
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 21USC1031]

 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
                   CHAPTER 15--EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION
 
Sec. 1031. Congressional statement of findings

    Eggs and egg products are an important source of the Nation's total 
supply of food, and are used in food in various forms. They are consumed 
throughout the Nation and the major portion thereof moves in interstate 
or foreign commerce. It is essential, in the public interest, that the 
health and welfare of consumers be protected by the adoption of measures 
prescribed herein for assuring that eggs and egg products distributed to 
them and used in products consumed by them are wholesome, otherwise not 
adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. Lack of effective 
regulation for the handling or disposition of unwholesome, otherwise 
adulterated, or improperly labeled or packaged egg products and certain 
qualities of eggs is injurious to the public welfare and destroys 
markets for wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged eggs and egg products and results in sundry losses to producers 
and processors, as well as injury to consumers. Unwholesome, otherwise 
adulterated, or improperly labeled or packaged products can be sold at 
lower prices and compete unfairly with the wholesome, not adulterated, 
and properly labeled and packaged products, to the detriment of 
consumers and the public generally. It is hereby found that all egg 
products and the qualities of eggs which are regulated under this 
chapter are either in interstate or foreign commerce, or substantially 
affect such commerce, and that regulation by the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and 
cooperation by the States and other jurisdictions, as contemplated by 
this chapter, are appropriate to prevent and eliminate burdens upon such 
commerce, to effectively regulate such commerce, and to protect the 
health and welfare of consumers.

(Pub. L. 91-597, Sec. 2, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1620; Pub. L. 96-88, 
title V, Sec. 509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ``this Act'', 
meaning Pub. L. 91-597, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1620, as amended, which 
enacted this chapter, amended sections 633 and 636 of Title 15, Commerce 
and Trade, and enacted provisions set out as notes under this section. 
For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title 
note set out below and Tables.

                         Change of Name

    ``Secretary of Health and Human Services'' substituted for 
``Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare'' in text pursuant to 
section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96-88, which is classified to section 3508(b) 
of Title 20, Education.


                             Effective Date

    Section 29 of Pub. L. 91-597 provided that: ``The provisions of this 
Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 633 and 636 of Title 15, 
Commerce and Trade, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this 
section] with respect to egg products shall take effect six months after 
enactment [Dec. 29, 1970]. Otherwise, this Act shall take effect 
eighteen months after enactment.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 91-597 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this 
chapter, amending sections 633 and 636 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, 
and enacting provisions set as notes under this section] may be cited as 
the `Egg Products Inspection Act'.''


                Maintenance of Eggs at Proper Temperature

    Pub. L. 102-237, title X, Sec. 1012(a), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 
1899, provided that:
    ``(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
        ``(A) food borne illness is a serious health problem;
        ``(B) its incidence can be reduced through proper handling of 
    food; and
        ``(C) eggs are perishable and therefore are particularly 
    susceptible to supporting microbial growth if proper temperature 
    controls are not maintained.
    ``(2) Purposes.--It is the purpose of this section [amending 
sections 1034, 1037, 1041, 1042, 1046, and 1052 of this title and 
enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1034 of this title] 
to prescribe the temperature at which eggs are maintained in order to 
reduce the potential for harmful microbial growth to protect the health 
and welfare of consumers.''
