[Rhiannongriff]

We have just started a little Smallholding, and want to sell surplus eggs from the gate, we have under 50 birds. The council advise we have to register as a food business, but also make a reference to being an approved business as it involves eggs, I am getting links to lots of legislation  websites from them rather than clear sound advice on what would apply to us on such a small scale. Our eggs would be ungraded and not stamped and sold direct to Joe public and not catering establishments etc. The gov websites say under 50 birds and you do not have to comply, with grading and do not have to register with a p h a, so is that the same as the councils approved food business reg regarding eggs, many thanks for any advice.

[Dan]

You do not have to register as a food business - there is an exemption for the selling of eggs, but you are subject to european regulation EC853/2004

Under those regulations you only have to register if you are a packing centre - that is if you grade eggs by size and quality, or if you sell to other food businesses, eg for processing or cooking.

The regs can be found here, starting on page 132 (only 3 pages):

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:139:0055:0205:EN:PDF

We've got a summary article here on selling:

https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/poultry/selling-eggs/

Good luck!

[Perris]

Dan's answer tells you all you need to know. You could pass it on to whoever you spoke with at the council, for their information

[Rhiannongriff]

Thank you so much, for taking the time to respond, many thanks all!