D.Specific requirements concerning flocks of laying hens

1.

Eggs shall not be used for direct human consumption as table eggs unless they originate from a commercial flock of laying hens subject to a national control programme established under Article 5 and not under official restriction.

2.Eggs originating from flocks with unknown health status, that are suspected of being infected or that are infected with Salmonella serotypes for which a target for reduction has been set or which were identified as the source of infection in a specific human foodborne outbreak, may be used for human consumption only if treated in a manner that guarantees the destruction of all Salmonella serotypes with public health significance in accordance with Community legislation on food hygiene.

Eggs originating from flocks with unknown health status, that are suspected of being infected or that are infected with Salmonella serotypes for which a target for reduction has been set or which were identified as the source of infection in a specific human foodborne outbreak, shall be:

1. (a)

   considered as Class B eggs as defined in Article 2(4) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 557/2007 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006 on marketing standards for eggs8;

2. (b)

   marked with the indication referred to in Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 557/2007 which clearly distinguishes them from Class A eggs prior to being placed on the market;

3. (c)

   prohibited access to packaging centres unless the competent authority is satisfied with the measures to prevent possible cross-contamination of eggs from other flocks.

3.

When birds from infected flocks are slaughtered or destroyed, steps must be taken to reduce the risk of spreading zoonoses as far as possible. Slaughtering shall be carried out in accordance with Community legislation on food hygiene. Products derived from such birds may be placed on the market for human consumption in accordance with Community legislation on food hygiene and, once applicable, part E. If not destined for human consumption, such products must be used or disposed of in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.

4.In order to exclude false-positive initial results, the competent authority may lift the restrictions laid down in point 2 of this Part:

1. (a)

   when the flock of layers is not the source of infection for humans by the consumption of eggs or egg products as a result of the epidemiological investigation of food-borne outbreaks in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2003/99/EC; and

2. (b)

   where the flock is subjected to a national control programme established under Article 5 and Salmonella serotypes for which a target for reduction has been set, is not confirmed by the following sampling protocol carried out by the competent authority:

   1. (i)

      the technical specifications referred to in Article 5 of Commission Decision 2004/665/EC (seven samples); however, a sub-sample of 25 grams must be collected of each faecal material and dust sample for analysis; all samples must be analysed separately;

      or

   2. (ii)

      bacteriological investigation of the caeca and oviducts of 300 birds;

      or

   3. (iii)

      bacteriological investigation of the shell and the content of 4 000 eggs of each flock in pools of maximum 40 eggs.

In addition to the sampling in point (b), the competent authority shall verify the absence of the use of antimicrobials, potentially affecting the result of the analyses of the sampling.