Egg Packer & Distributor Registration

Anyone who sells or distributes eggs or packages them for sale to wholesalers, retailers or food service facilities in Maryland must register as an Egg Packer or Distributor. This helps ensure that registered Distributors and Packers meet the standards for quality, weight, labeling, and food safety that are set by the Maryland Egg Law.

Authority: Agriculture Article 4-311; COMAR 15.04.01

Application Process & Registration Renewals

Complete an application provided by the Department of Agriculture.​

• Egg Producer/Packer Application
  • Complete the egg producer/packer application if:
    • You are a producer/packer with less than 3,000 chickens that only pack and sell eggs from your own flock; OR
    • You are a producer/packer with more than 3,000 chickens or a packer who originally grades and packages eggs from any other source (e.g., nest run eggs); OR
    • You are a re-packer who places previously graded eggs in a case, carton, or container that is identified with their registration number

• Egg Distributor Application​
  • Complete the egg distributor application if you are a wholesaler selling eggs in Maryland.

Application processing time: 5-10 days

Egg producer/packer and distributor registrations must be renewed annually by December 31.

Fees

• Egg producers/packers with fewer than 3,000 chickens: No fee
• Egg producers/packers with 3,000 chickens or more: $30 per year, plus a fee of .08 cents per 30 dozen eggs sold to retailers, food service facilities or consumers. The fee of .08 cents per 30 dozen eggs does not apply to eggs sold to wholesalers.
• Egg re-packers: $30 per year
• Egg distributors: $30 per year, plus a fee of .08 cents per 30 dozen eggs sold to retailers, food service facilities or consumers. The fee of .08 cents per 30 dozen eggs does not apply to eggs sold to wholesalers.

Maryland Egg Law Egg Carton/Case Labeling Requirements for Shell Eggs

Although a specific lettering type is not required, all information must be legible. Specified type sizes are the
minimum allowed and all lettering within a word or statement must meet the required lettering height.
 

1. The following must be on all cartons:

   1. A safe handling statement with the words "SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS" in bold capital letters and the statement set off in a box by hairlines in lettering at least 1/16 of an inch in height. For example:

      

      If the safe handling statement does not appear on the principal display panel or the front information panel, a separate refrigeration statement must be printed on either the principal display panel or the front information panel. 

   2. The packer or distributor's name and address must be on either the principal display panel or the information panel with a minimum type size of 1/16 of an inch.
   3. The packer's registration number must be on either the principal display panel or the information panel with a minimum type size of 1/16 of an inch.
   4. The lot designation of the eggs must be on either the principal display panel or the information panel with a
      minimum type size of 1/16 of an inch.
   5. The identity of the product as eggs must be on the principal display panel with a minimum type size of 1/4 of
      an inch.
   6. The net quantity of eggs in weight or numerical count must be on the principal display panel with a minimum
      type size as specified by the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, in general, 1/8 of an inch for 6 egg or 8 egg
      cartons, 3/16 of an inch for 12 egg or 18 egg cartons and 1/4 of an inch for 30 egg or more sleeves. If net
      quantity is expressed by both weight and count, only one must meet the minimum type size requirements. If
      net quantity is expressed by weight, both metric and ounces or pounds must be shown.
   7. The word grade and the grade classification (AA or A) and size of the eggs must be on the principal display
      panel with a minimum type size of 1/4 of an inch.
2. The same information that is required to be on cartons must be on cases of loose eggs. Cases containing
   cartons of eggs must have a refrigeration statement, the identity of the product as eggs and the grade and size.
   The information may be on the top of the case or any of the sides. Type size requirements are the same as for
   cartons.
3. The same information that is required to be on cartons and cases of shell eggs must be on cartons and cases
   of in shell pasteurized eggs except the grade can only be stated as produced from and a refrigeration statement
   may be used in lieu of the safe handling instructions.
4. No information that may be misleading to the consumer may be on cartons. Documentation to support
   nutritional and/or production practices claims will be requested from producers.

Appeals

Anyone dissatisfied with a decision, action or failure to act regarding a permit or license may write to the Secretary of Agriculture, who will issue a written decision within 30 days of the filing of the complaint. A complainant dissatisfied with the Secretary’s decision may appeal to a Board of Review within 30 days of receiving the Secretary’s decision. 

Requests should be sent to: Chairman, Board of Review, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis MD 21401. 

At the hearing, each side has 30 minutes to present arguments. The board affirms, reverses or modifies the decision of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Additional information

Egg producers and processors should be familiar with the US Department of Agriculture National Poultry Improvement Plan. Shell egg packers and shell egg producer/packers with more than 3,000 chickens should be familiar with the regulations governing the inspection of eggs and egg products found in 7 CFR Part 59, administered by the US Department of Agriculture.