Egg Producer (School)

If you are producing eggs within a school and selling or supplying them intact to others (including teachers, parents, or the local community), then you must hold an accreditation with Safe Food Production Queensland (Safe Food). ‘Supply’ includes giving eggs away for free.

This activity is classified as Producing (School) under the Egg Scheme of the Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014.

Submit your completed application to [email protected] or PO Box 221, Greenslopes, Brisbane, QLD 4120.

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When to apply

Under the Food Production (Safety) Act 2000, it is unlawful to engage in certain activities relating to primary production or processing of food until you have been granted an accreditation by Safe Food. As such, you should allow adequate time for your application to be reviewed by Safe Food before you begin operating.

As an egg producer, your application for accreditation will be split into two parts:

Part 1 will aim to be assessed within 14 days, although applications submitted in their entirety (with all the items outlined above) are likely to be processed faster. A member of our Central Assessment Team will contact you if we require any further information. You will be notified in writing about the outcome of your application (approved or refused).

Part 2 of your application will involve addressing your biosecurity requirements as an egg producer. These requirements are in response to Queensland’s Salmonella Enteritidis Prevention Plan to ensure that all egg producers and processors are following some standard operating procedures to reduce the risk of Salmonella Enteritidis from entering Queensland. You will be asked to complete the following tasks online via the Safe Food Hub:

• Business profile
• Food Safety Management Checklist

Part 2 of your application will be assessed within 5 days and we will contact you if we require any further information.  

Further information about Part 2 will be provided once Part 1 of your application has been reviewed.

Please note, our accreditation period runs from 1^st January – 31^st December. Schools will therefore need to renew their accreditation on an annual basis. Safe Food will notify schools in writing when it is time to renew. Due to the closure of schools at the end of the year, it is highly recommended your accreditation renewal is organised before the break.

Why accreditation is important

If the production of eggs is not done correctly, nasty pathogens found in the environment, such as Salmonella and E. coli, can infect an egg and go on to make people sick if not handled or cooked properly.

Children, pregnant women and the elderly are especially vulnerable to food borne illness from these pathogens. In order to help protect children at schools as well as the broader school community, it is important that all schools in Queensland adhere to the same food safety standards when it comes to egg production.

Safe Food also communicates directly with accreditation holders about emerging risks and developments relating to food safety and their activities.

Are there any fees for accreditation?

There are no application or accreditation fees associated with this type of accreditation. However, your school must operate under an approved management statement and have a unique identifier stamped on each egg for traceability purposes.

Safe Food offers this type of accreditation as part of our commitment to promoting egg safety and general food safety practices within Queensland schools.

YOU DO NOT REQUIRE AN ACCREDITATION IF

• You are a school that only produces eggs for educational purposes and they do not leave school grounds (i.e. they are not sold or supplied to anyone)

Are there penalties for not being accredited?

While Safe Food generally uses its enforcement tools as a last resort, Queensland schools that produce eggs and supply them to others without having an accreditation with Safe Food may be subject to enforcement action, such as the issuing of a Penalty Infringement Notice, which attracts a monetary fine.

Other accreditations you may need

If you are a childcare centre, college, TAFE or university that produces eggs for sale or supply, then you are not captured under the Producing (School) accreditation category. You will require an accreditation as an Egg Producer instead.

Monitoring for compliance with accreditation requirements

Schools that house 100 birds or less (for egg purposes) will need to:

• complete an annual self-assessment checklist and a Business Profile.

Schools that house more than 100 birds (for egg purposes) will need to:

• participate in the Egg Central Information Monitoring System (CIMS) program by submitting data to Safe Food regularly
• complete an annual self-assessment checklist and a Business Profile.

In addition, schools may be required to participate in surveillance monitoring. In this instance, schools will be given notice before any on-site visits occur.

Standards & guidelines

Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014
Food Production (Safety) Act 2000
Standard 4.2.5 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Eggs and Egg Product
Food Standards Code – Standard 3.2.3 – Food Premises and Equipment
National Farm Biosecurity Manual – Poultry Production
National Water Biosecurity – Poultry Production
Safe Food Notification Protocol

Useful Websites & Resources

Producing Eggs in Schools – Frequently Asked Questions
Why Schools Need to Be Accredited to Sell or Supply Eggs in Queensland
Food Regulation Secretariat
Federal Register of Legislation
NATA Laboratories