Code of Federal Regulations Title 7. Agriculture § 7.800.186 Standards of conduct

(1) Perform any official inspection, Class X or Class Y weighing, or equipment testing service unless licensed or authorized to do so;

(2) Engage in criminal, dishonest, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or other conduct prejudicial to the Department or the Service;

(3) Report for duty in an intoxicated or drugged condition, or consume intoxicating beverages or incapacitating drugs while on duty;

(4) Smoke in prohibited areas in elevators or perform official services in an unsafe manner that could endanger official personnel working on or about the premises;

(5) Make unwarranted criticisms or accusations against other official personnel, warehouse samplers, or employees of the Department;  and

(6) Refuse to testify or respond to questions in connection with official inquiries or investigations.

(7) Coerce or attempt to coerce any person into providing any special or undue benefit to official personnel, approved weighers, or warehouse samplers.

(1) Solicit contributions from other official personnel or warehouse samplers for an employee of the Service, or make such a contribution. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the occasional voluntary giving or acceptance of gifts of a nominal value on special occasions;

(2) Take any action that might (i) create the appearance of a loss of impartiality or (ii) adversely affect the confidence of the public in the integrity of the inspection, weighing, or equipment testing services performed under the Act;

(3) Except as provided in § 800.76(a), engage in any outside (unofficial) work or activity that:

(4) Issue to other official personnel, warehouse samplers, or approved weighers any instructions or directives inconsistent with the Act, the regulations, the Official U.S. Standards for Grain, or the instructions;

(5) Organize or help establish a general or specialized farm organization, or act as an officer or business agency in, recruit members for, or accept office space or contributions from such an organization;

(6) Advocate that any general or specialized farm organization better represents the interest of farmers than any other organization or individual, or recommend that the responsibilities of any government agency be carried out through a general or specialized farm organization. Nothing in paragraph (c)(5) of this section shall prevent official personnel from holding membership in a general or specialized farm organization or prohibit official personnel from participating in the operation of local groups or organizations that conduct government-authorized programs.