The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has amended the Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs to align them with recommendations made in the 2012 USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Audit Report, USDA Controls Over Shell Egg Inspections. The amendments clarify the definition of “condition” and update prerequisite requirements for shell eggs eligible for voluntary grading and certification.
AMS amended the definition of the term “condition” to remove the word “wholesomeness” and state that “condition” is a characteristic detected by a sensory examination. This clarifies that the presence of microorganisms in an egg, specifically Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) or other pathogens, cannot be detected during AMS grading inspections. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service maintain jurisdiction for food safety-related issues associated with shell eggs.
AMS also amended the prerequisite requirements of shell eggs eligible for USDA voluntary grading and certification by prohibiting AMS from grading or certifying the following types of eggs: shell eggs that originate from an environment determined positive for the presence of SE, unless the eggs have tested negative for SE; shell eggs that tested positive for SE; and shell eggs that have been recalled or subject to recall.
The final rule was published today in the Sept. 16, 2016, Federal Register. This final rule is effective Sept. 16, 2016. For further information contact David Bowden, Chief, Standardization Branch, Quality Assessment Division; Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Room 3932-S, STOP 0258; Washington, D.C. 20250; by facsimile to (202) 690-2746; or via e-mail to David.Bowden@ams.usda.gov.
Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program