Maryland Egg Quality Assurance Program (Maryland's Best)

About the Maryland Egg Quality Assurance Program

The Maryland Egg Quality Assurance Program (MEQAP) is a voluntary program to minimize the risk of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) contamination of chicken (shell) eggs and provide standards for the quality of eggs marketed under the provisions of this program. Producers and processors participating in this program make a commitment to implement management and monitoring practices that have been successful in preventing SE contamination. 

Program oversight & administration

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) provides oversight, technical advice and compliance inspections for this program. The egg industry pays the costs of testing and inspection costs. The Maryland Department of Health and Human Hygiene (MDHMH) provides technical advice regarding public health implications. 

MEQAP participants are assuring the public that they are taking every reasonable precaution to assure the safety of shell eggs. Eggs that are produced, processed and packaged under the guidelines established in both the production and processing portions of the MEQAP program may be identified with the Maryland's Best logo.

Overview of production & processing requirements

The requirements of the production portion of the program provide for management and monitoring practices that have been successful in preventing SE contamination of flocks. Basic prevention measures include placement of SE clean chicks, rodent control, cleaning and disinfecting between flocks, environmental monitoring of pullet and layer houses with continuous testing of eggs from any environmentally positive houses and proper on farm handling of eggs. SE positive eggs are diverted for pasteurization.

The requirements of the processing portion of the program provide for management and monitoring practices that promote the proper handling of eggs produced under the production requirements of this program. The program provides guidelines for washing, refrigeration, labeling and quality control of shell eggs. Only eggs produced and processed according to the standards established in the production and processing programs or an MDA approved equivalent program may be identified with the Maryland's Best logo.

Program requirements for participants

General statement of purpose 

The Maryland Egg Quality Assurance Program (MEQAP) is a voluntary industry program intended to minimize Salmonella enteritidis (SE) contamination of chicken (shell) eggs and provide standards for the quality of eggs marketed under the provisions of this program.  Although this program does not guarantee shell eggs to be free of SE contamination, the program does assure commitment of the producer and/or the processor to implementation of those management and monitoring practices most likely to prevent SE contamination.  The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) provides oversight and technical advice to this program.  The egg industry carries the financial burden of the program.  The Maryland Department of Health and Human Hygiene (MDHMH) provides technical advice regarding public health implications.  MEQAP participants are assuring the public that they are taking every reasonable precaution to assure the safety of shell eggs.  Eggs that are produced, processed and packaged under the guidelines established in Parts I and II of the MEQAP program may be identified with the MEQAP logo.

Part I: Production requirements

I. Statement of purpose

The requirements of this section provide for management and monitoring practices most likely to prevent SE contamination of flocks.  Basic prevention measures include placement of SE clean chicks, rodent control, cleaning and disinfecting between flocks, environmental monitoring of pullet and layer houses with continuous testing of eggs from any environmentally positive houses and proper on farm handling of eggs.  Positive eggs are diverted for pasteurization. 

II. Program administration 

1. The Program is supervised and coordinated by the MDA. 
2. Procedures, operating protocols and program standards are established by the MDA. 

III. Participation

1. Any poultry producer in Maryland may participate in the Program. 
2. Participation in the Program is voluntary and any participant may withdraw at any time. 
3. Producer/owner participation in the Program may be terminated by the MDA if the participant does not comply with the requirements of Parts I and II of this document (Program Requirements for Participation).
4. Flock, Egg and premises testing information shall be the property of the flock owner and shall be treated confidentially by MDA. 
5. No evidence of SE contamination of the participant flock, premises or eggs produced thereon shall be withheld from the MDA. 
6. Although the poultry house is the basic unit for program operations, the entire complex shall be required to enter the Program for Biosecurity purposes.
7. Participation in the Program offers no warranty by MDA, expressed or implied that eggs produced under this Program are free of Salmonella enteritidis.
8. Representatives of the Program or the MDA may conduct independent spot checking of compliance with Program protocols to verify flock status and adequacy of testing.
9. Nothing in these conditions shall be or become the basis for a claim for damages of any nature whatsoever against MDA, MDHMH, their employees or agents.
10. Participants understand their participation in MEQAP does not relieve them of responsibility to comply with applicable statutes and regulations of MDA and MDHMH relative to food borne diseases.

