Registering egg premises

The Eggs and Chicks Regulations cover most aspects of egg grading, packing, marking, labelling, transport and onward marketing. The regulations apply to in shell eggs from laying hens marketed as Class A sold for human consumption. Part 1 of the regulations refers to chicken eggs only, part 2 covers hatching eggs from the following species - hen, turkey, goose, duck, and guinea fowl.

Most laying hen establishments must be registered and allocated a distinguishing number under the Registration of Laying Flocks Order, and all eggs sold as Class A standard within the European Union must be marked with a code identifying the establishment, country of origin and method of production.

Animal Health does not regulate egg production and distribution is Scotland. The Scottish Government’s website has more information on the egg marketing inspection in Scotland.

Who this applies to

These regulations apply to most businesses involved in the production of hen eggs for human consumption, including hen laying establishments and egg packing centres.

You do not have to be registered under these regulations, unless any of the eggs are intended for marketing as Class A, if:

• If you have fewer than 350 laying hens and sell all of the eggs produced directly to the consumer (or less than 50 if some eggs are sold direct to consumers through a local market) or
• You are rearing breeding laying hens

What you may need to do and how to do it

It is necessary to register laying hen establishments and packing centres with Animal Health, who will allocate a producer distinguishing number if:

• any of your eggs are eventually marketed as Class A
• you have 350 or more hens, or
• you have 50 or more hens and any of their eggs are marketed at local public markets, or
• if you keep fewer than 350 laying hens or rear breeding laying hens, and do not sell direct to consumers, you do not have to be registered, unless any of your eggs are destined to be graded for marketing as Class A (however Class A status is a requirement for most retail sales).

For extra guidance, and to find out what you may need to do use our easy to follow flow chart (680KB PDF).

However if you have more than 50 hens your flock must also be separately registered with the Great Britain Poultry Register.

How to register your flock:

• EMR2b (PDF 934KB) - Application for registration of an egg site establishment

How to register a packing centre:

• EMR2 (PDF 713KB) - Application for authorisation of an Egg Packing Centre

Note: You will also need to seek approval as an Egg Packing Centre from your local Environmental and/or local food enforcement body.

Further information:

• Guidance on Legislation covering the Marketing of hen eggs
  Explanatory Leaflet EMR 1 (PDF 921KB)