Selling Quail Eggs In California

So much research and this is the summarized version made easy by the gov. to sell eggs in california
http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/
So basically where do I start with quail egg packaging.
Do I still need a Plant Id number which is basically a egg handler registration number on the egg cartons
But I don't need a egg handler registration number for quail eggs
so where do i even start.

Found my answer or received it in a email from my Department of Agriculture (After 2 weeks)
Sorry for all the question asked in this email regarding the Selling of Quail Eggs, I'm just a 17 year old trying to do everything right from the start and trying to start out a small business selling Quail eggs.

Hello,
I am trying to start selling Quail eggs to family own stores.
According the http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/ I am not required to get a Egg handlers registrations since I will be selling quail eggs (Is that correct) instead of chicken eggs.

Correct! An Egg Handler’s Registration is only required for selling shell eggs from domesticated chickens. Egg sales from other species of fowl (turkeys, ducks, geese, quail) do not require registration with CDFA.

Also for packing the quail eggs
How do I grade them and on what scale?
What size will they be to put on the packaging?

The USDA currently has no sizing or grading standards for quail eggs as they do for chicken eggs. As there is no standard, you cannot apply a grade or size to quail eggs.

Also for a plant Id since I am sellings Quail eggs do I need one on the packaging and if I do:to get a plant Id number I need to to have a egg handler registration number which I can only get from registering for a Egg handler so necessarily do I need one?

As a quail-egg producer, you are exempt from a registration and/or plant ID from both CDFA and USDA.

Another question
Which of these marking requirements are actual marking necessary requirements for "QUAIL EGGS"
Name | Address | Zip Code | Quantity | Eggs | Keep Refrigerated | Julian Pack Date | Sell by Date | USDA or CDFA Registration Number | *Size and Grade | *Shell Egg Food Safety Compliant (or CA SEFS Compliant) |

Another great question. Measurement Standards marking regulations DO apply to you, and they are referred to as “IRQ”;
-Identity (quail eggs)
-Responsibility (who produced the product and where) this would be your name and address
-Quantity (the number of units in the package) One Dozen, 18, 24 eggs, for example.

These are the only marking requirements that are required by law for shell eggs from other species of fowl. There is no law preventing you from putting some of that information on your packaging if you choose to, so long as everything stated is true and correct. I think a sell-by date and a Julian date would be great information for your customers to have. Please do NOT put “California Shell Egg Food Safety Compliant” on your labeling as that is a set of laws and requirements very specific to chicken eggs only, so it would be an incorrect statement.

Also another question is am I required to wash the quail eggs since the quails will be rolling down on a clean metal wire platform when immediately drop from the quail. ( Example cage: GQF MFG Co. Inc.)

The California Code of Regulations (CCR) and the Food and Agricultural Code (FAC) require that eggs (from chickens) be “clean” which means washed and sanitized, however, quail eggs are also exempt from this requirement by law.

Also when collecting the quail eggs after I get this all sorted out will I have to immediately put them in the fridge and then later take them out to package them all in the same day or am I able to collect them in bulk and then package them every so often?

The law states that chicken eggs need to be collected and refrigerated within 36-hours of lay. Again, quail eggs are exempt from this requirement.
It is however, a good management practice and keeps the eggs fresher to refrigerate them as soon as feasible. You can take them back out to package them as it suits your needs



Basically all I need to have on my quail egg packaging is
-Identity (quail eggs)
-Responsibility (who produced the product and where) this would be your name and address
-Quantity (the number of units in the package) One Dozen, 18, 24 eggs, for example.
-And if I want or am needed to a sell by date/julian date

Wow! Thank you for detailing our all of his info! Did you talk to anyone about selling quail meat (either selling live birds for processing or taking them to the processing plant myself and selling to local restaurants/farmers markets)? We are considering getting into the business and scaling up our production.

No I haven't about quail meat since I'm still early in starting out sadly. But eventually, I probably will be selling them live on craigslist and if ask butcher them.

So I called around today. I'm in unincorporated San Diego County and I was told I don't even need any sort of license or permit. I called three different government offices. But that is specifically for coturnix quail.

Yea you don't as read up in the email I've posted before.

robdog said:

Found my answer

or received it in a email from my Department of Agriculture (After 2 weeks)
Sorry for all the question asked in this email regarding the Selling of Quail Eggs, I'm just a 17 year old trying to do everything right from the start and trying to start out a small business selling Quail eggs.

Hello,
I am trying to start selling Quail eggs to family own stores.
According the http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/ I am not required to get a Egg handlers registrations since I will be selling quail eggs (Is that correct) instead of chicken eggs.

Correct! An Egg Handler’s Registration is only required for selling shell eggs from domesticated chickens. Egg sales from other species of fowl (turkeys, ducks, geese, quail) do not require registration with CDFA.

Also for packing the quail eggs
How do I grade them and on what scale?
What size will they be to put on the packaging?

The USDA currently has no sizing or grading standards for quail eggs as they do for chicken eggs. As there is no standard, you cannot apply a grade or size to quail eggs.

Also for a plant Id since I am sellings Quail eggs do I need one on the packaging and if I do:to get a plant Id number I need to to have a egg handler registration number which I can only get from registering for a Egg handler so necessarily do I need one?

As a quail-egg producer, you are exempt from a registration and/or plant ID from both CDFA and USDA.

Another question
Which of these marking requirements are actual marking necessary requirements for "QUAIL EGGS"
Name | Address | Zip Code | Quantity | Eggs | Keep Refrigerated | Julian Pack Date | Sell by Date | USDA or CDFA Registration Number | *Size and Grade | *Shell Egg Food Safety Compliant (or CA SEFS Compliant) |

Another great question. Measurement Standards marking regulations DO apply to you, and they are referred to as “IRQ”;
-Identity (quail eggs)
-Responsibility (who produced the product and where) this would be your name and address
-Quantity (the number of units in the package) One Dozen, 18, 24 eggs, for example.

These are the only marking requirements that are required by law for shell eggs from other species of fowl. There is no law preventing you from putting some of that information on your packaging if you choose to, so long as everything stated is true and correct. I think a sell-by date and a Julian date would be great information for your customers to have. Please do NOT put “California Shell Egg Food Safety Compliant” on your labeling as that is a set of laws and requirements very specific to chicken eggs only, so it would be an incorrect statement.

Also another question is am I required to wash the quail eggs since the quails will be rolling down on a clean metal wire platform when immediately drop from the quail. ( Example cage: GQF MFG Co. Inc.)

The California Code of Regulations (CCR) and the Food and Agricultural Code (FAC) require that eggs (from chickens) be “clean” which means washed and sanitized, however, quail eggs are also exempt from this requirement by law.

Also when collecting the quail eggs after I get this all sorted out will I have to immediately put them in the fridge and then later take them out to package them all in the same day or am I able to collect them in bulk and then package them every so often?

The law states that chicken eggs need to be collected and refrigerated within 36-hours of lay. Again, quail eggs are exempt from this requirement.
It is however, a good management practice and keeps the eggs fresher to refrigerate them as soon as feasible. You can take them back out to package them as it suits your needs



Basically all I need to have on my quail egg packaging is
-Identity (quail eggs)
-Responsibility (who produced the product and where) this would be your name and address
-Quantity (the number of units in the package) One Dozen, 18, 24 eggs, for example.
-And if I want or am needed to a sell by date/julian date

Click to expand...

Hi There.
Any update on this? Is this still current regulation?
And how did your sales go?