§1044 Exemption of Certain Activities

Summary

The Secretary can make rules that excuse certain egg sales, handling, and processing from parts of this law. There are seven kinds of possible exceptions. They include eggs that meet the allowed level of restricted eggs under U.S. shell‑egg grade standards; processing at plants that meet required sanitary rules; direct sales or processing by poultry producers of their own flock’s eggs to household consumers for home use (and use by their nonpaying guests and employees); shell egg packers selling eggs on their own premises directly to household consumers; a temporary exemption up to two years when inspections cannot be provided at the start of operations; and sales by a producer whose flock produces from three thousand or less hens. For plants in noncontiguous U.S. areas, the Secretary can exempt a plant if the owner tried in good faith but could not comply, but continuous inspection must be kept while processing is happening to protect public health. No exemption under that part can go past December 31, 1971. The Secretary can immediately suspend or end any exemption under (a)(2) or (6) if the exemption rules are not being followed, and can change or cancel any exemption rule when needed to carry out the law.