,"On December 9, 2025, the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) announced updated guidance on eggs marketing legislation, applicable to England and Wales. The revised document provides a structured interpretation of regulatory requirements governing the production, grading, packaging, transport, and marketing of eggs intended for human consumption, while noting that it serves as guidance rather than the full legislation.
The update clarifies mandatory responsibilities for all operators across the supply chain—including producers, collectors, packing centres, wholesalers, retailers, caterers, food processors, and egg-boiling plants—who must register as food business operators. The guidance places stronger emphasis on documentation, traceability, and identifying the Eggs Marketing Inspectorate (EMI) as the primary point of contact for compliance oversight.
Additional clarifications were issued for industrial eggs and waste eggs, reaffirming that they must be treated as Category 3 materials (or Category 2 when containing veterinary drug residues) under Animal By-Products Regulations. These eggs may only be sent to approved facilities for disposal and cannot be discarded as general waste or applied to land. Relevant GOV.UK regulatory references are included to support operator compliance.
The update also expands requirements under the Salmonella National Control Programme: Farms with ≥350 laying hens must conduct sampling at specified intervals and maintain records. Non-compliance may result in graded fines, mandatory official testing, temporary marketing restrictions, and regular audits by the EMI, emphasizing penalty ranges and accountability mechanisms."
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