United States Department of Agriculture

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 

facilitates the export of U.S. table eggs by certifying 

they meet the requirements of countries importing 

eggs from U.S. businesses. Before shell eggs can be 

exported, they must be produced under continuous 

AMS supervision and certified as “fit for human 

consumption,” meaning the eggs are washed and 

sanitized using approved methods and compounds. 

The product is also graded for quality according to 

the U.S. Grade Standards for Shell Eggs.

USDA 

Certification of 

Shell Eggs for 

Export

Agricultural Marketing Service

(continued on back)

Controls for Avian 

Disease 

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS) notifies 

AMS when avian health incidents 

occur in the U.S. If control zones 

are imposed by importing countries 

as a result of an incident, AMS 

updates the Shell Egg Export 

Restrictions list to include 

identified control zones. The list is 

available on the AMS website: 

www.ams.usda.gov/services/

imports-exports/eggs-egg-products

Prior to issuing export documents, 

AMS verifies source flock 

eligibility by referring to the list 

of restrictions. AMS certification 

is withheld if the layer flock or 

processing facility is within an 

identified control zone. 

Layer Health 

Requirements

Shell eggs intended for export 

must be traceable to breeder 

flocks in the National Poultry 

Improvement Plan (NPIP). 

Prior to AMS certification, facility 

management must provide the 

following information to AMS 

demonstrating that the source flock 

(layer flock) has originated from 

NPIP certified breeder stock:

• Form VS 9-3 – Report of Sales 

of Hatching Eggs, Chicks and 

Poults, corresponding to the 

layer flock.

• A Certificate of Conformance 

stating that the identified 

layer flock (ranch name, 

address, and flock identity) is 

covered by the corresponding 

NPIP Form VS 9-3.

• Documentation of routine 

monitoring for Avian Influenza.

A processor must also include these 

reports when purchasing shell eggs 

from another company. 

May 2017 www.ams.usda.gov

Learn more about AMS Shell Egg 

Export Services:

www.ams.usda.gov/services/importsexports/eggs-egg-products
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Agricultural Marketing Service Shell Egg Export Certification

Facility and Process 

Controls

• Processing facilities, 

equipment, and operations 

must comply with 

requirements outlined in the 

regulations governing the 

Voluntary Grading of Shell 

Eggs (7 CFR Part 56).

• Facilities must undergo a 

pre-operational sanitation 

inspection prior to processing. 

Sanitation is monitored 

by AMS throughout the 

processing day.

• For traceability purposes, 

records must be maintained by 

AMS identifying which flock(s) 

were used for each export 

shipment. 

• Some countries may require 

an internationally recognized 

Hazard Analysis and Critical 

Control Point (HACCP) 

program. 

Grading and Labeling 

• Eggs must be graded and 

certified to meet applicable 

U.S. Grade standards as 

determined by the importing 

country. 

• Labels must meet importing 

country requirements. 

Bi-lingual formats may be 

approved and applied at time 

of packaging, and are verified 

by AMS personnel.

Final Shipping 

Requirements

The final transport unit must be 

inspected by AMS for sanitation, 

and the ability to adequately 

refrigerate the product during 

transport. The shipment is sealed 

prior to departure. 

Form PY-210S – AMS 

Shell Egg Grading 

Certificate/Disease Free 

Statement

• An AMS certificate is issued 

as prima fascie evidence that 

the product was examined by 

AMS for the applicable export 

requirements. 

• The seal number for each 

transport unit is listed on the 

certificate.

• Net weight declarations may 

be certified if requested by 

importing country. 

• An animal health document 

(Disease Free Certification 

Statement) must accompany 

each load certified by AMS.

Shell Egg Facilities List

Visit the AMS website for a list of 

shell egg facilities utilizing USDA 

grading and certification services:

www.ams.usda.gov/resources/qadprocedures

USDA Agricultural Marketing 

Service 

Livestock, Poultry, and Seed 

Program

Quality Assessment Division

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Room 3932-South, Mail Stop 0258

Washington, DC 20250

Phone: (202) 720-5705

Mark.Perigen@ams.usda.gov

May 2017 www.ams.usda.gov

CONTACT 

INFORMATION