Iowa Admin. Code r. 21-90.15

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 8, October 30, 2024

Rule 21-90.15 - Warehouse receipts

(1)Warehouse receipt forms. Warehouse receipt forms shall be 8.25 inches wide by 7 inches long or 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches long and shall be printed in not less than triplicate. The original receipt shall be white, and the weight of the paper shall not be less than 20-pound base; the warehouse operator's copy shall be yellow and the weight of the paper shall not be less than 16-pound base; and the owner's copy shall be green and the weight of the paper shall not be less than 16-pound base. Receipts issued for bulk grain and receipts issued for agricultural products other than bulk grain shall be in a form prescribed by the department. The bureau shall have control over the printing of warehouse receipts.

(2)Electronic warehouse receipts. A warehouse operator licensed in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 203 C may contract with an independent provider to issue electronic warehouse receipts for grain and other agricultural products subject to the provisions of this chapter The provider shall be approved by the department.

(3)Electronic warehouse receipt providers and provider agreements. A provider shall be independent of any outside influence or bias in action or appearance. A provider shall enter into a provider agreement with the department prior to being approved by the department. A provider shall file and maintain electronic warehouse receipts only on behalf of licensed warehouse operators who contract with the provider for those services. The provider agreement shall be subject to, but not be limited to, the provisions of paragraphs"a" through"k" of this subrule.

a.Provider to he approved by the USDA. No provider shall be approved by the department unless the provider is first approved as an electronic warehouse receipt provider by the USDA pursuant to the provisions of 7 CFR Part 735. Upon department request, a provider shall provide a copy of the provider's executed USDA Form WA-460 and any addenda, and any other documentation requested by the department to confirm that the provider is a USDA-approved provider in good standing.

b.USDA action against providers. In the event that the USDA shall take action to deny, withdraw, suspend, reinstate or terminate a USDA Provider Agreement, the department shall automatically take the same action and the provider shall be subject to such action by the department. A provider shall notify the department of any such actions taken by the USDA.

c.Provider to service only licensed warehouse operators. A provider shall enter into user agreements under the terms of this rule only with warehouse operators licensed in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 203 C. A provider shall not issue electronic warehouse receipts for grain or other agricultural products on behalf of a warehouse operator in the state of Iowa unless the warehouse operator is licensed in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 203C or the United States Warehouse Act.

d.Notice requirements for providers.

(1) When entering into a new user agreement, a provider shall provide written notice to the department.

(2) All notices to the USDA required by 7 CFR Part 735 and in the USDA Provider Agreement shall also be served upon the department except as specifically exempted in the provider agreement.

(3) In the user agreement, a provider shall include a notice to the warehouse operator that the data on the provider's central filing system is subject to disclosure to the department and the USDA.

e.Provisions to cease issuing electronic warehouse receipts. Upon notice by the department that a warehouse operator license issued under Iowa Code chapter 203 C has expired or has been canceled, suspended or revoked, a provider shall prohibit the warehouse operator from issuing any electronic warehouse receipts until further notice from the department.

f.Department access to electronic warehouse receipt data. A provider shall allow the department unrestricted access to the central filing system for electronic warehouse receipts issued on behalf of warehouse operators licensed by the department. The electronic warehouse receipt data shall be maintained for six years after cancellation of the receipts. Access shall be made available in a manner that allows interaction with department warehouse examinations. Access shall be free of any charge or costs to the department.

g. Information profile. Upon issuance of a new user agreement to a warehouse operator licensed under Iowa Code chapter 203 C, the provider shall notify the department and request an information profile. The department shall provide an information profile about the warehouse operator to the provider The information profile shall consist of identifying information unique to each warehouse operator and shall be contained within each electronic warehouse receipt issued by a warehouse operator The information profile shall include all statements and content required for warehouse receipts by the laws of the state of Iowa and as required by the provisions of the USDA Form WA-460 and any addenda pursuant to paragraph"a " of this subrule. This information profile shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The warehouse operator's name;

(2) The type of business organization and the state under whose laws the business is organized;

(3) The location of the warehouse operator's corporate headquarters and the location of the warehouse;

(4) The warehouse operator's license number; and

(5) For grain warehouse receipts, the following statement: "The warehouse operator named herein, licensed under Iowa Code chapter 203 C, has received for storage bulk grain of the amount, kind and grade, as determined in accordance with the official grain standards of the United States, for which this receipt is issued, subject to the provisions of Iowa Code chapters 203C and 203D and the applicable rules. Said grain is fully insured, unless otherwise allowed by law and noted within this receipt, by the above-named warehouse operator against loss or damage by fire, windstorm and inherent explosion."

