Egg Handler Pays Civil Penalty for Alleged Violations of Eggs Products Inspection Act - US - An Indiana shell egg packer, Wayne Shafer, dba Pick of the Chick Egg Farm, South Bend, has paid a civil penalty to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to settle allegations that it violated the Egg Products Inspection Act.

Under Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) regulations, shell egg handlers are limited as to the number of cracked, leaking, and dirty eggs they can transport and sell in commerce. Pick of the Chick Egg Farm paid a civil penalty of $3,645 for offering to sell and transport eggs that exceed the number of cracked, leaking, and dirty eggs permitted under official standards for U.S. Consumer Grade B shell eggs.

AMS administers the shell egg provisions of the Egg Products Inspection Act. While the Egg Products Inspection Act authorizes the Department to institute formal administrative proceedings against egg handlers who violate the act, egg handlers have the option to waive their opportunity to a hearing and pay a civil penalty without admitting fault.

Because a formal disciplinary proceeding can take up to two years and can be costly for both those cited and the Department, AMS uses such stipulation agreements to improve compliance and resolve cases in a quicker and less expensive manner.

Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service - 2nd April 2004