Changes to the Colorado Egg Law
Colorado now regulates the sale of other avian species eggs in addition to chicken eggs.
The Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform is currently conducting a sunset review of the Egg Dealer program. Analysis is performed to determine whether the Acts are necessary and if they should be continued, modified, or repealed. To provide input on this review, please visit: http://www.dora.state.
Program Brochure: The Colorado Egg Law and You: Questions and Answers About Egg Quality & Safety
Quick Links
INFORMATION ON SELLING EGGS IN COLORADO:
A person or company that sells eggs within Colorado must be licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) per CRS 35-21-104. Complete the Colorado Application for Egg Dealer License and submit your payment to 305 Interlocken Parkway Broomfield, CO 80021.
Egg producers with fewer than 3,000 domesticated chicken hens who sell to stores, restaurants, hospitals and other institutions must be licensed as a Class I Small-Flock Egg Producer.
Egg producers who sell their eggs directly to the consumer are exempt from licensing by CDA when fewer than 250 dozen are sold per month.
Egg producers with more than 3,000 hens must be licensed as a Class II through Class VII Egg Dealer depending on the number of eggs sold per week. Those Large Flock Egg Producers are subject to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Shell Egg Surveillance Program inspections. Contact Kellie Anderson at the USDA Ag Marketing Services at (303) 288-2451 or kellie.anderson@ams.usda.
CDA inspects egg producers, retailers and wholesalers to ensure product wholesomeness, and to verify truth and completeness in labeling. A producer inspection involves the washing, sanitizing, candling, grading, packing and storage procedures in use for compliance with good manufacturing practices for food producers. Go to the Egg Producers webpage for more details on the on-farm inspections.
Please contact our office at (303) 869-9103 for any further questions.
Forms & Downloads
According to the Colorado Egg Act (C.R.S. 35-21-104) "Every person selling poultry eggs within this state shall obtain a dealer's license for each place where such business is conducted."
Please note that any person who produces and sells less than 40 cases per week is exempted from licensing with the State of Colorado.
1. Download, complete and print the Egg Dealer License Application.
- Recent changes to the Colorado Egg Act require the Colorado Department of Agriculture to regulate the sale of other avian species eggs such as duck, turkey, quail and guinea hens in addition to chicken shell eggs. Producers of other avian species eggs must comply with current eggs regulations such as licensing, storage/transport, temperatures, cleaning/sanitizing eggs, using egg cartons that are labeled in accordance with the rules. Eggs from other avian species are not required to be graded or sized.
- If you are a small-flock egg producer with fewer than 3000 birds, mark the box for Class I and answer the questions on the second page of the application.
- If this is the first time the business is applying for an Egg Dealer License, mark the box for Class II.
- The Dealer license classes are based upon the average number of cases of eggs sold per week during the previous 12 months. One case of eggs contains 30 dozen.
- License periods run from January 1 to December 31 each year and the license must be renewed annually. The license fee cannot be prorated for partial years.
2. Mark the box that accurately describes your firm's egg sales history and note the fee due for that license class.
3. Return your completed application with a check for the appropriate fee to our mailing address:
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Inspection & Consumer Services Division \ Eggs Program
305 Interlocken Parkway
Broomfield, CO 80021