United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW. Policy Memo 14-2

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2648 South Building Page 1 of 2

National Organic Program Washington, DC 20250

PM 14-2 Chlorine Use in Egg Breaking Facilities Rev03 03 20 24 Authorized Distribution: Public

Policy Memorandum

To: National Organic Program Accredited Certifying Agents

From: Miles V. McEvoy, Deputy Administrator

Subject: Chlorine Use in Egg Breaking Facilities

Date: Approved on August 5, 2014

Links Updated March 20, 2024

The National Organic Program (NOP) issued the guidance, NOP 5026 The Use of Chlorine 

Materials in Organic Production and Handling, on July 22, 2011. This guidance clarified the use 

of chlorine materials allowed in organic production and handling according to § 205.605(b) of

the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations (7 CFR Part 205). It also 

clarified that water used in direct contact with organic products, including for egg sanitizing, 

may contain allowed chlorine materials at levels approved by the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for such purpose. However, if the 

water in direct contact with an organic product exceeds the maximum residual disinfectant limit

for the chlorine material under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the organic product must be rinsed 

with potable water that does not exceed this level. 

After consultation with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the NOP is aware 

of an inconsistency between NOP 5026 and the FSIS regulations at 9 CFR 590.516 regarding 

sanitizing of eggs that are further processed. Processing means manufacturing of egg products, 

including breaking eggs or filtering, mixing, blending, pasteurizing, stabilizing, cooling, freezing 

or drying, or packaging egg products at official plants, which are inspected by FSIS.

The FSIS regulations require that immediately prior to breaking, all shell eggs shall be spray 

rinsed with potable water containing an approved sanitizer of not less than 100 parts per million 

(ppm) nor more than 200 ppm of available chlorine, or its equivalent. The FSIS regulations

further specify that the eggs must be sufficiently dry before breaking, but do not provide for a 

rinse with potable water. 

When breaking eggs for processing, the NOP defers to the FSIS requirement. Certifiers should 

not take enforcement action against operations that use chlorine sanitizers without a rinse step. 

This policy does not apply to eggs sold to consumers in the shell. These shell eggs are not 

subject to this FSIS regulation, but may be subject to voluntary egg grading standards (7 CFR 

Part 56).

FSIS provides a waiver process for operators of egg processing plants to seek use of alternate 

procedures or new technologies on an individual plant basis. Manufacturers of organic egg 
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW. Policy Memo 14-2

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2648 South Building Page 2 of 2

National Organic Program Washington, DC 20250

PM 14-2 Chlorine Use in Egg Breaking Facilities Rev03 03 20 24 Authorized Distribution: Public

products have the option of seeking a waiver to use other sanitizing materials or practices 

consistent with the USDA organic regulations.

References:

USDA Organic Regulations (7 CFR Part 205)

7 CFR 205.605 Nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed as ingredients in or on 

processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food 

group(s)).”

Other Laws and Regulations

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, 9 CFR 590.516 Sanitizing and drying of shell eggs 

prior to breaking.

Guidance on Requesting a Waiver of Food Safety and Inspection Service Regulatory 

Requirements for the Use of New Technology.

NOP Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents 

and Certified Operations 

NOP 5026 The Use of Chlorine Materials in Organic Production and Handling