Can you sell backyard eggs in Guatemala?
Guatemala requires a MAGA sanitary operating licence for every establishment producing, packing, storing or transporting eggs for human consumption. No small-flock exemption was found; household flocks are not addressed.
Read from 4 official sources18 passages quotedChecked October 29, 2026
At a glance
License
MAGA license; household flocks unclear
Small-flock line
No small-flock exemption found in the national rules read
Farmers markets
No exemption; household flocks unclear
Cartons
Not stated
In plain English
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019 binds everyone in Guatemala engaged in producing, grading, packing, storing, transporting, distributing or marketing eggs for human consumption. Every establishment where such eggs are produced, received, graded, packed, stored or transported must hold a current sanitary operating licence, granted by MAGA through VISAR's Dirección de Inocuidad, and marketing eggs without a production date, validity date and licence number is prohibited. None of the agreement's 21 articles sets a small-producer exemption. It does not define an establishment, so whether a household flock selling a few eggs counts as one was not established. Ask MAGA (VISAR, Dirección de Inocuidad).
A sourced reading of the rules in Guatemala, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA): VISAR Dirección de Inocuidad (egg licences) and Programa Nacional de Sanidad Avícola (PROSA) before you sell.
Do you need a license?
- A current sanitary operating licence from MAGA (VISAR, Dirección de Inocuidad) is needed for every establishment where eggs for human consumption are produced, received, graded, packed, stored or transported.
- An individual's first application includes a business licence (patente de comercio de empresa), the current PROSA registration of the farm or farms the eggs come from, and proof of paying VISAR's fee.
- Marketing eggs without a production date, a validity date and the sanitary operating licence number is prohibited.
- Whether a household flock selling a few eggs counts as an establishment under the agreement was not established.
The exact wording
Where you can sell
From home or the farm
No farm-gate exemption was found. Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019 binds everyone engaged in producing or marketing eggs for human consumption in Guatemala, requires a MAGA sanitary operating licence for establishments that produce, pack or store eggs, and prohibits marketing eggs without production and validity dates and a licence number. Whether a household flock selling a few eggs is covered, or counts as an establishment, was not established; ask MAGA.
Farmers markets
The same egg rules (Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019) apply to marketing eggs at markets; whether a household flock selling a few eggs is covered was not established. In the 1998 edition of the Código de Salud read (later amendments not checked), Article 130(d) assigns municipalities the authorisation of food sale establishments in markets, fairs and street sales; ask the municipality about market rules.
Stores and restaurants
Eggs marketed to shops must carry production and validity dates and a sanitary operating licence number (Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Art. 19(d)). Food retail outlets themselves need a sanitary licence from Ministry of Health district offices (Acuerdo Gubernativo 969-99, Art. 18.2).
Also check with: Ministry of Health (MSPAS): licences for outlets selling unprocessed foods; municipalities: food sale in markets, fairs and street sales (Código de Salud, Art. 130, 1998 edition read)
Cartons, labels and handling
Cartons
Operators of poultry production units must not use used cartons as egg separators if they are made of materials that cannot be disinfected (Acuerdo Ministerial 131-2005, Art. 16(1)). Whether other used cartons may be reused was not established.
Refrigeration
No storage temperature for shell eggs was found. Eggs must be stored in conditions that keep them safe, protected from external agents, contamination, direct sunlight, excessive heat, extreme humidity and pests (Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Art. 10).
The label must show
- Establishment number issued by MAGA's Dirección de Inocuidad (VISAR)
- Laying date
- Expiry date, preceded by the letter V
Grading
No grade classes for shell eggs were found. Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019 lists grading (clasificación) among the activities it regulates but sets no grades; COGUANOR standards were not checked.
Washing
No washing rule for shell eggs was found in the national texts checked on 2026-10-29.
Pricing your dozen? The egg price calculator works it out from your feed bill.
Common questions
- Can I sell eggs from my backyard chickens in Guatemala, and do I need a license?
