Can I sell eggs in Tasmania?

Do I need a license to sell eggs in Tasmania?

Biosecurity Tasmania, which runs the Egg Food Safety Scheme, sorts a producer by the number of birds and by who buys the eggs. Its forms page says "If you keep fewer than 20 egg-laying birds" and "only sell or supply directly to friends, family or work colleagues, no action is required." The same list continues: "sell or supply via a market stall, a cafe or shop, or other outlet, you are required to submit a Notification form as a Category 1 Producer." "If you keep between 20 and 50 birds, producing fewer than 20 dozen eggs per week, you are required to submit a Notification form and a Food Safety Management Statement as a Category 1 Producer." And "If you keep more than 50 egg-laying birds, or produce more than 20 dozen eggs per week, you are required to apply for a Category 2 accreditation."

The Regulations are the instrument. They define "home egg production" as egg production "carried on at residential premises that does not involve any of the following:" more than 20 egg-laying birds, "the supply of eggs to an egg business", "the supply of eggs to a food business", "the supply of eggs at a market" or "the supply of eggs by way of wholesale" (reg. 3), and prescribe it as an activity that is "not a primary production activity" (reg. 5; the Act, s 5(2)(c), leaves out any activity the regulations prescribe). A sale from the farm gate to the public is on none of those lists, and Biosecurity Tasmania's fact sheet counts "The direct sale or supply of eggs to friends, family, or colleagues, or from your farm gate" among the activities that make a producer a commercial one (#1082).

Biosecurity Tasmania's own documents do not agree on the producer at the top of its list. Its fact sheet, which prints no date and names the 2014 Regulations, says "Producers who keep fewer than 20 birds and only sell direct to friends, family, and colleagues, need only submit a notification form, and not a full FSMS." and says of "Small commercial egg businesses keeping fewer than 20 egg-laying birds, and only occasionally selling or bartering excess eggs directly to friends, family, neighbours, or colleagues" that they "are exempt from the Egg Scheme." The forms page says "no action is required." The Regulations put the duty to notify on "the proprietor of an egg business" who is excused accreditation, and an egg business is one "other than home egg production" (regs. 3 and 12(4)); whether this producer notifies is not settled (#1086). The notification form (version of January 2025) asks "Do you intend to sell eggs to the public from the production site?"

A business that "supplies less than 20 dozen eggs in each calendar week" and "does not supply egg product other than whole raw eggs with intact shells" is not required to be accredited (reg. 12(2)). It must "notify the Chief Inspector, in a form approved by the Chief Inspector," of its name and address, the number and type of its egg-laying birds and the address of the premises, and "apply a unique identifying mark or stamp, that has been approved by the Chief Inspector for use by the proprietor, to eggs that are to be sold or supplied by that person for human consumption" (reg. 12(4)), on pain of a fine of up to 5 penalty units. The Chief Inspector keeps those details on a public register (reg. 14(3) and (4)), and the notification form says "limited personal information including the egg stamp code number, my name and address of my egg business will be recorded on the public register of egg producers." The forms page says such a producer is "not required to hold an accreditation, have an annual food safety audit or pay any associated fees."

Accreditation is for the rest: "the proprietor of an egg business involved in egg production or egg processing is required to be accredited under the egg food safety scheme" (reg. 12(1)), and a business that keeps or manages 50 egg-laying birds or more is taken, "in the absence of proof to the contrary," to supply 20 dozen eggs or more in each calendar week (reg. 12(3)). An accredited egg producer "must prepare and implement a food safety program" (reg. 15), audited "at least once every 12 months" unless the Chief Inspector sets other intervals (reg. 16). Where the pages and the Regulations put the line at a different edge, 20 birds against fewer than 20 and 20 dozen against more than 20 dozen, the page says so and settles neither (#1083).

The notification form asks for a "Property ID No." and a "PIC No.: (if known)", and no instrument we read asks a keeper of poultry for either (#1085). The fact sheet adds: "Some local government areas have planning and by-law restrictions on the keeping of chickens, and/or operating a primary production business." and "Notification of your egg business to Biosecurity Tasmania does not exempt you from these legal requirements." Biosecurity Tasmania's Eggs page still says the commercial production of eggs "is regulated under the Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2014 or the Egg Food Safety Scheme"; the 2024 Regulations were "made consequentially on the repeal of the Primary Produce Safety (Eggs) Regulations 2014 under section 11 of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1992", so this page reads the 2024 text.

