AMS offers two voluntary, fee-based equipment review and certification programs to the food processing industry: the Dairy Equipment Review Program and the Meat and Poultry Equipment Review Program. AMS specialists base equipment reviews on an examination of engineering drawings and of actual processing equipment, required for the final review, often with the participation of design engineers. We provide these voluntary services upon request to equipment manufacturers who wish to have their equipment certified or would like to display the AMS official identification mark on their equipment (meat & poultry equipment only). AMS charges fees for these reviews, related travel and other expenses.
Resources for Dairy Equipment Review
- USDA-Dairy Accepted Equipment List - April 2009 (pdf)
- USDA Guidelines for the Sanitary Design and Fabrication of Dairy Processing Equipment February 2022 (pdf)
- 3-A Sanitary Standards & Accepted Practices
Resources for Meat and Poultry Equipment Review
- Meat and Poultry Equipment Program Accepted Equipment List - April 2012 (pdf)
- Guidelines for the Evaluation and Certification of the Sanitary Design and Fabrication of Meat and Poultry Processing Equipment - February 2009 (pdf)
Forms
Forms are fillable on line but must be printed and signed. The signed form may be faxed (630-437-5060).
- DA155 - Application to Use Official ID
- DA156 - Request to Display Official ID
- DA157 - Request to validate a prior meat and poultry equipment acceptance
- DA162 - Equipment Review Request form
Contact Information
Lisle, IL (National Field Office):
National Program Coordinator, Plant Surveys, Equipment and Facility Reviews
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Dairy Program
Grading and Standards Division, Dairy Grading Branch
2150 Western Court
Suite 100
Lisle, IL 60532-1973
Phone: 630-437-5032
Fax: 630-437-5060
Washington, DC (Headquarters) (Appeals):
Attention: William Francis
Acting Director
USDA-AMS Dairy Program, Grading and Standards Division
Room 2746-South Building
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-0230
Phone: 202-690-0530
Fax: 202-720-2643