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HHS/FDA RIN: 0910-AC14 Publication ID: Spring 2006 
Title: Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs 
Abstract: In July 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) committed to developing an action plan to address the presence of salmonella enteritidis (SE) in shell eggs and egg products using a farm-to-table approach. FDA and FSIS held a public meeting on August 26, 1999, to obtain stakeholder input on the draft goals, as well as to further develop the objectives and action items for the action plan. The Egg Safety Action Plan was announced on December 11, 1999. The goal of the Action Plan is to reduce egg-related SE illnesses by 50 percent by 2005 and eliminate egg-related SE illnesses by 2010. The Egg Safety Action Plan consists of eight objectives covering all stages of the farm-to-table continuum as well as support functions. On March 30, 2000 (Columbus, OH), April 6, 2000 (Sacramento, CA), and July 31, 2000 (Washington, DC), joint public meetings were held by FDA and FSIS to solicit and discuss information related to the implementation of the objectives in the Egg Safety Action Plan. On September 22, 2004, FDA published a proposed rule that would require egg safety measures to prevent the contamination of shell eggs with SE during egg production. This proposal would reduce SE prevalence in the egg production environment and consequently in the eggs themselves. Most SE contamination of eggs is a result of SE infection in the laying hen's reproductive tract, called transovarian contamination. The proposed measures are designed to reduce the likelihood of this transovarian contamination and include: (1) Provisions for procurement of chicks and pullets; (2) a biosecurity program; (3) a rodent and pest control program; (4) cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses that have had an environmental or egg test positive for SE; (5) egg testing when an environmental test is positive; and (6) refrigerated storage of eggs held at the farm. Additionally, to verify that the measures have been effective, the rule proposes that producers test the poultry house environment for SE. If the environmental test is positive, eggs from that environment must be tested for SE, and if the egg test is positive, the eggs must be diverted to egg products processing or a treatment process that achieves at least a 5-log destruction of SE. The proposed rule is one step in a broader farm-to-table egg safety effort that includes FDA's requirements for safe handling statements on egg cartons and refrigerated storage of shell eggs at retail and egg safety education for consumers and retail establishments. The rule had a 90-day comment period, which ended December 21, 2004. To discuss the proposed rule and solicit comments from interested stakeholders, FDA held three public meetings: October 28, 2004, in College Park, MD; November 9, 2004, in Chicago, IL; and November 16, 2004, in Los Angeles, CA. The comment period was reopened until July 25, 2005 to solicit further comment and information on industry practices and programs that prevent SE monitored chicks from becoming infected by SE during the period of pullet rearing until placement into laying hen houses. 
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services(HHS)  Priority: Economically Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: Private Sector 
CFR Citation: 21 CFR 16    21 CFR 116    21 CFR 118   
Legal Authority: 21 USC 321    21 USC 342    21 USC 371    21 USC 381    21 USC 393    42 USC 243    42 USC 264    42 USC 271    ...   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  09/22/2004  69 FR 56824   
Final Action  12/00/2006    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: State 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: Yes 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
Agency Contact:
John F. Sheehan
Director, Office of Food Safety, Division of Plant and Dairy Food Safety
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-315), 5100 Paint Branch Parkway ,
College Park, MD 20740
Phone:240 402-1488
Fax:301 436-2632
Email: john.sheehan@fda.hhs.gov