IV. Program requirements for participants 

Pullets

1. Chicks shall be obtained from U.S. Sanitation Monitored Salmonella enteritidis negative breeder flocks. 
2. Chick delivery containers shall be swabbed at the time of delivery (every 10th container liner) and submitted to a laboratory for culture for SE. 
3. Manure in pullet grower facilities shall be cultured at 10 to 15 weeks of age.  A culture shall consist of two samples taken from the manure beneath each row of cages. 
4. Houses with positive manure or chick samples must be cleaned and disinfected before new chicks may be placed. 

On farm egg handling

1. On farm cleaning of eggs must follow the same guidelines as for processing.  Dirty eggs cannot be soaked. 
2. On farm - after gathering, eggs must be held in a facility with an ambient temperature of 55° F.

V. Participant responsibilities

Participants agree that they or their representatives shall:

1. Cooperate with MDA and MDHMH in carrying out the prescribed monitoring and prevention procedures.
2. Participate in training sessions on sample collection and SE prevention procedures. 
3. Pay for the cost of sampling supplies, culturing costs, training and the monitoring of the program including semi-annual visits to the flocks and the cost of taking monitoring samples by the Department.  Where applicable and feasible, routine semi-annual monitoring of flock records will be conducted by MDA graders during their regular tour of duty without additional cost to participants. 
4. Conduct sample collection in accordance with program protocols covering testing of chicks, pullets, environments and eggs. 
5. Transport samples to a laboratory approved by the MDA. 
6. Maintain a standard log provided by the MDA for each flock in the program. 
7. Maintain an appropriate rodent control program approved by the MDA. 
8. Divert eggs to pasteurization or hard cooking according to the requirements of this agreement if eggs are positive for SE.  Records of diversion must be maintained by the participant for at least six months. Eggs may be returned to the table egg market only by following the appropriate program protocol. 
9. Clean and disinfect environmentally positive (SE) layer or pullet houses between flock placements according to standards set by the MDA.
10. Maintain adequate biosecurity and practice good poultry management according to standards set by the MDA.

Part II: Processing requirements

I. Statement of purpose 

The requirements of Part II - Processing Requirements provide for management and monitoring practices that promote the proper handling of eggs produced under Part I - Production Requirements of this program. Part II establishes guidelines for washing, refrigeration, labeling and quality control of shell eggs.  Only eggs produced and processed according to the standards established in Parts I and II of this document or an MDA approved equivalent program may be identified with the MEQAP logo. 

II. Program administration

1. The program is supervised and coordinated by the MDA. 
2. Procedures, operating protocols and program standards are established by the MDA.

III. Participation

1. Any shell egg processor in Maryland may participate in the Program. 
2. Participation in the Program is voluntary and any participant may withdraw at any time. 
3. Shell egg processor's participation in the program may be terminated by the MDA if the participant does not comply with Section IV of Part II of this document (Program Requirements for Participation). 
4. Testing information that is not required by other MDA and MDHMH mandatory programs will be treated confidentially by MDA. 
5. No information relevant to the requirements of this program shall be withheld from the MDA. 
6. Participation in the Program offers no warranty by the MDA, expressed or implied, that eggs processed under this Program are free of Salmonella enteritidis. 
7. Representatives of the MDA will conduct independent random inspections to verify compliance with Program protocols including documentation of egg sources and adequacy of monitoring and recordkeeping. 
8. Nothing in these conditions shall be or become the basis for a claim for damages of any nature whatsoever against MDA, MDHMH, their employees or agents. 
9. Participants understand their participation in MEQAP does not relieve them ofresponsibility to comply with applicable statutes and regulations of MDA, MDHMH and USDA.

IV. Program requirements

Premises & processing equipment

1. Records must be kept documenting the monitoring of all premises and processing equipment requirements.  Where applicable, USDA records will be sufficient. 
2. Cooling units for receiving coolers must produce an ambient air temperature of  55°F with a relative humidity of 80%.
3. Approved rodent and fly control programs must be maintained. 
4. Premises (cooler, supply room, grading and packing room) must be clean. Monitoring must be performed daily.
5. All areas of the processing equipment that come into direct contact with the eggs must be clean prior to processing eggs to be identified with the MDA logo. Monitoring must be performed a minimum of once every four hours. 
6. Adequate lavatory facilities (hot/cold water, soap, towels, etc.) must be maintained. Monitoring must be performed daily. 
7. Precautions must be taken to ensure handlers of unwashed eggs and /or materials thoroughly cleanse their hands before handling processed eggs. Egg handlers must follow hygienic practices (clothes, hands, etc).

