Importing eggs to the UK from the EU and non-EU countries

The marketing standards requirements for egg imports will be published on this page as soon as they are available.

Exporting eggs from the UK to the EU

The UK is no longer a member of the EU and from 1 January 2021 will be classed as a ‘third’ country. This means there may be a period during which the UK cannot export eggs to the EU. This is because the EU may want to carry out an assessment called ‘an evaluation of equivalence’ to see:

• whether the UK is meeting requirements under the EU egg marketing regulations
• the UK’s rules for marking, labelling, controls and farming methods
• how the rules are being put into practice

You will need to follow the EU’s regulations for eggs from non-EU (third) countries, however your exports may be delayed or rejected at an EU border until after the evaluation. This page will be updated as soon as more information is available.

EU regulations for eggs imported from non-EU (third) countries

If you export eggs from the UK to the EU, you will need to follow EU regulations for eggs imported from third countries into the EU.

Under these regulations, you must mark individual eggs with one of the UK’s ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 3166 country codes. You can mark eggs with the ISO code at any point before export. The UK has 3 variations of the ISO code:

• GB
• GBR
• 826

GB is the most commonly used and may be the most recognised. Eggs without the correct code may be delayed or rejected at an EU border.

You must also continue to mark UK eggs with the:

• producer code for Class A eggs
• producer code or another indication as specified in the regulations for Class B eggs

You can continue to use producer codes which contain the letters ‘UK’. You do not need to mark eggs and egg packs with the UK’s oval health and identification marks, which only apply to certain products of animal origin (POAO). For more information about health and identification marks on the Food Standards Agency website.

You must mark eggs exported directly from a UK production site to the food industry in the EU with the ISO code.

Customs checks

If you are exporting eggs or egg products to the EU from 1 January 2021, there may be extra customs checks.

Eggs and egg products, along with all POAO, should enter the EU via a Border Control Post (BCP), accompanied by a signed export health certificate. BCPs were previously known as Border Inspection Posts (BIPs).

For more information see exporting animals, animal products, fish and fishery products to the EU in a no-deal Brexit.

Class A eggs

If you are exporting Class A eggs, EU officials may carry out EU marketing standards checks at customs. See EU marketing standards for eggs.

Class B eggs

EU officials may carry out marketing standards checks at customs to verify your Class B 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.

All other marketing requirements for eggs will remain the same.

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 should check the import requirements of the country you’re exporting to.