Export eggs from Great Britain
How to export and move eggs from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries.
Exporting or moving eggs from Great Britain to the EU and Northern Ireland
If you export eggs from Great Britain to the EU, you need to follow EU marketing standards regulations.
Exporting eggs to the EU during a bird flu outbreak
You cannot export eggs to the EU from bird flu disease control zones in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
If the eggs were produced outside a bird flu disease control zone you can export them to the EU.
Find the latest situation for:
Egg marking
Exporters must mark Class A eggs with the producer code.
Exporters must mark Class B eggs with either:
- the producer code and the Class B indication
- the Class B indication
Class B indications must be either:
- a circle of at least 12mm in diameter around the letter ‘B’ and at least 5mm high
- an easily visible colour spot of at least 5mm in diameter
You must also mark individual eggs with one of the UK’s ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 3166 country codes. You can mark eggs with the ISO code at any point before export.
The UK has 3 ISO codes:
- GB
- GBR
- 826
GB is the most used ISO code. Eggs without an ISO code may be delayed or rejected at an EU border. This requirement applies to both Class A and Class B eggs.
You do not need to mark eggs and egg packs with the UK’s oval health and identification marks. For more information, read the Food Standard Agency’s guidance on the health and identification marks.
You cannot export or move eggs directly from a farm to the EU or Northern Ireland food industry. They must be graded into Class A or Class B before expor t. Find out how to register as an egg packing centre so you can grade eggs (as Class A) for retail and catering.
Checks and controls when exporting to the EU
If you’re exporting Class A eggs, EU officials may carry out marketing standards checks at customs. Check the EU marketing standards for eggs.
If you’re exporting Class B eggs, EU officials may carry out customs checks to verify your eggs are going to the processing industry.
Class B eggs must have documentation with them showing the processing industry as their final destination. Without this information, EU customs officials may stop your eggs from entering the EU.
Eggs and egg products must:
- enter the EU through a border control post (BCP)
- be accompanied by a signed export health certificate (EHC)
For more information, read guidance on how to export or move food, drink and agricultural products.
Checks and controls when moving eggs to Northern Ireland
Products of animal origin (POAO), including eggs and egg products, moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland must enter through designated points of entry.
For more information, read guidance on moving goods into, out of or through Northern Ireland.
Rejected goods
If the consignment of eggs you’re exporting from Great Britain to the EU is rejected at the EU border, you may be able to return the goods to Great Britain.
Your consignment must meet GB egg marketing standard requirements before it can enter free circulation in Great Britain (declared and customs duties paid).
You do not need to provide documentary evidence to demonstrate this, but the eggs and packs must be correctly graded, marked and labelled. They’ll also be subject to risk-based and random checks in free circulation.
Exporting eggs from Northern Ireland to the EU
Eggs produced in Northern Ireland do not need to be marked with the UK’s ISO code.
Labelling of eggs and packs of eggs produced in Northern Ireland
Producers and packing centres from Northern Ireland are identifiable through the reference ‘UK9’ as part of existing, statutory codes.
Exporting eggs from the UK to non-EU countries
Eggs for export to non-EU countries may need to comply with different requirements for:
- quality
- marking
- labelling
You must:
- classify eggs and egg products for import and export with a commodity code
- register as a trader to export agricultural products
- apply for a licence to export or import agricultural products
- apply for an EHC
You should check the import requirements of the country you’re exporting to.
Exporting eggs to non-EU countries during a bird flu outbreak
You may be able to export eggs to non-EU countries that do not require the whole of the UK to be free from bird flu.
You should check the import requirements of the country you’re exporting to.
Get help
Contact pigseggsandpoultryteam@defra.gov.uk if you have any queries. You’ll get a response within 5 working days.
Last updated 7 November 2023 + show all updates
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You no longer have to add the class of eggs in box 1.18 of the Export Health Certificate. We have removed the line in this guidance page that said you do.
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First published.