The national text sits under all of this. The Regulations have a person who must comply with the scheme comply with "Standard 4.2.5 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Eggs and Egg Product in the Food Standards Code, as amended from time to time" (reg. 11(1)), and the Act has a person "comply with any requirement imposed on the person by a provision of the Food Standards Code in relation to the conduct of any primary production activity" (s 31). Standard 4.2.5, in the compilation of 29 November 2018 that the Federal Register shows as current, has an egg producer "operate according to a food safety management statement" (cl 3(3)); Biosecurity Tasmania's template for one is for "fewer than 20 dozen eggs per week (equivalent to 50 egg laying birds)" and a producer who sells to "egg businesses, food businesses, markets, or by way of wholesale". A variation registered on 1 December 2025 amends that Standard; the Register dates the amended Standard from 3 June 2027 (#1077). We settle none of it. Ask Biosecurity Tasmania.

Source: Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Producer Application Forms, Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2024, regs. 3, 5, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and the explanatory note, Primary Produce Safety Act 2011, ss 4, 5, 29, 30 and 31, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme fact sheet, Biosecurity Tasmania: Notification Form, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer, Biosecurity Tasmania: Food Safety Management Statement, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer, Biosecurity Tasmania: Eggs, Food Standards Code, Standard 4.2.5, clauses 1 and 3 and Food Standards (Proposal P1060) Variation.

How many eggs can I sell without a license in Tasmania?

Two lines apply, and the pages and the Regulations put their edges differently (#1083). Home egg production ends at "more than 20 egg-laying birds at any one time" (reg. 3); Biosecurity Tasmania's pages say "fewer than 20". A business that "supplies less than 20 dozen eggs in each calendar week" is not required to be accredited (reg. 12(2)), and one that keeps or manages 50 egg-laying birds or more is taken to supply 20 dozen or more unless it proves otherwise (reg. 12(3)). The scheme page says the threshold "is the equivalent of keeping approximately 50 egg laying birds", and the fact sheet that Category 2 is "More than 20 dozen eggs are produced in a week, or more than 50 egg-laying birds are kept". None of these caps how many eggs a Category 1 producer may sell: each is the line at which it is accredited instead.

The money is in Australian dollars. The Regulations set their fees in fee units (Schedule 1: 350 for an application for accreditation, 175, 350 or 750 a year by the number of full-time egg handlers, and 70 for a default) and say the fees are, "unless otherwise specified, exclusive of GST" (reg. 8(2)). Biosecurity Tasmania's Product Integrity schedule prints A$686.00 for the application, A$343.00 a year for fewer than 5 full-time egg handlers, A$686.00 for 5 to 50 and A$1,470.00 for more than 50, and A$137.20 for a default. The schedule is titled "Biosecurity Tasmania fees to apply from 1 July 2026" and each page's footer reads "Last Updated 15/05/2025", so the document dates its figures two ways. A Category 1 producer pays no annual fee: the scheme page says "This does not involve any annual statutory fee."

Source: Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2024, regs. 3, 8, 12 and schedule 1, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme fact sheet, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Producer Application Forms, Biosecurity Tasmania: Product Integrity Fees and Charges 2026-27 and Biosecurity Tasmania: Biosecurity Fees & Charges.

Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in Tasmania?

A market is where a home producer's line ends: "the supply of eggs at a market" is one of the five supplies that end home egg production (reg. 3), so a market seller is an egg business. Below 20 dozen eggs a week it is a Category 1 producer. Biosecurity Tasmania's forms page says a keeper who will "sell or supply via a market stall, a cafe or shop, or other outlet" is "required to submit a Notification form as a Category 1 Producer", and its fact sheet says "All eggs that are sold by commercial egg producers to an egg business, food business, at a market, or by way of wholesale, must be stamped with a unique identifier that is approved by Biosecurity Tasmania." A market's own terms are the market's, and none of the sources read states them.

