Quality standards established by AMS Poultry Programs help facilitate the marketing of poultry, rabbits, and shell eggs among buyers and sellers. Standards allow buyers and sellers to specify the level of quality required or expected for a product without having to see or examine products in advance. Buyers and sellers often refer to U.S. standards in their trading specifications and contracts (e.g., "Product must meet U.S. Grade A requirements").

At the option of the buyer or seller, and for a service fee, products can also be officially graded by USDA. Labels for ready-to-cook poultry and rabbit products and shell eggs that include the USDA grade shield indicate that USDA has officially graded that product and that the product met all requirements of the designated quality standard.

AMS Poultry Programs maintains the current U.S. poultry, rabbit, and shell egg standards.

For a printed copy of any of these standards, please contact:

USDA-AMS-Poultry Programs

Standards, Promotion, and Technology Branch

STOP 0259, Room 3944-South

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250

Telephone: (202) 690-3148

FAX: (202) 690-0941

Changing current standards and developing new standards

When current standards are changed and new standards are developed, notices about these activities are published in the Federal Register. The Federal Register Rules and Notices page contains information about these notices.