Processing

1. Records must be kept documenting the monitoring of all processing requirements. Where applicable, USDA records will be sufficient. 
2. Water used for egg cleaning and sanitizing must be tested by a state or locally approved certifying agency for potability and iron content semiannually. Iron content must not exceed 2 ppm. 
3. Wash water temperature must be at least 20°F, but no more than 40°F, warmer than the eggs. Temperature must be a minimum of 90°. Temperature must be monitored a minimum of every two hours while processing eggs to be marketed under this program. 
4. An approved cleaning compound must be used in wash water. On continuous type washers, the water must be changed a minimum of every four hours.  
5. Rinse water temperature must be  wash water temperature. The rinse water must contain an approved sanitizing compound with an effective strength level of 50 to 200 ppm ofavailable chlorine or its equivalent.  Sanitizer effective strength level must be monitored, using the titration method, a minimum of every two hours while processing eggs to be marketed under this program. 
6. Eggs cannot be immersed at any time. 
7. Wash Water must be maintained at a pH of 10. The pH must be monitored a minimum of every two hours during processing.

Packaging

1. Packaging supplies must be kept off the floor. 
2. Used fiber filler flats, cartons and/or fiber cases cannot be used for eggs identified with the MDA logo.  Plastic flats must be washed and sanitized before use. Plastic/Metal baskets must be clean. 
3. Consumer containers (cartons, sleeves, cases for loose eggs, etc) must be labeled with a grade, a size, safe handling instructions, a packer identification number, a lot number to assist in identification of the producing flock, net weight or numerical count, the packer's or distributor's name and address, and the identity of the product as eggs.  Cases of eggs containing cartoned eggs must be labeled with a grade, a size, the identity of the product as eggs, the net quantity in weight or numerical count, and safe handling instructions. Cases of loose eggs must bear the same information as cartons.  Cases of loose eggs and cartoned eggs must be labeled with an expiration date not to exceed 45 days from the date of pack.

Refrigeration

1. Before processing, eggs must be held in coolers with units that produce an ambient air temperature of 55°F and 80% relative humidity. 
2. After processing, eggs must be held in coolers with units that produce an ambient air temperature of 45°F and 80% relative humidity. 
3. Eggs must be transported in the refrigerated area of a unit that produces an ambient air temperature of 45°F.

Egg quality & weight standards

1. All eggs bearing the MDA logo must have a lot average not less than 75% AA. The balance may be of lower quality, however, the lot average shall be no more than 5% checks, 5% B interior quality and .5% dirty, leaker and/or loss. 
2. All eggs bearing the MDA logo must meet the USDA minimum weight requirements for the labeled size.

V. Participant responsiblities

Participants agree that they or their representatives shall:

1. Cooperate with MDA and MDHMH in carrying out the prescribed monitoring and prevention procedures. 
2. Participate in training sessions on quality control and recordkeeping. 
3. Pay for the cost of training and monitoring of the program including the cost of quarterly visits by MDA to the processing plant.  Where applicable and feasible, routine quarterly monitoring of processing plant records and verification of compliance with the established requirements will be conducted by MDA graders during their regular tour of duty without additional cost to participants. 
4. Maintain a standard log on a form approved by MDA to record monitoring of the requirements established in Part II, Section IV of this Program. 
5. Maintain an appropriate rodent control program approved by the MDA. 
6. Obliterate the MDA logo from all cartons and cases containing eggs produced and/or processed under conditions not meeting the requirements of Parts I and II of this Program. 
7. Adopt Standard Operating Procedures and records for plant pre operational and operational sanitation procedures and egg quality according to standards set by MDA.

Guidelines for packing eggs with the Maryland's Best Logo

1. Plant needs to maintain records that all eggs packed in these cartons were from Maryland flocks in good standing in the MEQAP program. 
2. Plant needs to monitor and record wash water temperature (minimum of 90°F and 20°F warmer than egg) and pH (minimum of 10) every two hours during time packing into Maryland’s Best cartons.  There should also be a record of corrective action when monitoring indicates wash water has fallen below the minimums.  (The USDA grader may do the monitoring of the wash water temperature and pH on company forms when in the plant during the processing of these eggs) 
3. Plant needs approved rodent control program. 
4. Eggs identified as Maryland’s Best can only be packed into new cartons or new fiber filler flats. 
5. If the eggs are processed without a USDA grader on duty, the plant must maintain records verifying the sanitation of the plant during processing.  When a USDA grader is on duty, the sanitation verification and records maintained for USDA are acceptable.