Efforts to Change FL Backyard Egg Sales Laws?

[TaylorGlade]

Is anyone aware of any efforts to change Florida's Backyard Egg sales laws (Limited Poultry Permit: https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/64357/file/Limited-Poultry-and-Egg-Operation-Requirements.PDF)

The law here requires eggs only be solid if the seller has a permit, only sells them in flats (no cartons), and they are both washed and refrigerated. It's quite draconian and should be changed to allow sales without a permit at least under a certain volume, sale in cartons in addition to flats provided the cartons do not bear marks from other egg distributers/sellers/farms and contain suitable language such as "ungraded". Unwashed, unrefrigerated egg sales should be allowed as well. I was thinking of trying to spin up a constitutional amendment change for this if the legislature won't take action. But - before I do - I ask if anyone else has gone this route before or if there are other initiatives towards that end.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

No initiatives that I am aware of.

and if you want to sell unwashed, unrefrigerated eggs many (with roosters) sell them as "hatching" eggs.

Florida is actually one of the less draconian states in this regard, if you can believe it.

Also, I like these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093SYKRZK

Currently unavailable, similar products sold by a host of vendors. My regulars take a flat or two, return their empties and swap for the next.

Hope that helps.

 

[PoppasGrill]

Is anyone aware of any efforts to change Florida's Backyard Egg sales laws (Limited Poultry Permit: https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/64357/file/Limited-Poultry-and-Egg-Operation-Requirements.PDF)

The law here requires eggs only be solid if the seller has a permit, only sells them in flats (no cartons), and they are both washed and refrigerated. It's quite draconian and should be changed to allow sales without a permit at least under a certain volume, sale in cartons in addition to flats provided the cartons do not bear marks from other egg distributers/sellers/farms and contain suitable language such as "ungraded". Unwashed, unrefrigerated egg sales should be allowed as well. I was thinking of trying to spin up a constitutional amendment change for this if the legislature won't take action. But - before I do - I ask if anyone else has gone this route before or if there are other initiatives towards that end.

We started selling at a local farmers market as farm fresh -unwashed eggs. Someone that bought from us called the Dept of Agriculture and gave our contact information which is on a sticker on the carton. We got a call from an agent(?) asking about our permitting and how many dozens we sell a week.
We checked what was needed, like you stated, and your property is subject to inspection and must have “state approved” egg washing facility. They want you to spend $1k to be able to sell $100 a week in eggs. Way to support small businesses Florida.
I’m not against making sure people are selling eggs from healthy chickens, but , damn it man, come walk around the yard if you want to see how healthy our hens are.
We have sold them , at a flea market , marked as “ not for human consumption” which the owner of the market recommended to keep them from getting in trouble for allowing us to sell eggs without a permit.
Still sold all we had. When asked by customer why it’s marked like that we had to explain about FDA and State regulations on selling unwashed eggs.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I was inspected, had the FL limited egg & poultry license. Don't need a special sink. Do need hot running potable water and a "3 sink bowls" set up. But that could be a table like the below, three separate single bowl sinks, a single and a double, or a double double.

You can do that with a pair of $ 89 double sinks from lowes/home depot, a plastic table to set them in, and a cheap faucet set. Or an industrial one at similar price from a restaurant supply store.

So entry price around $300 - including a bottle of bleach, test strips, and a thermometer. Not quite as bad as it sounds. and still less draconian than many other states.

Didn't even need to be inside. Mine was next to my outside shower.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Eggs are perfect just as the hens lay them. Unwashed eggs last far longer than washed eggs. This tyrannical nonsense shouldn't be supported in the slightest

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Eggs are perfect just as the hens lay them. Unwashed eggs last far longer than washed eggs. This tyrannical nonsense shouldn't be supported in the slightest

That's the Feds, not the State. Though once you are done washing and bleaching, refrigeration is your only hope.

 

[PoppasGrill]

I was inspected, had the FL limited egg & poultry license. Don't need a special sink. Do need hot running potable water and a "3 sink bowls" set up. But that could be a table like the below, three separate single bowl sinks, a single and a double, or a double double.

You can do that with a pair of $ 89 double sinks from lowes/home depot, a plastic table to set them in, and a cheap faucet set. Or an industrial one at similar price from a restaurant supply store. View attachment 4021960

So entry price around $300 - including a bottle of bleach, test strips, and a thermometer. Not quite as bad as it sounds. and still less draconian than many other states.

Didn't even need to be inside. Mine was next to my outside shower.

I guess, imo , it’s not that big of a deal to go through the inspection and permitting process to be able to sell our eggs. Most of our customers don’t want washed eggs though, and have said as much.
The state just makes it more complicated than things used to be. A road side stand to sell excess produce and eggs wasnt a big deal, now it almost more of a hassle than it’s worth.

 

[SourRoses]

At the federal level, food laws are to protect human health. At a state level, the laws are to protect big business.
The states then use human health as their excuse to protect big business, in order to preserve their individual private funding... so no, a petition for change is not going to work.
And the typical consumer is easily prompted to worry about animal products.
You might satisfy them all with a sticker that says "Totally unpalatable, unsafe eggs for decorating purposes only!"
Or just sell the way most small farm folk do, guerilla style at work, church, to neighbors, etc.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

[...] now it almost more of a hassle than it’s worth.

I make no secret of it - had posted my Limited Egg & Poultry license experience here, in fact. It wasn't worth the hassle, primarily the penalties for not promptly reporting that my business, selling a non-taxed product, collected no taxes each quarter...

So I dissolved the LLC and let the license lapse.

Only kept my NPIP (though not currently selling chickens or hatching eggs)

 

[Chickenman721]

I was inspected, had the FL limited egg & poultry license. Don't need a special sink. Do need hot running potable water and a "3 sink bowls" set up. But that could be a table like the below, three separate single bowl sinks, a single and a double, or a double double.

You can do that with a pair of $ 89 double sinks from lowes/home depot, a plastic table to set them in, and a cheap faucet set. Or an industrial one at similar price from a restaurant supply store. View attachment 4021960

So entry price around $300 - including a bottle of bleach, test strips, and a thermometer. Not quite as bad as it sounds. and still less draconian than many other states.

Didn't even need to be inside. Mine was next to my outside shower.

Have some questions about the inspection. Are you doing eggs only or meat as well? I’m wanting to do pasture raised broilers but was in sure of the inspection for the poultry license