not done for brewing value only sampling); and

(b) Samples can be drawn from the bales selected by the inspector.

(2) Official samples drawn from baled hops must be brought back to the laboratory by the inspector for chemical analysis, simultaneous with grading analysis.

(3) Brewing value samples are obtained from a representative composite of the official samples drawn for grade analysis.

(4) Brewing value samples not sampled simultaneously for grade analysis will be charged at the same fee per bale.

(5) When department personnel officially sample hops, a brewing value certificate will be issued when the chemical analysis is done.

(6)(a) Submitted brewing value samples provided by a grower or dealer for chemical analysis must be representative of the lot(s).

(b) Submitted samples must be delivered to the laboratory.

(7) Submitted brewing value certificates will be issued for submitted samples when the chemical analysis is done.

(8) Department fees for the chemical analyses of officially sampled raw hops are:

(9) Department fees for chemical analyses of submitted raw hops, hop extract, hop pellets or hop powders are:

(10)(a) The department will assess hourly charges for analytical chemistry work if no other fee has been established.

(b) Hourly charges are set by written agreement and shall be based on the costs incurred to conduct the analysis, such as:

• Labor

• Laboratory equipment

• Chemicals and materials

• Administration and overhead.

The department charges the following fees for issuing certificates related to hops and hop products:

(1) The department will bill for services rendered.

(2) The fees and charges billed are due to the department within thirty days of the statement date.

(3) If the department does not receive payment within thirty days of the statement date, the department may:

(a) Withhold services until the delinquent account is paid; and

(b) Accept only cash payments for future services rendered.

(4) The department assesses a penalty of twelve percent per annum on all delinquent account balances.

In addition to all other applicable fees, commodity cooperative service agreement fees for commodity inspection services (pulses, hops, and miscellaneous processed commodities), excluding rice, will be assessed at the current percentage rate identified in Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) Directive 9180.74 (Service Fees and Billing Codes, Attachment 4). The assessed fees must exclude travel, mailing expenses, and state and local taxes. Invoices will identify assessed commodity cooperative service agreement fees as separate line items.