h. Termination of provider agreement. The department or provider may terminate the provider agreement upon 60 days' written notice to the other party. The department shall terminate a provider agreement on less than 60 days' notice in accordance with paragraph"b" of this subrule. Upon termination of the provider agreement, the provider shall immediately surrender copies of the electronic data and paper records to the department for any electronic warehouse receipts contained within the central filing system. Such data and paper record copies, however, are limited to electronic warehouse receipts issued by warehouse operators licensed under the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 203C.

i. Authorization, jurisdiction and liability. A provider shall be authorized to transact business in the state of Iowa and shall consent to jurisdiction in the state of Iowa and venue in Polk County, Iowa. A provider shall be liable to the department for costs incurred by the department as a result of action taken in the event of a failure of the central filing system or any inability to provide the access required in paragraph '/" of this subrule.

j.Nonexclusive use. A warehouse operator shall not be required to issue warehouse receipts in electronic form.

k. Receiverships and indemnity fund claims -department as electronic warehouse receipt holder

(1) A provider shall allow for the department and the grain indemnity fund board to be a sole or joint holder of an electronic warehouse receipt when the issuing warehouse operator's license has been revoked and either one or both of the following apply:

1. The electronic warehouse receipt has been surrendered to the department by a claimant for the proceeds of a grain receivership pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 203 C.

2. The electronic warehouse receipt has been surrendered to the department or the grain indemnity fund board by a claimant for payment of a grain indemnity fund claim pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 203D.

(2) When an electronic receipt holder files a claim against a grain receivership or against the grain indemnity fund, the department shall obtain the consent and instruction of the holder to change the holder information on the provider's central filing system. The provider shall take any action ordered by the department in regard to an electronic warehouse receipt involved with a grain receivership or a grain indemnity fund claim. The department shall provide documentary evidence of the claim and any resulting required action to the provider The department may order any action including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Reducing the quantity and value of the product represented by an electronic receipt upon payment of partial value from either receivership proceeds or the grain indemnity fund;

2. Prohibiting an electronic warehouse receipt from being negotiated or otherwise transferred without the department's consent due to payment of partial value from either receivership proceeds or the grain indemnity fund;

3. Canceling a warehouse receipt upon payment of full value to a claimant from receivership proceeds, and issuing a replacement receipt to the department if needed.

(4)Electronic warehouse receipt users and agreements. Prior to engaging in the issuance of electronic warehouse receipts, a warehouse operator shall enter into a user agreement with a provider approved by the department. All electronic warehouse receipts issued by the warehouse operator shall be issued through and filed in the provider's electronic central filing system. As used in this subrule, "warehouse operator" means a warehouse operator who has obtained a license for the operation of a warehouse under Iowa Code section 203C.6. The use of electronic warehouse receipts is subject to the provisions of paragraphs 90.15(3)"a" through"g. "

a.Warehouse operator to use only one provider A warehouse operator shall issue electronic warehouse receipts through only one provider

b.Changing providers. Subject to the provisions of a user agreement in effect, a warehouse operator may change providers once per year. The provider shall follow the transfer terms specified in USDA Form WA-460 and any addenda pursuant to paragraph 90.15(3)"a. " The warehouse operator shall notify the department of a change in provider

c.Numbering of receipts -no duplication. Electronic warehouse receipts shall be numbered and shall be issued consecutively starting with the number specified to the provider by the department. A warehouse operator shall not at any time have an electronic warehouse receipt and a paper warehouse receipt outstanding for the same lot of grain.

d.Nonexclusive use. A warehouse operator shall not require a depositor to accept an electronic warehouse receipt in lieu of a paper warehouse receipt.

e.Receipt holder power of attorney. A warehouse operator or a third party may not handle electronic warehouse receipts on behalf of a depositor unless a written power of attorney to do so has been provided by the depositor Such power of attorney shall be provided to the department for inspection and verification upon the department's request.

f.Issuance and cancellation of receipts. The provisions for issuance and cancellation of warehouse receipts found in rules 21-90.12 (203C) and 21-90.13 (203C) shall apply to electronic warehouse receipts except to the extent that the rules are not applicable to electronic warehouse receipts. A warehouse operator shall not cancel an electronic warehouse receipt unless the warehouse operator is the holder of the warehouse receipt.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 203C.2, 203C.5, 203C.6 and 203C.I8.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 21-90.15

ARC 7553B, lAB 2/11/09, effective 3/18/09; ARC 9388B, lAB 2/23/11, effective 3/30/11