Publication
Eggs and Egg Products: Eggs
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
1. Eggs are defined in Annex I of Regulation (EC) 853/2004 as ‘eggs in shell — other than broken, incubated or cooked eggs — that are produced by farmed birds and are fit for direct human consumption or for the preparation of egg products.’
2. Eggs can be imported provided that they:
- come from an approved country/part of a country
- come from an EU approved establishment
- are accompanied by an agreed animal/public health certificate
3. Eggs must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:
a) Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption
b) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety
c) Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs
d) Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin
e) Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products
f) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption
1. The approved third country list for imports for eggs can be found in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 798/2008.
2. Eggs must be produced in establishments approved to export to the EU:
- see list here (Section X : Eggs and egg products)
3. Section X of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 lays down specific requirements for eggs as follows:
- eggs must be kept clean, dry, free of extraneous odour, and effectively protected from shocks and out of direct sunshine at the producer’s premises until sale to the consumer
- eggs must be stored and transported at a temperature, preferably constant, that is best suited to assure optimal conservation of their hygiene properties
- eggs must be delivered to the consumer within a maximum time limit of 21 days of laying
4. The country of origin must also be listed for the appropriate species in Commission Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries, in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC.
5. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have international agreements with the EU which means that they implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of animal products. Animal products from these countries must comply with the same requirements applying to animal products from EU Member States and are therefore not subject to veterinary checks.
6. Other Third Countries have special conditions associated with the import of products of animal origin. Further information can be found in the following legislation relevant to that particular country:
- Canada: Council Decision 1999/201/EC; Decision 79/542/EC
- New Zealand: Commission Decision 2003/56/EC; Decision 2005/432/EC; Regulation (EC) 999/2001
- USA: Council Decision 1998/258/EC; Regulation (EC) 999/2001
1. Eggs shall be presented at a Community Border Inspection Post accompanied by a veterinary certificate, drawn up in conformity with the Model E in Part 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 798/2008.
2. The certifying veterinarian should ensure that only the relevant paragraphs and, where appropriate, additional guarantees and/or special conditions applicable to exporting country are included.
1. Consignments of eggs entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.
2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.
3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.
4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.
5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES system.
6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list and so on.
1. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.
a. Please note the original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, this will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.
2. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment will then be subject to an identity check at the BCP to ensure it identifies with the consignment that was declared in the documentation.
3. A proportion of consignments will be selected for a full physical inspection with/without sampling as appropriate.
4. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.
5. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.
