Certification of Shell Eggs Destined for Territories of the United States of America

According to APHIS, animal health certificates (AMS Disease Free Statements) are not to be issued for shell eggs in interstate commerce or shipment to the territories of the United States of America as listed below.  The shipment of shell eggs to the following territories of the United States of America are considered, for certification purposes, domestic commerce.

For shipments of shell eggs to territories of the United States of America, as listed below, shell egg graders are not to issue a Disease Free Certification Statement or identify shipping cartons and/or cases with the “Graded for Export” stamp.   The Shell Egg Grading Certificate, Form LP-210S demonstrating that the eggs are fit for human consumption, shall be the only document the shell egg grader issues for product destined to the territories listed below. 

While shell eggs distributed to US territories are considered domestic commerce, the EPIA allows for “states in noncontiguous areas of the United States” to develop additional requirements. US territories that have developed additional labeling and/or certification requirements will be noted below.

List of Territories of the United States of America:

  1. Guam
  2. Puerto Rico
  3. American Samoa (Note: Western Samoa is a sovereign nation and is considered an export shipment. Shipments to Western Samoa must follow guidance in General Export Instructions)
    1. Tutuila
    2. Manu’a Islands
    3. Rose Atoll
    4. Swains Island
  4. U.S. Virgin Islands
    1. Saint Croix
    2. Saint John
    3. Saint Thomas
  5. Northern Mariana Islands
    1. Saipan
    2. Tinian
    3. Rota
  6. Midway Island, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Navassa, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island

This list is subject to change based on the administrative decisions made by the Government of the United States of America.  If there are any questions regarding the certification of shell eggs destined for territories of the United States of America, please contact the local AMS supervisor or Regional Office.

Shipments to Guam 

The Guam Department of Agriculture has issued guidance for shipments of shell eggs. Guam is a territory of the United States and is not considered an export by USDA/APHIS. For certification purposes, the export stamp should not be used since the product is considered, for certification purposes, as identical to domestic commerce. Guam does not have an approved specification but has provided the following guidance to help alleviate labeling issues upon arrival. Ultimately, labeling compliance is the responsibility of plant management.

  • Loads must be accompanied by a USDA Shell Egg Grading certificate, LP-210S
  • On the grading certificate, the date of packaging for each lot should be clearly stated in the remarks section. For example: Lot 001 = Date of Pack January 1, 2021.
  • Julian date codes are not acceptable for retail cartons/cases of eggs. The terms: “Pack Date,” “Date of Pack,” or DOP are an acceptable means to convey to consumers when the eggs were packaged.
  • The date of pack is expressed on the cartons as Month-Day-Year, MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY. Examples: DOP APR 10, 2021, DOP 04/10/21, or DOP 04/10/2019.
  • Cartons with any preprinted type of expiration or sell-by wording may be used without it being obliterated.
  • IT IS NOT REQUIRED TO STAMP INDIVIDUAL EGGS WITH “US”. Several years ago, Guam removed this requirement from their regulations. This is often costly to producers and is not necessary.

Shipments to Puerto Rico  

Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States and is not considered an export by USDA/APHIS.  For certification purposes, the export stamp should not be used since the product is considered, for certification purposes, as identical to domestic commerce.  Puerto Rico does not have an approved specification.  This guidance has been derived from portions of the Puerto Rico Agriculture Department’s Market Regulation No. 3.  Ultimately, compliance with all of Puerto Rico’s egg regulations is the responsibility of the producer or broker.

  1. Grade Requirements - Eggs must be graded and certified as U.S. Grade A as outlined in the United States Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs. The Puerto Rico Dept. of Agriculture does not recognize state issued certifications and audit programs as an equivalent substitute for USDA/AMS grading certifications.  State certifications will not be accepted.
  2. Individual Egg Stamping - Puerto Rico Market Regulation No. 3 states: “Imported eggs that are marketed in Puerto Rico must be marked directly on their shell with the abbreviation "U.S." if they were produced in the United States.”  Recognizing the difficulty in clearly stamping the rounded surface of an egg, a lot average tolerance of 10-percent for individual eggs with partial, illegible, or no marks in any combination is permitted with no individual case exceeding 20-percent.  These tolerances may be applied as a moving average when performing online sampling or as a lot average while performing stationary lot gradings.

    Effective November 1, 2019, brown eggs must be stamped with black, dark blue, or green ink color. White eggs can continue to be stamped with any color that provides adequate legibility.

 

  1. Labeling
    1. Case and/or Case Label - Any box or container of eggs that is marketed in Puerto Rico must be labeled with clearly legible letters either stenciled directly on the box or container or printed on a label firmly attached to the box or container.  Labeling must include, but is not limited to, the following:
      1. Grade and weight class.
      2. Name / address of packer.
      3. Number of eggs in the container.
      4. Code Dating: (date of pack expressed as Julian date).
      5. USE BY dating: 45 day maximum, including day of pack (Must use this format: Use By JUL 01 2019).
      6. Cases containing flats of loose eggs should state: “for institutional use only” on label.
        • Flats of loose eggs must indicate a 45 day “USE BY” date on the flat or printed directly on the individual eggs (same date format as on label).
      7. Name of importer and license number.
      8. Plant number.
      9. USDA Grade A stamp with certificate number.  (Certificate number in stamp must match the number on the issued certificate). Do not use lot numbering or dates in the stamp.
      10. Grade percentages:
        • Use U.S. consumer grade destination tolerances - 82% A Grade or higher (AA).
    2. Individual Consumer Packages - Containers containing eggs for direct sale to the consumer must have the following information printed:
      1. Grade, weight class, and brand.
      2. Name / address of packer.
      3. Plant number.
      4. Code Dating: (date of pack expressed as the Julian date).
      5. USE BY dating: 45 day maximum, including day of pack (Must use this format: Use By JUL 01 2019).
        • Flats of loose eggs must indicate a 45 day “USE BY” date on the flat OR printed directly on the individual eggs. (same date format as on carton).
      6. Number of eggs in the container.
  2. Certificate Preparation - All eggs intended for distribution to Puerto Rico must be USDA graded and accompanied by a LP-210S grading certificate.
    • Certificate must state: “Eggs are fit for human consumption” in remarks section.