Words used in the regulations in this subpart in the singular form will import the plural, and vice versa, as the case may demand. As used throughout the regulations in this subpart, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms will be construed to mean:

Egg. The shell egg of the domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guinea. Some of the terms applicable to shell eggs are defined by the AMS Poultry Programs in 7 CFR 57.5.

Egg product. Any dried, frozen, or liquid eggs, with or without added ingredients. However, products which contain eggs only in a relatively small proportion or historically have not been, in the judgment of the Secretary, considered by consumers as products of the egg food industry may be exempted by the Secretary under such conditions as may be prescribed to assure that the egg ingredients are not adulterated and such products are not represented as egg products. Some of the products exempted as not being egg products are specified by the AMS Poultry Programs in 7 CFR 57.5.

Mandatory sample. An official sample of egg product(s) taken for testing under authority of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056) for analysis by a United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Science and Technology laboratory at government expense. A mandatory sample shall include an egg product sample to be analyzed for microbiological, chemical, or physical attributes. A mandatory egg product sample analyzed for the presence of Salmonella is also referred to as a confirmation sample as specified by the Food Safety and Inspection Service agency of USDA in 9 CFR 590.580, paragraph (d).

Official plant. Any plant, as determined by the Secretary, at which the U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains inspection of the processing of egg products under the authority of the Egg Products Inspection Act.

Pasteurize. The subjecting of each particle of egg products to heat or other treatments to destroy harmful viable microorganisms by such processes as may be prescribed by the regulations in the EPIA.

Pesticide chemical, food additive, color additive, and raw agricultural commodity. These terms shall have the same meaning for purposes of this subpart as under sections 408, 409, and 706 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Plant. Any place of business where egg products are processed.

Processing. Manufacturing of egg products, including breaking eggs or filtering, mixing, blending, pasteurizing, stabilizing, cooling, freezing, drying, or packaging egg products at official plants.

[58 FR 42428, Aug. 9, 1993, as amended at 65 FR 64318, Oct. 26, 2000]