Federal regulations require most egg producers to take steps to prevent the spread of Salmonella enteritidis
On July 9, 2010, FDA new Final Rule titled “Prevention of Salmonella enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation” went into effect. The regulation requires preventive measures during the production of eggs in poultry houses and requires subsequent refrigeration during storage and transportation. The rule requires that measures designed to prevent Salmonella enteritidis be adopted by virtually all egg producers with 3,000 or more laying hens whose shell eggs are not processed with a treatment, such as pasteurization, to ensure their safety.
To comply with the new federal requirements, most egg producers must do the following:
- Have and implement a written Salmonella enteritidis prevention plan and document compliance.
- Buy only pullets tested for Salmonella enteritidis contamination or raise pullets under monitored conditions.
- Implement biosecurity and pest control programs.
- Clean and disinfect poultry houses with positive Salmonella enteritidis test results.
- Refrigerate eggs at 45° F (9.44° C) during storage and transportation.
- Conduct environmental tests for Salmonella enteritidis and test eggs following positive environmental tests.
- Keep records related to flocks for one year after the flocks are permanently taken out of production.
- Make records available to the FDA within 24 hours of an official request.
- Producers must register with the FDA, which the Federal Register notice states will help the agency with annual inspections and resource allocation.
More information is available at: FDA Egg Safety Final Rule
Producers with more than 50,000 laying hens need to comply with the rule by July 9, 2010, and those with more than 3,000 laying hens but fewer than 50,000 must comply by July 2012.
At the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ISU VDL), we are making every effort to assist you in complying with the requirement for Salmonella enteritidis testing mandated by the Food and Drug Administration. The ISU VDL is a trusted diagnostic facility accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and offers competitively priced testing.
We will provide submission kits that contain all necessary sample collection materials and return-address shipping containers. These kits can be customized to your needs. If you choose to create your own submission kits, we will provide you with the necessary contact information.
Contact information:
Iowa State University
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
1937 Christensen Drive
Ames, Iowa 50011-1100
Telephone: 515-294-1950
FAX: 515-294-3564