Draft of Vegetable Oil Requirements Document VO16

AMS is seeking input from eligible and potential suppliers regarding proposed changes to the attached draft Commodity Requirements Document(CRD) for Fortified Vegetable Oil (VO 16). This product is purchased and distributed for international food aid programs.

These proposed changes update the following requirements:

- Antioxidants - providing additional flexibility to limit oxidation

- Packaging - enhanced functionality for cans to help recipients utilize the full volume, limit leaking, and allow for shipping optimization.

o Please provide comments regarding steel can sizes (e.g. 3-5 Liters, 1-5 gallons, or other sizes/volumes you currently manufacture) and case configurations that you sell to domestic and international customers

o Please indicate what lead time, if any, you would need to supply fortified vegetable oil in the proposed 1 gallon rectangular steel container with closure located at the edge of the container

- Palletization - optimizing avoid shifting of loads during transportation and unloading at ports and warehouses

- Food and Drug Administration and Global Food Safety Systems (Food Safety Modernization Act and FSSC22000) compliance

Thank you in advance for your comments and feedback so that USDA can align with best practices in order to purchase and distribute these products as efficiently as possible.

Please send responses to laura.walter@ams.usda.gov or kyla.stoufer@ams.usda.gov no later than July 6.