The Egg Safety section of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Food Safety Program serves the public and the egg industry through enforcing state and federal laws and regulations to assure a safe food source and a stable marketplace.

• Egg Safety is dedicated to enhancing food safety and egg quality by concentrating on inspection and technical assistance. We  continually assess changing needs; dedicating our resources to critical areas and needs.

Our cooperative work with USDA (AMS) Poultry Programs, Grading Branch builds on past history to meet the needs of our stakeholders.

Farmers Markets & Direct to Retail

• Farmers selling eggs (from a chicken, goose, turkey, duck, guinea, or any species of fowl) at farmers markets and through direct to retail sales (i.e. restaurants and grocery stores) must comply with the requirements of RCW 69.25 and be licensed through the Washington State Department of Licensing (WSDOL) as an Egg Handler/Dealer.  Local health districts have jurisdiction over farmers markets in their areas and may conduct market inspections to assure vendor compliance with local rules and regulations. 
  
  
• Direct to retail sales also require obtaining Egg Seals from the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

On-Farm Sales & CSA

• Poultry or egg producers may sell eggs from their own flocks directly to the end consumer from the place of production without the purchase of an Egg Handler/Dealer License or Egg Seals from WSDA
  
  
• Shell eggs are a perishable food and must be handled properly with care under cold and sanitary conditions to assure consumer safety.