DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa suspended its inspections of egg farms last year during the bird flu outbreak, and the state still hasn’t resumed the routine checks. The Des Moines Register reports state officials followed the lead of federal investigators in stopping inspections to help limit the spread of bird flu, which prompted the slaughter of 48 million birds nationwide.

Federal inspectors are responsible for large egg-laying farms that typically have more than 3,000 birds. State inspectors make sure smaller farms are following safety regulations. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says the state plans to resume its inspections when the Food and Drug Administration lifts its own ban on them.

Several other states were bird flu was found also suspended inspections for several months, but most resumed inspections late last year.