- Guatemala requires a MAGA sanitary operating licence for every establishment producing, packing, storing or transporting eggs for human consumption. No small-flock exemption was found; household flocks are not addressed. Small-flock line: no small-flock exemption found in the national rules read. The conditions, and the law they come from, are on this page.
- Can I sell eggs at a farmers market in Guatemala?
- Needs a license or isn't exempt. The same egg rules (Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019) apply to marketing eggs at markets; whether a household flock selling a few eggs is covered was not established. In the 1998 edition of the Código de Salud read (later amendments not checked), Article 130(d) assigns municipalities the authorisation of food sale establishments in markets, fairs and street sales; ask the municipality about market rules. Also check with the Ministry of Health (MSPAS): licences for outlets selling unprocessed foods; municipalities: food sale in markets, fairs and street sales (Código de Salud, Art. 130, 1998 edition read).
- Can I reuse egg cartons in Guatemala?
- The sources we read don't settle this. In short: Operators of poultry production units must not use used cartons as egg separators if they are made of materials that cannot be disinfected (Acuerdo Ministerial 131-2005, Art. 16(1)). Whether other used cartons may be reused was not established. Ask Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA): VISAR Dirección de Inocuidad (egg licences) and Programa Nacional de Sanidad Avícola (PROSA) before reusing cartons for eggs you sell.
- What has to be on the carton label in Guatemala?
- Establishment number issued by MAGA's Dirección de Inocuidad (VISAR), Laying date, Expiry date, preceded by the letter V. The rule reads: "Los diferentes tipos de empaque de huevo, deben estar identificados para que puedan comercializarse en el territorio de Guatemala con la siguiente información: a) El número de establecimiento otorgado por la Dirección de Inocuidad de VISAR/MAGA. b) Fecha de postura. c) Fecha de vencimiento (anteponiendo la letra "V")."
- Do eggs I sell in Guatemala have to be kept cold?
- In short: No storage temperature for shell eggs was found. Eggs must be stored in conditions that keep them safe, protected from external agents, contamination, direct sunlight, excessive heat, extreme humidity and pests (Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Art. 10).
- Decreto 36-98, Arts. 8(g), 21, 22 · Ley de Sanidad Vegetal y Animal
- Decreto 90-97, Art. 130 (1998 edition read) · Código de Salud
- Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · Disposiciones higiénico sanitarias para el otorgamiento de licencias sanitarias de funcionamiento y de licencias sanitarias de transporte de huevo para consumo humano
- Acuerdo Ministerial 131-2005, Arts. 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 16, 21 · Requisitos para el registro, establecimiento y funcionamiento de unidades de producción avícola
- Acuerdo Ministerial 1528-2003, Arts. 1, 10, 19, 23, 28 · Disposiciones que regulan el Programa Nacional de Sanidad Avícola (PROSA)
- Acuerdo Ministerial 495-2006, Arts. 1, 3 · Disposiciones zoosanitarias para la declaración obligatoria de enfermedades en especies animales
- Acuerdo Gubernativo 745-99, Arts. 46, 51, 54 · Reglamento de la Ley de Sanidad Vegetal y Animal
- Acuerdo Gubernativo 969-99, Arts. 3, 14, 16, 18 · Reglamento para la Inocuidad de los Alimentos
- Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA): VISAR Dirección de Inocuidad (egg licences) and Programa Nacional de Sanidad Avícola (PROSA) · Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019 (sanitary licences for eggs for human consumption); PROSA poultry production unit register
Read the 18 passages this page is built on
“El presente Acuerdo Ministerial es de observancia obligatoria para, las personas individuales o jurídicas, públicas y privadas, nacionales o extranjeras que se dediquen a la producción, clasificación, transformación, empaque, importación, exportación, almacenamiento, transporte, distribución y comercialización de huevos para consumo humano dentro del territorio nacional.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Todos los establecimientos donde se lleve a cabo la producción, recepción, clasificación, empaque, almacenamiento y transporte de huevos para consumo humano, deben tener licencia sanitaria de funcionamiento vigente.