National rules

Can you sell backyard eggs in Colombia?

Colombia's ICA requires a premises registration (RSPP) for poultry premises producing for sale, backyard birds included. Under ICA rules for laying-hen producers and sellers, packed eggs need a label with expiry date.

Read from 5 official sources19 passages quotedChecked October 25, 2026

At a glance

License

Not stated

Small-flock line

Not established for small egg sellers

Farmers markets

Not stated

Cartons

New only

In plain English

No small-seller provision was found in the national texts checked on 2026-10-25 (Res. MinSalud 2674/2013 and 719/2015; Res. ICA 3651/2014 and 90464/2021). Foods sold directly to consumers need an INVIMA sanitary notification, permit or registration according to public-health risk, except listed items such as untransformed natural foods (grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, honey); eggs are not named, and the 2015 risk classification puts fresh eggs in its higher-risk class. Under ICA Res. 3651/2014 a biosecure poultry farm (GAB) is defined, among other things, by installed capacity for 200 or more birds of the same species and type of operation. Ask INVIMA, or the health authority of your department, district or category special, 1, 2 or 3 municipality, whether shell eggs you sell need one.

A sourced reading of the rules in Colombia, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA); INVIMA; departmental and district health authorities, and those of category special, 1, 2 and 3 municipalities before you sell.

Do you need a license?

Not stated in the sources we readNot established for small egg sellers
  • Whether shell eggs fall within the untransformed-natural-food exception, or within the exception for raw refrigerated or frozen foods of animal origin that have not been transformed, was not established.
  • Whether a flock below 200 birds needs any ICA certificate to sell eggs was not established.
  • The 2015 classification is used to obtain INVIMA's notification, permit or registration (Res. 719/2015, Art. 2); it lists fresh eggs (subcategory 10.1.1) in the higher-risk column.

Where you can sell

From home or the farm

Not stated

The national food rules apply to anyone who sells food, and ICA's egg rules to those producing or selling laying or rearing birds. Departments, districts and category special, 1, 2 and 3 municipalities supervise food distribution and sale. No national rule on small farm-gate egg sales was found in the texts checked on 2026-10-25; ask that local health authority.

Farmers markets

Not stated

The same national food and ICA egg rules apply at markets, and the local health authority (department, district, or category special, 1, 2 or 3 municipality) supervises food sale. No market-specific rule was found in the national texts checked on 2026-10-25; ask that authority.

Stores and restaurants

Not stated

Sales to shops and restaurants fall under the same national food rules; departments, districts and category special, 1, 2 and 3 municipalities supervise food distribution and sale. No rule for backyard eggs sold to shops was found in the texts checked on 2026-10-25; ask that authority.

Also check with: Departmental and district health authorities, and those of category special, 1, 2 and 3 municipalities (Ley 1122 de 2007, Art. 34(c))

Cartons, labels and handling

Cartons

New cartons are required for eggs you sell.

“12.2. FRENTE AL ENVASE Y EMBALAJE. La operación de envase y embalaje del huevo puede ser manual o mecánica, y debe: 12.2.1. Usar envases y embalajes nuevos.”

Refrigeration

“12.1.6. En lugares frescos, sin someterse a cambios bruscos de temperatura ni exponerlos directamente a los rayos del sol o fuentes de calor.”

The label must show

  • Food name
  • Number of units
  • Name and address of the grading establishment
  • Expiry date

Grading

Not stated in the sources we read.

No grade or size classes for shell eggs were found in the national texts read (Res. 2674/2013, Res. ICA 3651/2014); under the ICA rules, packed-egg labels must name the establishment where the eggs are classified.

Washing

Not stated in the sources we read.

Pricing your dozen? The egg price calculator works it out from your feed bill.

