Egg processor frequently asked questions

How does my business comply with this Standard?

Egg processing businesses are responsible for:

  • initially contacting SA Health or your local council to confirm your egg processing activities
  • implementing a suitable Food Safety Management Statement
  • ensuring appropriate records are kept to demonstrate compliance
  • contacting SA Health to arrange compliance audits.

How will SA Health help my business comply?

SA Health has developed a Food Safety Management Statement template for food businesses that process eggs, but it must be modified to suit your business.

Additionally, SA Health will offer initial support to affected businesses on how to comply with the requirements and ensure the safety of their eggs.

What will happen at an audit and how often will my business be audited?

Your auditor will assess your FSMS for adequacy at the first and subsequent audits. Businesses are responsible for any auditing costs that may be incurred.

The initial audit frequency will be 12 monthly. The outcomes of two audits will be required to establish a compliance history that can allow for the adjustment of audit frequency.

Your auditor may adjust frequency based on performance after this time in the range of 6 to 18 months. For example, where a business performs well, audits may be reduced to an 18 month frequency. However, if a business performs poorly, audits may be more frequent.

What are the fees?

Audits: Contact SA Health's Food and Controlled Drugs Branch (Food Safety and Audit) for details.

Inspections: As per the individual Council.

What happens if my business stops processing eggs?

Your business will revert to a Council inspection, which will inspect against sale or supply of cracked and/or dirty eggs and individually stamped eggs.

I have on-site chickens and I use the eggs in my food business – am I affected?

If you are not selling the eggs, but using them as an ingredient, you must ensure that you do not introduce food poisoning bacteria into the kitchen.

Refer to On-site chickens food safety requirements page for egg handling and food safety requirements.

Do all businesses with eggs have to have a Food Safety Management Statement?

No. The below business do not need to have a Food Safety Management Statement, however they must comply with Chapter 3 and Standard 2.2.2 - Eggs.

If your business is sorting or repacking eggs, then you will be classified as a processor and must implement a Food Safety Management Statement.

Retail or wholesale businesses

A business that sells eggs, retail or wholesale, must ensure that the eggs are not cracked or dirty, and that the eggs are stamped.

Food service

Restaurants, cafés, canteens, takeaways, caterers or any commercial kitchen that uses eggs, must ensure they do not use cracked or dirty eggs. All eggs sold in South Australia must be stamped, and this will be checked during Local Government inspections.

What are the requirements of Standard 2.2.2 - Eggs?

Standard 2.2.2 prohibits the sale or supply of unacceptable eggs for catering and retail sale purposes and requires that eggs for retail sale or catering purposes must be marked with the producers’ or processors’ unique identification. 

What businesses do Biosecurity SA (PIRSA) look after?

The following businesses are regulated by Biosecurity SA (PIRSA) under the Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) Act 2004:

  • egg producers
  • egg producers who process eggs.

Refer to the Biosecurity website for further information.