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“es el Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación, que en adelante se denominará MAGA, a través del Viceministerio de Sanidad Agropecuaria y Regulaciones que en adelante se denominará VISAR por medio de la Dirección de Inocuidad.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Fotocopia simple de la patente de comercio de empresa.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Fotocopia del registro de la granja o granjas autorizadas por el Programa Nacional de Sanidad Avícola PROSA vigente de donde provienen los huevos.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Comprobante de depósito o pago a nombre del VISAR del MAGA, de acuerdo con el tarifario vigente.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Los diferentes tipos de empaque de huevo, deben estar identificados para que puedan comercializarse en el territorio de Guatemala con la siguiente información: a) El número de establecimiento otorgado por la Dirección de Inocuidad de VISAR/MAGA. b) Fecha de postura. c) Fecha de vencimiento (anteponiendo la letra "V").”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“El almacenamiento de los huevos para consumo humano deberá ser en condiciones que garanticen su inocuidad. Deben estar protegidos contra agentes externos, contaminación, luz solar directa, calor excesivo, humedad extrema y plagas.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“El funcionamiento de establecimientos y transportes que no cuenten con licencia sanitaria de funcionamiento vigente.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Comercializar huevo que no cuenten con fecha de producción y vigencia, y número de licencia sanitaria de funcionamiento.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Edificio Monja Blanca: Guatemala, 09 de septiembre de 2019”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“El presente Acuerdo Ministerial entra en vigencia seis meses después de su publicación en el Diario de Centro América.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019, Arts. 1-5, 8, 10, 19, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Utilizar cartones usados, utilizados como separadores de huevos o para el transporte de pollitos de un día, que sean de materiales que no permitan su desinfección.”
Acuerdo Ministerial 131-2005, Arts. 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 16, 21 · read 2026-10-29
“Asimismo, es responsable del otorgamiento de la licencia sanitaria y el control sanitario para los expendios de alimentos no procesados.”
Decreto 90-97, Art. 130 (1998 edition read) · read 2026-10-29
“A las municipalidades, las de prevención y autorización de establecimientos relacionados con el manejo y expendio de alimentos en rastros municipales de conformidad a las normas establecidas por el Ministerio de Agricultura Ganadería y Alimentación, mercados, ferias y ventas de alimentos en la vía pública.”
Decreto 90-97, Art. 130 (1998 edition read) · read 2026-10-29
“Todo propietario de establecimientos de alimentos, previo a su funcionamiento o apertura al público, deberá obtener la licencia sanitaria extendida por la autoridad competente. Es prohibido el funcionamiento de establecimientos de alimentos sin licencia sanitaria vigente.”
Acuerdo Gubernativo 969-99, Arts. 3, 14, 16, 18 · read 2026-10-29
“Las jefaturas de los distritos de salud, del Ministerio de Salud, cuando se trate de otros tipos de establecimientos clasificados según el artículo 14 de este reglamento.”
Acuerdo Gubernativo 969-99, Arts. 3, 14, 16, 18 · read 2026-10-29
“EXPENDIO DE ALIMENTOS: En esta categoría quedan comprendidos los supermercados, carnicerías, abarroterías, tiendas, panaderías, depósitos y similares.”
Acuerdo Gubernativo 969-99, Arts. 3, 14, 16, 18 · read 2026-10-29
What we couldn't confirm
- Acuerdo Ministerial 263-2019 does not define an establishment, so whether a household flock selling a few eggs needs the sanitary operating licence was not established.
- No grade classes, storage temperature or washing rule for shell eggs was found; COGUANOR technical standards were not checked.
- The Código de Salud was read in its 1998 edition; later amendments to Article 130 were not checked.
- Acuerdos Gubernativos 969-99 and 745-99 were read as compiled by MAGA; amendments other than Acuerdo Gubernativo 177-2016 (which changes Articles 22, 22 bis, 37 bis and 94 bis of 745-99) were not checked.
- No national animal welfare text could be read from an official source on 2026-10-29 (the official hosts tried were walled), so welfare duties for small flocks are not stated.
- Municipal rules on keeping chickens at home were not researched.
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