Keeping chickens in Colombia? →Registration, bird-flu housing powers and welfare rules, on their own page.Registration: conditions

Common questions

Do I need a license to sell eggs from my backyard chickens in Colombia?
Colombia's ICA requires a premises registration (RSPP) for poultry premises producing for sale, backyard birds included. Under ICA rules for laying-hen producers and sellers, packed eggs need a label with expiry date. Small-flock line: not established for small egg sellers. The conditions, and the law they come from, are on this page.
Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in Colombia?
Not stated in the sources we read. The same national food and ICA egg rules apply at markets, and the local health authority (department, district, or category special, 1, 2 or 3 municipality) supervises food sale. No market-specific rule was found in the national texts checked on 2026-10-25; ask that authority. Also check with Departmental and district health authorities, and those of category special, 1, 2 and 3 municipalities (Ley 1122 de 2007, Art. 34(c)).
Can I reuse egg cartons in Colombia?
No: Colombia requires new cartons for eggs you sell. The rule reads: "12.2. FRENTE AL ENVASE Y EMBALAJE. La operación de envase y embalaje del huevo puede ser manual o mecánica, y debe: 12.2.1. Usar envases y embalajes nuevos."
What has to be on the carton label in Colombia?
Food name, Number of units, Name and address of the grading establishment, Expiry date. The rule reads: "13.2. Rotulado: el huevo empacado debe cumplir con los siguientes requisitos: 13.2.1. Nombre del alimento. 13.2.2. Número de unidades. 13.2.3. Nombre y dirección del establecimiento en donde se realiza la clasificación. 13.2.4. Fecha de vencimiento."
Do eggs I sell in Colombia have to be kept cold?
The rule reads: "12.1.6. En lugares frescos, sin someterse a cambios bruscos de temperatura ni exponerlos directamente a los rayos del sol o fuentes de calor."
Sources
Read the 19 passages this page is built on
  • “ARTÍCULO 2o. ÁMBITO DE APLICACIÓN. Las disposiciones contenidas en la presente resolución se aplicarán en todo el territorio nacional a: a) Las personas naturales y/o jurídicas dedicadas a todas o alguna de las siguientes actividades: fabricación, procesamiento, preparación, envase, almacenamiento, transporte, distribución, importación, exportación y comercialización de alimentos;”

    Resolución MinSalud 2674 de 2013, Arts. 2, 37 · read 2026-10-24

  • “Corresponde a los departamentos, distritos y a los municipios de categorías 1a 2a, 3a y especial, la vigilancia y control sanitario de la distribución y comercialización de alimentos y de los establecimientos gastronómicos, así como, del transporte asociado a dichas actividades.”

    Ley 1122 de 2007, Art. 34 · read 2026-10-24

  • “Todo alimento que se expenda directamente al consumidor deberá obtener, de acuerdo con el riesgo en salud pública y a los requisitos establecidos en la presente resolución, la correspondiente Notificación Sanitaria (NSA), Permiso Sanitario (PSA) o Registro Sanitario (RSA), expedido por el Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (Invima)”

    Resolución MinSalud 2674 de 2013, Arts. 2, 37 · read 2026-10-24

  • “Los siguientes productos alimenticios no requerirán NSA, PSA o RSA: 1. Los alimentos naturales que no sean sometidos a ningún proceso de transformación, tales como granos, frutas y hortalizas frescas, miel de abejas, y los otros productos apícolas.”

