1. What are consumable goods and where are the regulations for the consumable goods allowance found?
Consumable goods are expendable personal property because they are used up, as opposed to eroding or wearing out.  The three categories of consumable goods are foodstuff, personal, and household maintenance.  Consumable goods do not include items to maintain an automobile or other machinery, such as car batteries or tires, which are prohibited in consumable goods shipments.

See JTR, par. 052002-F for Service members; par. 054310 for DoD civilian employees; App A definition; and https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/AP-CG-01.pdf for consumable goods criteria and designated locations. 

2. What is the purpose of the consumable goods allowance? 
The consumable goods allowance was implemented in June 1980 for Uniformed Service members and DoD civilian employees.  The purpose is to provide eligible relocating Service members and civilian employees with essential consumable goods when assigned to PDSs OCONUS where it is difficult to locally obtain essential consumable items due to lack of reliable access to adequate local food and other supplies.  The consumable goods allowance is not authorized in CONUS locations as they are intended to provide similar quality-of-life for designated assignments OCONUS.

3. How is a consumable goods allowance location established? 
The senior officer of the location OCONUS submits a justified request via appropriate Service or Agency organizational channels to PDTATAC staff for review and approval if all criteria is met.  If the command structure is unknown, contact the MAP or CAP representative for assistance.

4. Are JTR and State Department consumable goods designated locations the same? 
No, because the organization determines if a consumable goods allowance is necessary for a specific location. There may be Defense personnel at locations where there are no State Department (DoS) personnel, and vice versa.  The JTR applies to Uniformed Service members assigned to State Department locations, but DoS travel regulations apply to funded PCS travel of DoD civilian employees.

5. Who may be authorized consumable goods allowance transportation? 
Eligible DoD civilian employees and Service members assigned to the Consumable Goods Designated Locations. Consumable goods allowance transportation authority is annotated on the official PCS travel order.

6. Can consumable goods be shipped after arriving at the new PDS? 
Yes, if authorized and if the PDS OCONUS is a designated location for a consumable goods allowance shipment. The eligible traveler must have more than one year remaining at the PDS OCONUS (one year from receipt of the consumable goods shipment date).

7. How many consumable goods shipments are allowed? 
Two consumable goods shipments (totaling 1,250 pounds) per year are allowed if eligible, and the consumable goods allowance is authorized by the appropriate authority.

8. Is it possible to increase the consumable goods weight allowance? 
Yes.  A request for an increased consumable goods weight allowance must be justified, in writing, and sent through the appropriate Service or Agency organizational channels to PDTATAC staff for consideration. The consumable goods maximum weight allowance is 2,000 pounds per year.

9. Is the consumable goods weight total exempt from the PCS weight allowance? 
Yes and No.  For Service members, the consumable goods weight allowance is in addition to the authorized HHG weight allowance.  A DoD civilian employee’s weight allowance includes the consumable goods weight.