<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 15.11.11.05" title_num="15" subtitle_num="11" chapter_num="11" heading="Standards Designed to Control and Prevent Salmonellosis.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Commercial Flock.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A person having a commercial flock in Maryland shall have the flock tested in accordance with either §A(2) or (3) unless the flock is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Participating in and meets the requirements of the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>NPIP's “U.S. Sanitation Monitored” program for egg-type chicken breeding flocks, 9 CFR 145—147, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>“Salmonella Enteritidis Monitored Flock Program of Pennsylvania” or an equivalent plan of another state, provided that plan has been approved by the Secretary;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Derived immediately from a multiplier breeding flock that has been tested and found negative for Salmonella serotype enteritidis under the procedures outlined in §B; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Derived immediately from a primary breeding flock that has been tested and found negative for Salmonella serotype enteritidis under §C.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Environmental Sampling/Serological Test. A person shall allow the Department to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Collect environmental samples from all egg belts, elevators, or both, within caged systems or throughout open floor systems;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Culture or biochemically test these samples for the presence of Salmonella serotype enteritidis species;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Test, if any flock tests positive to environmental testing, a random sample of 500 birds per house for the presence of Salmonella enteritidis antibodies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Permanently identify and submit a statistically significant sample of seropositive birds to an official state diagnostic laboratory for pathological examination and culture for Salmonella serotype enteritidis.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Blood Testing. A person shall permit the Department to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Test a random sample of 300 birds per house for the presence of Salmonella serotype enteritidis antibodies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Handle birds testing positive in the manner provided under §A(2)(d).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Multiplier Breeding Flock.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §B(2), a person having a multiplier breeding flock shall have the flock tested by the Department as follows:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>At least 300 birds per age group shall be randomly selected and blood tested for the presence of Salmonella serotype enteritidis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The flock shall undergo environmental sampling of nests and litter each month;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>At least 30 dead in shell embryos shall be tested each 3 months; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any serological evidence of infection shall be followed with bacteriological examination of a statistically significant sample of reactor birds from each age group and, only if the bacteriology is negative, shall the flock be considered negative.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A person owning a multiplier breeding flock is not required to have the flock tested as described in §B(1) if the flock is participating in and meets the requirements of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The NPIP's “U.S. Sanitation Monitored” program for egg-type chicken breeding flocks; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The “Salmonella Enteritidis Monitored Flock Program of Pennsylvania” or an equivalent program of another state, provided that plan has been approved by the Secretary.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Primary Breeding Flock.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §C(2), a person having a primary breeding flock shall follow the same procedures outlined in §B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Instead of randomly selecting and testing 300 birds per age group as provided under §B(1) for a primary breeding flock a person shall allow the official State agency to randomly select and test the larger of the following two groups:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>300 birds per age group; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>1 percent per age group.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Effect of Isolating Salmonella Serotype Enteritidis. If Salmonella serotype enteritidis is isolated from a flock in Maryland, a person may distribute, offer for sale, or sell only:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Eggs from that flock that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Have been pasteurized or otherwise heat treated to kill Salmonella serotype enteritidis, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Are to be pasteurized, provided the eggs are moved to a plant that the USDA has approved for processing egg products; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Birds or progeny from that flock for slaughter, provided the birds are moved for slaughter to an official establishment to be inspected and either condemned or passed for cooking only.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>