What are the laws/regulations for selling table eggs (for consumption) in your state/country?

[robdog]

Looks like quail eggs are exempt. Especially if your flock is small.

This is what I actually gathered... Eggs can not be graded, must be labeled with your info, Have no one else's info on the carton, say use with 30 days, and say keep refrigerated, eggs and carton must be clean.

I would start with the local feed stores maybe. Both of ours have duck, quail, and chicken eggs for sale from other customers. None of them have egg handlers' license!

I think that is truly for businesses. But I will have to find the exemption I previously mentioned because it won't be long before I am ready to "trade" mine for cash. And although I disagree with over regulation, I do understand rules are their for a reason. And I like to be within the law.

Good luck!

Man i have to many questions for this

I have looked all over for information regarding them ;(
I'm just trying to do everything by the book because I'm 17 and just trying to make a little money after a total spent: ($300 battery quail cage) ($35 70 quail chicks) ($80 feed) (Almost completed Fully auto incubator $Around 250

)
I'm wondering what exactly has to be on the label and do I need to register as a wholeseller business type of this with riverside county for the IRS and all that dumb stuff

or if i even have to do that at all

From what http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/ and http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/pfs24a.htm if im reading it right it says:

• Processed eggs must be held under refrigeration in rooms kept at 45oF or below from packing until sale to consumers.
• I.R.Q:
  Identity (Eggs)
  Responsibility (Farm name, address and zip code)
  Quantity (Number of eggs in the container)
• Sell-by Date:
  Date shall not exceed 30 days from the date on which the eggs were packed (excluding the day of pack)
• Julian Date of Pack:
  The consecutive date of the year on which the eggs were packed. Example: Jan 1 = 001, Jul 1 = 182, Dec 31 = 365.
• Prominently Labeled: Refrigerate After Purchase
• "CASEFS COMPLIANT" must be 1/4 inch in size.
  ^^

So basically all I have to do is have all this on a label on the egg carton and I'll be good to sell to a store for about $3 or so a dozen/15/24 and then let the store mark them up whatever

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Man i have to many questions for this

I have looked all over for information regarding them ;(
I'm just trying to do everything by the book because I'm 17 and just trying to make a little money after a total spent: ($300 battery quail cage) ($35 70 quail chicks) ($80 feed) (Almost completed Fully auto incubator $Around 250

)
I'm wondering what exactly has to be on the label and do I need to register as a wholeseller business type of this with riverside county for the IRS and all that dumb stuff

or if i even have to do that at all

From what http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/ and http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/pfs24a.htm if im reading it right it says:

• Processed eggs must be held under refrigeration in rooms kept at 45oF or below from packing until sale to consumers.
• I.R.Q:
  Identity (Eggs)
  Responsibility (Farm name, address and zip code)
  Quantity (Number of eggs in the container)
• Sell-by Date:
  Date shall not exceed 30 days from the date on which the eggs were packed (excluding the day of pack)
• Julian Date of Pack:
  The consecutive date of the year on which the eggs were packed. Example: Jan 1 = 001, Jul 1 = 182, Dec 31 = 365.
• Prominently Labeled: Refrigerate After Purchase
• "CASEFS COMPLIANT" must be 1/4 inch in size.
  ^^

So basically all I have to do is have all this on a label on the egg carton and I'll be good to sell to a store for about $3 or so a dozen/15/24 and then let the store mark them up whatever

Are you actually trying to start a business and be able to deduct your expenses from you taxes? Or just selling eggs from your hobby? Have you already had conversations with the stores you are hoping will carry your product? "Whatever" they want to mark it up doesn't seem quite fair. Seems like their should be a fair mark up that still makes your product attractive. Also, you cannot label your eggs SEFS if you haven't had them tested. But I think that is only for flock over 3,000.

My county ag department guy is always willing to answer my questions. Maybe you can contact yours and see what they say. I know there are Ca rules... but rules also vary from county to county. When I looked at mine, we were fine as long as our flock was under 100.

Processed eggs means washed I presume.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Here are California's laws from http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/:

Direct Market Basics

The sale of raw shell eggs sold from your property, at Certified Farmer's Market, grocery stores, restaurants and institutions are covered by this fact sheet. California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) administers this program.

1. Eggs must be from hens under your ownership and care.
2. Complete an Egg Handlers Registration - no exceptions! Everyone selling eggs from chickens must register.
   NOTE: Registration is not required to sell eggs from other species (i.e. ducks, quail).

Quick short copy to highlight QUAIL.​

 

[robdog]

Are you actually trying to start a business and be able to deduct your expenses from you taxes? Or just selling eggs from your hobby? Have you already had conversations with the stores you are hoping will carry your product? "Whatever" they want to mark it up doesn't seem quite fair. Seems like their should be a fair mark up that still makes your product attractive. Also, you cannot label your eggs SEFS if you haven't had them tested. But I think that is only for flock over 3,000.