    Resolución MinSalud 2674 de 2013, Arts. 2, 37 · read 2026-10-24

  • “cuya capacidad instalada permite alojar un número igual o superior a doscientas (200) aves de la misma especie y tipo de explotación.”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “ARTÍCULO 2o. CAMPO DE APLICACIÓN. Las disposiciones establecidas en la presente resolución serán aplicadas a todas las personas naturales o jurídicas que se dediquen a la producción y/o comercialización de aves de postura y/o levante.”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “13.2. Rotulado: el huevo empacado debe cumplir con los siguientes requisitos: 13.2.1. Nombre del alimento. 13.2.2. Número de unidades. 13.2.3. Nombre y dirección del establecimiento en donde se realiza la clasificación. 13.2.4. Fecha de vencimiento.”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “12.2. FRENTE AL ENVASE Y EMBALAJE. La operación de envase y embalaje del huevo puede ser manual o mecánica, y debe: 12.2.1. Usar envases y embalajes nuevos.”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “12.1.6. En lugares frescos, sin someterse a cambios bruscos de temperatura ni exponerlos directamente a los rayos del sol o fuentes de calor.”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “ARTÍCULO 4o. REGISTRO SANITARIO DE PREDIO PECUARIO. Toda persona natural o jurídica con predios pecuarios destinados a la producción de las especies que aquí se refiere, contará con el Registro Sanitario de Predio Pecuario.”

    Resolución ICA 90464 de 2021, Arts. 2-5 · read 2026-10-24

  • “3.14 Predio Pecuario: Unidad productiva conformada por uno o varios predios colindantes destinado a la producción de animales para su comercialización y aprovechamiento económico.”

    Resolución ICA 90464 de 2021, Arts. 2-5 · read 2026-10-24

  • “3.13 Predio Avícola: Predio dedicado a la producción y/o comercialización de aves incluidas las de traspatio, que se utilizan para la producción de carne y huevos destinados al consumo,”

    Resolución ICA 90464 de 2021, Arts. 2-5 · read 2026-10-24

  • “La presente resolución rige a partir de la fecha de su publicación y deroga las Resoluciones 3642 de 2013 y 576 de 2014.”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “2. Los alimentos de origen animal crudos refrigerados o congelados que no hayan sido sometidos a ningún proceso de transformación.”

    Resolución MinSalud 2674 de 2013, Arts. 2, 37 · read 2026-10-24

  • “12.1. FRENTE AL ALMACENAMIENTO: El huevo debe almacenarse así:”

    Resolución ICA 3651 de 2014, Arts. 2-4, 11-13 · read 2026-10-24

  • “*A: Alimento de Mayor Riesgo en Salud Pública,”

    Resolución MinSalud 719 de 2015, Arts. 2, 5 and Annex · read 2026-10-24

  • “10.1.1 Huevos frescos X”

    Resolución MinSalud 719 de 2015, Arts. 2, 5 and Annex · read 2026-10-24

  • “ARTÍCULO 2o. ÁMBITO DE APLICACIÓN. La presente resolución aplica a las personas naturales y/o jurídicas interesadas en obtener ante el Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (Invima), la notificación, permiso o registro sanitario de alimentos,”

    Resolución MinSalud 719 de 2015, Arts. 2, 5 and Annex · read 2026-10-24

  • “ARTÍCULO 5o. VIGENCIA. La presente resolución rige a partir de la fecha de su publicación.”

    Resolución MinSalud 719 de 2015, Arts. 2, 5 and Annex · read 2026-10-24

What we couldn't confirm
  • The egg labelling, new-packaging and storage rules come from ICA Resolution 3651/2014, which applies to people producing or selling laying or rearing hens; how it is applied to very small flocks was not established.
  • ICA's storage rule (cool places, no abrupt temperature changes) gives no temperature number, and no national storage temperature for shell eggs was found in the texts read.
  • Whether shell eggs fall within the untransformed-natural-food exception from INVIMA's notification, permit or registration was not established (fresh eggs are listed as higher risk in the 2015 classification), and whether a non-commercial backyard flock needs the RSPP was not established; ask INVIMA or the local health authority, and ICA.
  • Departments, districts and category special, 1, 2 and 3 municipalities supervise food sales; how each treats farm-gate and market egg sales was not researched.
  • No national order to house backyard birds was identified; current avian-influenza status is not shown. ICA's avian influenza page links an information board on the current situation.
  • Whether a municipality restricts keeping chickens is set locally (land-use plan) and was not researched.
  • Laws were read from INVIMA's and ICA's official compilations, whose last-update fields were blank in the copies we read, so currency rests on the amendment notes they show; the Senate's text portal could not be reached.

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