The council is a separate door. The scheme page leaves food retail businesses to local government under the Food Act 2003, and says that "food retail businesses, such as supermarkets, shops (including farmer's markets and the CWA shop), cafes and restaurants, that sell but do not produce eggs, are not regulated under Egg Food Safety Scheme." The Food Act, s 6, makes a food business one "(other than a business, enterprise or activity that is primary food production)" that involves "the handling of food intended for sale" or "the sale of food"; s 7(2)(c) says primary food production "does not include" "the sale or service of food directly to the public"; s 10(1) says "Parts 5 and 7 do not apply to or in respect of primary food production"; and s 84(1) has the proprietor of a food business give "written notice" "to the council of the municipal area", unless the Food Safety Standards do not require it (s 85(a)). Whether a producer selling its own eggs at a market or stall is a food business that gives that notice, or only an egg producer under the scheme, no source we read says (#1084). Ask Biosecurity Tasmania and your council.

Source: Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2024, reg. 3, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Producer Application Forms, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme fact sheet, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme and Food Act 2003, ss 6, 7, 10, 84 and 85.

Can I sell eggs to a restaurant, a store or someone who resells them in Tasmania?

A farm that supplies a cafe, a shop or a canteen is an egg business, not a home producer, whatever its size: reg. 3 lists "the supply of eggs to an egg business", "the supply of eggs to a food business" and "the supply of eggs by way of wholesale" among what ends home egg production, and Biosecurity Tasmania's fact sheet names "The sale or supply of eggs to a business (e.g. corner store, cafe, canteen) or at a market". Below 20 dozen eggs a week it is a Category 1 producer, at or above it an accredited one (reg. 12(1) and (2); the pages put the 20 dozen edge differently, #1083). Egg processing, which the same business may do, is "pulping, separating, grading, packing, washing, candling, assessing for cracks or oiling eggs that are intended for supply to an egg business or food business" (reg. 3).

The buyer who only resells is another case. The scheme page says "However the Food Act also requires retail businesses to only sell (or use in catering) eggs that comply with the national Food Standards Code requirements for traceability and safety." Standard 2.2.2 says "Eggs for retail sale or for sale to a *caterer must be individually marked with the producer’s or processor’s unique identification." Anyone who supplies eggs is held to the Regulations: "A person must not supply egg or egg product that have not been lawfully produced for human consumption." (reg. 17(1)), and the Act's dictionary has supply include to "deliver, sell, trade, give or distribute, whether for valuable consideration or not".

Source: Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2024, regs. 3, 12 and 17, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme fact sheet, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme, Primary Produce Safety Act 2011, section 4 and Food Standards Code, Standard 2.2.2.

Do I need to grade or label my eggs in Tasmania?

A Category 1 producer stamps each egg: the Regulations have it "apply a unique identifying mark or stamp, that has been approved by the Chief Inspector for use by the proprietor" (reg. 12(4)), and the fact sheet says "Unaccredited egg producers may only stamp their eggs with the unique identifier assigned to them by Biosecurity Tasmania." Biosecurity Tasmania supplies the hand stamp at no charge once the producer's food safety documentation is approved. An information sheet for home producers, issued 21 January 2015, says "If you have less than 20 egg laying birds and only supplying eggs to work colleagues, friends and family you are not required to stamp your eggs."

The national text says the same of the egg. Standard 4.2.5, cl 10(1): "An egg producer must not sell eggs unless each individual egg is marked with the producers’ unique identification." Standard 2.2.2 asks it of every egg for retail sale. The variation due from 3 June 2027 keeps the marking in Standard 4.2.5, cl 10(1), as "uniquely marked to identify the egg producer" (#1077).

The carton has its own rules, and the documents differ. The fact sheet says "Egg cartons must be labelled in accordance with FSANZ Standard 1.2.1., except in certain circumstances, such as when it is packed in the presence of the consumer." and lists "The name of the food", "The name and physical address of the premises where the food was produced", "Best before date", "Lot / batch number" and "Storage directions". The template for the food safety management statement (version of January 2025) says "Labeling of cartons must include at a minimum:" a name and contact details, a best before date and a batch number or other identification, and "Second hand egg cartons are not to be reused"; the 2015 information sheet says "Eggs must be sold in new single use cartons; reusing egg cartons can cause contamination of eggs." Standard 1.2.1 itself was not read. No source we read sets a grade, a size or a weight for an egg sold in Tasmania.