My county ag department guy is always willing to answer my questions. Maybe you can contact yours and see what they say. I know there are Ca rules... but rules also vary from county to county. When I looked at mine, we were fine as long as our flock was under 100.

Processed eggs means washed I presume.

No I'm just figuring out life and really have no clue what I'm talking about and what I need to do in order to start this. Just stuff going up in my mind

--------------------------------------------------------*Cooled Down*
Yes I'm just trying to sell them from a hobby of myself.
Im just lost on what to put on packaging and anything else needed to be able to be sold to family owned stores around me (Living in the city really pops up a few places to sell) and after I get this all figured out and have everything ready will I then be conversating with people to sell my product (Quail Eggs)
http://ucanr.edu/sites/CESonomaAgOmbuds/Selling_Fresh_Eggs/ <---- I've read it over and over and its just hard to figure out what to put because nothing is specifically says quail and what to do for those

If you can just help me out on telling me exactly how to do all this I'd really appreciate it

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What I would put, according to what I've figured out to the best of my ability is.....

Quail eggs

Pack date-

Use within 30 days

Keep refrigerated

And your contact info to identify where they came from - This is in case somebody get sick they find out where the problem is, like salmonella.

And make sure there is NO identification of grade or any other companies' info on your boxes. No SEFS compliant markings either.

All that stuff is for Large scale businesses. In my previous post, I highlighted or bolded the part that says registration is not required for quail eggs. And I would just go by the other basics, which is the stuff in this post. I am no expert or lawyer..... but I din't think you should have any issues. When I looked up stuff to see if it was legal to sell processed chickens the answer was yes as long as it isn't sold by a third party under their name and your flock was under 100.

It's great that you are trying to make sure you are within the law. Many people don't care. But the laws are there to protect our food supply and health. I think you will be fine.

 

[robdog]

Thank you I appreciate it a lot

 

[Faraday40]

Because I have a very small flock (8-18 chickens) it certainly wouldn't be economical for me to sell eggs at a farmer's market. (IL laws are diff, but the license fees, grading scale, & cost of new egg cartons- here only new cartons can be used- makes selling our extra eggs not financially possible.) However, it is perfectly legal to sell ungraded eggs from our home (where our hens reside). There is more demand for our backyard eggs than we can possibly supply, so I never have to worry about advertising.

I simply let the neighbors, family, friends, co-workers, etc. know that we have chickens & are willing to sell extra eggs when we have them. Usually it's only spring - summer, but it's a win/win. No advertising & if we get too many eggs, the kids can simply deliver the eggs to the next person on the list.

I've also seen people sell eggs via Craigslist. I can't say I've tried it, but it could be a way to get a customer base without the red tape of selling via a store.

 

[rusty acres]

A little late to the party, but here are Florida regulations:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Food Safety LIMITED POULTRY AND EGG OPERATION REQUIREMENTS Page 1 of 1 A Limited Poultry and Egg Farm Operation is defined as a farm-based food establishment which directly produces and offers dressed poultry or whole shell eggs for sale. No additional processing or food preparation of such poultry or shell eggs is allowed under this permit category. These small farm operations are limited to up to 1,000 laying hens annually for production and sale of shell eggs and/or up to 20,000 poultry annually for the production and sale of dressed poultry. • An FDACS food permit is required. • An Application and Request for an Inspection for Permitting can be completed at www.FreshFromFlorida.com and select the Division of Food Safety. A request can also be made by calling 850-245-5520. • Operation is limited to sell up to 30 dozen eggs and/or up to 384 dressed poultry in any one week. • Egg and/or poultry products must be sold within the state of Florida. • Egg and/or poultry products can be sold at a roadside stand, farmers market, and other similar open-air market locations or by direct delivery to the purchaser. No internet sales are permitted. • Egg and/or poultry products can be sold directly to hotels, restaurants and similar institutions for the preparation of meals sold directly to the customer but not for retail sale. • For the purposes of this permit, a whole shell egg product or dressed poultry product includes chicken, turkey, duck, goose, guinea, fowl or quail. • Processing facility must have equipment to properly wash and air dry the eggs including an egg washing machine or a three-compartment sink of sufficient size. • Processor must use a USDA approved shell egg cleaner and sanitizer and have the appropriate sanitizer test kit. A list of Approved Cleaners and Sanitizers is available from USDA/FSIS. • Eggs shall be sold in flats or in bulk with a placard displayed at the point of sale stating: “These eggs have not been graded as to quality and weight”. The placard must be at least 7 inches by 7 inches in size. • Eggs shall be maintained at 45o F or less ambient air temperature. • Poultry shall be packaged and labeled with the processor’s name, the farm address, the statement “Exempt P.L. 90-492”, and required Safe Handling Instructions. • Poultry shall be maintained at 41o F or less. • Before obtaining a Limited Poultry and Egg Farm Operation Permit you should verify that you comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances regulating the preparation, processing, storage and sale of poultry and egg products. 1