Site Feedback

Website Feedback

This contact form is only for website help or website suggestions. If you have questions or comments regarding a published document please contact the publishing agency. Comments or questions about document content can not be answered by OFR staff. Please do not provide confidential information or personal data.

Title 7

Displaying title 7, up to date as of 7/14/2026. Title 7 was last amended 7/09/2026.
view historical versions
  1. Title 7 —Agriculture
  2. Subtitle B —Regulations of the Department of Agriculture
  3. Chapter I —Agricultural Marketing Service (Standards, Inspections, Marketing Practices), Department of Agriculture
  4. Subchapter C —Requirements and Standards Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and the Egg Products Inspection Act
  5. Part 56 —Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs
  6. Subpart A   View Full Text
  • Details
  • Print
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Timeline
  • Go to Date
  • Published Edition
  • Developer Tools
eCFR Content

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) is a continuously updated online version of the CFR. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.

Learn more about the eCFR, its status, and the editorial process.

Title 7AgriculturePart / Section
Subtitle BRegulations of the Department of Agriculture27 – 5099
Chapter IAgricultural Marketing Service (Standards, Inspections, Marketing Practices), Department of Agriculture27 – 209
Subchapter CRequirements and Standards Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and the Egg Products Inspection Act51 – 75
Part 56Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs56.1 – 56.77
Subpart AGrading of Shell Eggs56.1 – 56.77
Definitions56.1 – 56.2
§ 56.1Meaning of words and terms defined.
§ 56.2Designation of official certificates, memoranda, marks, other identifications, and devices for purposes of the Agricultural Marketing Act.
General56.3 – 56.9
§ 56.3Administration.
§ 56.4Basis of grading service.
§ 56.5Accessibility of product.
§ 56.6Supervision.
§ 56.7Nondiscrimination.
§ 56.8Other applicable regulations.
§ 56.9OMB control number.
Licensed and Authorized Graders56.10 – 56.19
§ 56.10Who may be licensed and authorized.
§ 56.11Financial interest of graders.
§ 56.12Suspension of license; revocation.
§ 56.13Cancellation of license.
§ 56.14Surrender of license.
§ 56.15Political activity.
§ 56.16Identification.
§ 56.17Equipment and facilities for graders.
§ 56.18Schedule of operation of official plants.
§ 56.19Prerequisites to grading.
Application for Grading Service56.20 – 56.30
§ 56.20Who may obtain grading service.
§ 56.21How application for service may be made; conditions of service.
§ 56.22Filing of application.
§ 56.23Form of application.
§ 56.24Rejection of application.
§ 56.25Withdrawal of Application.
§ 56.26Authority of applicant.
§ 56.27Order of service.
§ 56.28Types of service.
§ 56.29Suspension or withdrawal of plant approval for correctable cause.
§ 56.30Application for grading service in official plants; approval.
Reports56.31 – 56.33
§ 56.31Report of grading work.
§ 56.32Information to be furnished to graders.
§ 56.33Report of violations.
Identifying and Marking Products56.35 – 56.38
§ 56.35Authority to use, and approval of official identification.
§ 56.36Form of grademark and information required.
§ 56.37Lot marking of officially identified shell eggs.
§ 56.38Retention authorities.
Prerequisites to Packaging Shell Eggs Identified With Grademarks56.39 – 56.43
§ 56.39Quality assurance inspector required.
§ 56.40Grading requirements of shell eggs identified with grademarks.
§ 56.41Check grading officially identified product.
§§ 56.42-56.43 [Reserved]
Fees and Charges56.45 – 56.54
§ 56.45Payment of fees and charges.
§ 56.46Charges for service on an unscheduled basis.
§ 56.47Fees for appeal grading or review of a grader's decision.
§ 56.49Travel expenses and other charges.
§ 56.52Charges for services on a scheduled basis.
§ 56.53Fees or charges for grading service performed under cooperative agreement.
§ 56.54 [Reserved]
Grading Certificates56.55 – 56.58
§ 56.55Forms.
§ 56.56Issuance.
§ 56.57Disposition.
§ 56.58Advance information.
Appeal of a Grading or Decision56.60 – 56.66
§ 56.60Who may request an appeal grading or review of a grader's decision.
§ 56.61Where to file an appeal.
§ 56.62How to file an appeal.
§ 56.63When an application for an appeal grading may be refused.
§ 56.64Who shall perform the appeal.
§ 56.65Procedures for appeal gradings.
§ 56.66Appeal grading certificates.
Denial of Service56.68 – 56.74
§ 56.68Debarment.
§ 56.69Misrepresentation, deceptive, or fraudulent act or practice.
§ 56.70Use of facsimile forms.
§ 56.71Willful violation of the regulations.
§ 56.72Interfering with a grader or employee of the AMS.
§ 56.73Misleading labeling.
§ 56.74Miscellaneous.
Facility Requirements56.75 – 56.77
§ 56.75Applicability of facility and operating requirements.
§ 56.76Minimum facility and operating requirements for shell egg grading and packing plants.
§ 56.77Health and hygiene of personnel.
eCFR Content