How are eggs regulated by the Federal Government?
FDA has jurisdiction over the safety of foods in general, including shell eggs, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. FDA also has authority to take actions to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases under the Public Health Service Act. This authority includes regulating foods when foods may act as a vector of communicable disease, as eggs may for SE. The USDA has responsibility for implementing the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA), which it carries out through programs administrated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). FSIS has primary responsibility for the inspection of processed egg products to prevent the distribution into commerce of adulterated or misbranded egg products, while AMS conducts a surveillance program to ensure proper disposition of restricted shell eggs. Additionally, AMS provides grading and certification services on a voluntary basis. All shell eggs are eligible for these services, whic