Source: Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2024, reg. 12, Biosecurity Tasmania: Egg Food Safety Scheme fact sheet, Biosecurity Tasmania: Producing Safe Eggs at Home (21 January 2015), Biosecurity Tasmania: Food Safety Management Statement, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer, Food Standards Code, Standard 4.2.5, clause 10, Food Standards Code, Standard 2.2.2 and Food Standards (Proposal P1060) Variation.

Do eggs have to be refrigerated to sell in Tasmania, and at what temperature?

No instrument we read sets a temperature for a producer's eggs. Standard 4.2.5 asks an egg producer to "operate according to a food safety management statement", which is the farm's own, so a temperature, if any, is in that statement. Biosecurity Tasmania's template for it (version of January 2025) says "Keep eggs cool during storage and transport – eggs keep best between 15 and 20°C." and "It is recommended the purchaser of the eggs store the eggs in the refrigerator", and its information sheet of 21 January 2015 gives the same 15 and 20°C as advice on good practice, not a rule.

The variation due from 3 June 2027 adds a clause 9B on storing and transporting eggs, which has the producer "ensure that the time and temperature conditions under which those activities are undertaken do not make the eggs or egg pulp unsafe or unsuitable" (#1077). Ask Biosecurity Tasmania what your statement should say.

Source: Food Standards Code, Standard 4.2.5, clause 3, Biosecurity Tasmania: Food Safety Management Statement, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer, Biosecurity Tasmania: Producing Safe Eggs at Home (21 January 2015) and Food Standards (Proposal P1060) Variation.

Can I sell duck, quail or other eggs in Tasmania?

The scheme speaks of eggs, not hens' eggs. The Act says "egg means an egg from any avian (bird) species", and Biosecurity Tasmania's template says an egg "refers to an egg from any bird species and includes chickens, quails, ducks, turkeys, geese and guinea fowl." The notification form asks for the number of each. Standard 4.2.5 says "egg means an egg from any avian (bird) species, except ratites." A duck, quail or goose egg is within all three. An emu or ostrich egg is a bird egg on the Act's words and outside the Standard's, and no source we read says how Biosecurity Tasmania treats it (#1078).

Source: Primary Produce Safety Act 2011, section 4, Biosecurity Tasmania: Food Safety Management Statement, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer, Biosecurity Tasmania: Notification Form, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer and Food Standards Code, Standard 4.2.5, clause 2.

Do I have to wash or candle my eggs in Tasmania?

Washing is not asked and is discouraged. The 2015 information sheet says "Wet washing of eggs is not recommended for home producers because there is an increased risk of contamination if washing conditions are not precisely controlled." and the template of January 2025 says it again: "Wet washing of eggs is not recommended for home producers because it increases risk of contamination." A dirty egg is not sold: Standard 4.2.5, cl 11(1), says "An egg producer must not sell or supply eggs or egg pulp for human consumption if it knows, ought to reasonably know or to reasonably suspect, that the eggs are unacceptable.", and an unacceptable egg is a cracked or a dirty one.

Candling is how a crack is found. The Standard says "cracked egg means an egg which has a cracked shell which is visible, or visible by candling or other equivalent methods, and includes a broken egg." and the 2015 sheet says "Candling is the best method for checking for cracks". The Regulations count "washing, candling, assessing for cracks" of eggs intended for supply to an egg business or food business as egg processing (reg. 3), and reg. 12(2) excuses accreditation for a business that supplies less than 20 dozen eggs a week and only whole raw eggs with intact shells. No source we read says a producer needs a separate approval to wash or candle its own eggs.

Source: Biosecurity Tasmania: Producing Safe Eggs at Home (21 January 2015), Biosecurity Tasmania: Food Safety Management Statement, Unaccredited Commercial Egg Producer, Food Standards Code, Standard 4.2.5, clauses 2 and 11 and Primary Produce Safety (Egg) Regulations 2024, regs. 3 and 12.