In the September 16, 2016, Federal Regiser, USDA's AMS announced it will amend the regulations governing the voluntary grading of shell eggs to clarify the definition of "condition" and revise the prerequisite requirement for shell eggs eligible for voluntary USDA grading and certification. AMS stated that the revised definition will remove the term "wholesomeness" and state that "condition" is a characteristic detected by a sensory examination, under which presence of microorganisms, specifically Salmonella Enteritidis ("SE") or other pathogens, in the content of an egg cannot be detected. In addition, AMS stated that the revision of the shell egg grading program, which is designed to assist in the orderly marketing of shell eggs by providing the official certification of egg quality, size, condition, and other factors, will prohibit the use of SE-adulterated or recalled shell eggs from being presented to USDA for grading and certification. The rule was effective September 16, 2016.
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