Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)

Regulations

Grading, Packing and Marking of Eggs intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa

Part IV : Sampling and Examination

15. Methods of examination
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(1) The methods to be employed when a sample referred to in regulation 14, is examined in order to determine the extent to which eggs, with a defect referred to in regulation 5 are present in the quantity of eggs from which that sample is taken shall be as follows:
(a) Subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (2)—
(i) each egg in the sample shall be numbered;
(ii) each egg in that sample shall be examined visually in terms of external defects and where applicable by means of a suitable candling device with which internal defects can be observed; and
(iii) the depth of the air cell of an egg shall be determined as follows:
(aa) A calibrated measuring plate shall be placed on the broad end of the egg while it is held vertically against the candling device with the broad end at the top.
(bb) The value on the calibrated measuring plate shall be read off opposite the lower meniscus of the air cell.
(cc) Such reading shall represent the depth of the air cell of the egg concerned; or
(dd) The inspector inspecting the eggs may choose to use the Haugh value determined in accordance with the method set out in regulation 16 instead.
(b) Eggs with defects shall—
(i) be removed from the sample if the egg is examined individually and thereafter replaced into its numbered place;
(ii) not be replaced into its numbered place after it has been broken open; and
(iii) each separate number of eggs with each deviation shall be determined separately.
(c) Each number thus determined shall be expressed as a percentage of the number of eggs thus inspected.
(d) Such percentage shall represent the percentage of eggs in the quantity concerned in which a defect of the type concerned occurs.

 

(2) If it appears from an examination in terms of sub-regulation (1) that an egg thus examined has a particular internal defect, that egg may be broken open in order to verify the occurrence of the defect concerned.