Table eggs subject to certification

Effective April 1, 2009 exports of U.S. table eggs must be certified by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as originating from layer flocks that originated from breeder flocks that participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of USDA, which certifies table eggs for export, announced the certification last week in a memorandum to regional directors, staff and graders, according to the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. USAPEEC reported that under the new requirements, export loads of table eggs of Grade B or better, or washed, nest-run table eggs for breaking must have APHIS certification in the form of Form VS 9-3, as well as a certificate of compliance issued by the company.
The requirement essentially expands certification that is currently in place for exports of baby chicks and hatching eggs to include table eggs, said USAPEEC. It will enable APHIS to make the same disease-free statements for table eggs that it makes for live birds and for hatching eggs, providing an additional level of traceability and assurance to foreign buyer.