FDA Issues New Guidance on Egg Safety Rule

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 12 published additional guidance for egg producers to help them further comply with the new federal egg safety rule that became effective July 9, 2010, for egg producers having 50,000 or more laying hens.

The new egg safety rule requires egg producers to have preventive measures in place on the farm during the production of shell eggs and subsequent refrigeration during storage and transportation.

"Guidance for Industry: Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation" provides recommendations on certain provisions contained in the rule, including how to implement Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) prevention measures, how to sample for SE, and how to maintain records documenting compliance with the final rule. The guidance provides recommendations on biosecurity; rodents, flies, and other pest control; cleaning and disinfection; environmental testing for SE; egg testing for SE; sampling methodology for SE; and recordkeeping requirements for the SE prevention plan. While the rule lists the measures producers must take to comply with the rule, the guidance offers more specific recommendations and options for several of the measures.

The FDA issued the egg safety rule in July 2009, requiring egg producers to have preventive measures in place on the farm during the production of shell eggs and subsequent refrigeration during storage and transportation.