Export Requirements for the European Union (Processed Egg Products)
EEU-3 (Apr 25, 2007)
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Egg products intended for commerce within a European Union member country
0n and after April 26, 2007, FSIS Form 9190-1 (11/25/2002) can not
be used for U.S. shipments of egg products going into a European
Union member country. European Union member countries are: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United
Kingdom.
An FSIS letterhead health certificate will be used to replace FSIS
9190-1. See the Certification section below.*
Egg products for transit through or temporary storage in a European Union member country
On and after April 26, 2007, shipments of U.S. egg products
transiting through or being temporarily stored in a European Union
member country (including ships' stores and military shipments) must
be accompanied by an
EU transit/storage letterhead certificate.
The new letterhead transit/storage certificate relates to animal
health issues only and can be signed by either an FSIS Egg Products
Inspector or an FSIS veterinary medical officer. The new letterhead
certificate is available in English and in various language
translations. Guidelines
for completion are available.
The following information describes specific sampling, testing
and certification requirements for egg products intended for
commerce within the European
Union.
.
Sampling
- The sampling requirements for unpasteurized and finished product
laboratory analyses to be completed for each production lot for
certification purposes are:
- Organic acid (3 OH-butyric acid and lactic acid)*
- To provide an adequate amount of product for these analyses,
collect a separate sample of unpasteurized product. If the
production run involves the processing of liquid unpasteurized
egg which is representative of the shell egg broken, an 8-ounce
sample is adequate. However, if different storage tanks
represent different shell eggs broken or bulk liquid received,
an 8-ounce composite from all storage tanks shall be submitted.
Unpasteurized albumen intended for drying must be sampled prior
to adding culture or adjustment of the pH with a food grade
acid(s). The sample must be specifically identified with
applicable information for analysis for organic acids. Freeze the sample for shipment. Complete a separate
certificate, Form PY-200, to accompany the sample to the
laboratory in a separate shipping container. If laboratory
results show no detection of organic acids, the results will be
recorded as negative. When results are positive, the laboratory
will indicate the type and amount of organic acid present.
To be eligible for certification the amount of each organic acid cannot exceed that listed below:
Lactic acid - 1,000 mg/kg
OH-butyric acid - 10 mg/kg
Example of instruction to the laboratory technician: Test
for organic acids (3 OH-butyric acid and lactic acid.)
- Enterobacteriaceae* -
Identify in the instructions to the laboratory technician, five
samples for individual analysis for enterobacteriaceae. Results
for each sample will be reported on the certificate. A lot is
not eligible for certification if any result for
enterobacteriaceae is reported as more than 100 colony forming
units per gram or ml or if more than 2 samples are greater than
10 colony forming units per gram or ml. Example of
the instructions to the laboratory technician: Analyze (five
samples) sample individually for enterobacteriaceae.
- Extraneous material (egg shell, egg membrane, and other particles)
- Collect and identify a separate sample of finished product for
analysis for extraneous material. Submit an 8-ounce sample for
both pasteurized liquid/frozen or dried product. To be eligible
for certification, results cannot exceed 100 mg/kg in finished
product. Example of the instructions to the
laboratory technician: Analyze for extraneous material.
To prevent confusion at the laboratory, it is essential that all
samples be legibly identified (sample number, code date, name of plant,
and the type of analysis to be performed - e.g., microbiological,
organic acids, extraneous material). Additionally, the instructions to
the laboratory technician must be specific to assure that the necessary
analyses are completed.
All samples for this certification must be sent to:
USDA, AMS, Science and Technology
Eastern Laboratory
2311-B Aberdeen Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054
Telephone (704) 867-3873
Certification
Upon receipt of results of laboratory analyses, determine that
the lot of product tested is eligible (does not exceed the criteria
stated above) for certification. Each shipment consigned to a destination within the European
Union must be accompanied by FSIS Form PY-200, Egg Products
Inspection and Grading Certificate, and an FSIS
letterhead certificate. The letterhead certificate is available in English,
French,
German,
Spanish,
Italian,
Netherlands,
Lithuanian,
Greek,
and Polish.
The English letterhead certificate should be issued for all shipments and certificates in other languages may be
issued upon request of the exporter.*
Apply an export stamp (as shown in 9 CFR 381.104) to each page of
the letterhead certificate in a color other than black. The export
stamp will show the corresponding PY-200 certificate number. Form
PY-200 will continue to be obtained through normal channels and used
by egg product inspectors as they have been used in the past.*
See guidelines to complete the letterhead certificate.*
Expenses
The additional time required for collection of samples and
preparation of the certificates shall be charged to the plant at the
applicable fee rate as stated in the Regulations Governing the
Voluntary Inspection of Egg Products and Grading. Shipping
materials, containers, and mailing expenses are the responsibility
of the applicant.
Note: To obtain updated laboratory fee rates go to:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_01/7cfr91_01.html
Plant Eligibility
All FSIS inspected egg products plants are eligible to export egg
products to the EU.*
EEU-4 (Apr 25, 2007)
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