Wholesale Manufactured Foods New Business Guide
Eggs

An egg processor is an establishment that conducts any of the following activities: cleaning, candling, grading, sorting, or packing of eggs.

First receivers (a person who receives eggs from a producer at any place of business and candles, grades, sorts, packs, or packages the eggs), retailers, and wholesale distributors are required to be licensed by MDARD. MDARD does not license or regulate shell egg processors who meet all of the following requirements:

• Is directly responsible for producing eggs from fewer than 3,000 hens.
• Only sells eggs directly to consumers or first receivers.
• Only sells eggs in containers that each bear a label stating: "packaged in a facility that has not been inspected by the department."
• Does not sell eggs through the internet, by mail order, or consignment.

Further information can be found on becoming a Shell Egg Processor.