The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) last week outlined how the federal government regulates eggs and egg product imports. The post on the FSIS website answers specific questions about importing egg products from the Netherlands, including questions about certification, inspections and sampling requirements.  

A series of bird flu outbreaks in the United States this spring has caused a shortage of eggs in the food industry, and dairy companies that use eggs are seeking alternative sources to meet their demands. According to USDA data, approximately 48 million birds, 36 million of which are egg-laying hens, have been removed from U.S. poultry flocks, causing about a 35 percent drop in the processed egg supply. The USDA has not reported any new outbreaks or news of flocks being infected since June 17.

For more details, read FSIS’s information on "Importing Shell Eggs and Egg Products into the United States.”

Members with questions may contact Emily Lyons, IDFA director of regulatory affairs and counsel, at elyons@idfa.org.