Selling eggs at the farm gate: registration, labelling, stamping and storage
Please note that this guidance is intended to be used for general information purposes only, is not intended to be a definitive guide to the law and cannot be a substitute for independent advice. NFU members can obtain free initial legal and professional advice from NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.
This business guide explains the rules when selling hen eggs directly to the final consumer or a local retailer (not via a packing centre where different rules will apply).
It should be read along with business guide 鈥淔ood Hygiene: regulations and responsibilities explained鈥� available at: /member-resources/food-hygiene-regulations-and-responsibilities-explained/.
The rules that you need to follow depend on the number of hens you have and where you sell the eggs.
Eggs sold directly to the consumer from a farm, by door-to-door delivery, or from a market or boot sale do not need to be weight graded or stamped but must be labelled with a best-before date, a statement that the eggs should be refrigerated after purchase, and in some circumstances the production site鈥檚 name and address or individual code.
A summary table of requirements is provided at the end of this guide.