Can you sell backyard eggs in Zambia?
Once in operation, Zambia's Food Safety Act, 2019 bars selling unsafe food or selling it under insanitary conditions; its commencement order was not read. Ask your local council if selling eggs needs a health inspection.
Read from 2 official sources23 passages quotedChecked October 28, 2026
At a glance
Licence
Health inspection unclear; ask council
Small-flock line
No small-seller provision found in the national rules read
Farmers markets
Ask your local council
Cartons
Not stated
In plain English
Under the Food Safety Act, 2019, a person who requires regulatory health clearance may not handle food on food premises without a health inspection report and certificate of compliance, and applies to the local authority or a regulatory services centre for an inspection (ss.15, 25). Section 24 ties that clearance to licences, certificates or permits obtained under other written laws; which egg sellers need it was not found in the sections of the Act read (ss.1-2, 7-15, 24-26 and 64-66). No small-seller or household exemption was found there; regulations may exempt articles (s.64), but none were read. The Act comes into operation on a date the Minister appoints by statutory instrument, and that instrument was not read from an official source.
A sourced reading of the rules in Zambia, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the local authority (city, municipal or town council) before you sell.
Do you need a licence?
- Once the Act is in operation (its commencement order was not read), do not sell, store or manufacture food that is unsafe, contaminated or adulterated, and do not sell or store food under insanitary conditions.Food Safety Act ss.7(1)(a), 9(1)
- Once the Act is in operation, store and transport food in a way that preserves its composition, quality and purity.s.7(3)
- Once the Act is in operation, if your business requires regulatory health clearance, apply to the local authority or a regulatory services centre for a health inspection and certificate of compliance.ss.15, 25
Where you can sell
From home or the farm
No farm-gate rule for eggs was found in the national texts read. Once in operation, the Food Safety Act, 2019 applies its food-safety duties to anyone who sells food, which it defines as any substance, processed or raw, intended for human consumption; its commencement order was not read. Ask your local council.
Farmers markets
No market rule for egg sellers was found in the national texts read. Local authorities control persons and premises that sell food, develop trading regulations and make by-laws; ask your local council about market rules.
Stores and restaurants
No rule on shops or restaurants buying eggs from small sellers was found in the national texts read.
Also check with: Your local council: health inspections and certificates of compliance, food premises, trading regulations and by-laws
Cartons, labels and handling
Cartons
The sources we read don't set a carton rule.
Refrigeration
Not stated in the sources we read.
The label must show
The sources we read don't list label items for small producers.
Grading
Not stated in the sources we read.
Washing
Not stated in the sources we read.
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 Zambia, and do I need a licence?
- Once in operation, Zambia's Food Safety Act, 2019 bars selling unsafe food or selling it under insanitary conditions; its commencement order was not read. Ask your local council if selling eggs needs a health inspection. Small-flock line: no small-seller provision 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 Zambia?
- Not stated in the sources we read. No market rule for egg sellers was found in the national texts read. Local authorities control persons and premises that sell food, develop trading regulations and make by-laws; ask your local council about market rules. Also check with your local council: health inspections and certificates of compliance, food premises, trading regulations and by-laws.
- Can I reuse egg cartons in Zambia?
- The sources we read do not say; ask the local authority (city, municipal or town council) before reusing cartons for eggs you sell.
- What has to be on the carton label in Zambia?
- The sources we read do not list label items for small producers.
- Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · Food Safety Act, 2019
- Act No. 2 of 2019, ss.16, 58 and First Schedule · Local Government Act, 2019
- Act No. 27 of 2010, ss.2, 12-17, 21, 23 · Animal Health Act, 2010
- Act No. 2 of 2024, ss.1, 2, 19, 20 (commences on a date set by statutory instrument) · Animal Identification and Traceability Act, 2024
- Cap. 245, ss.1-3 · Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
- Local authority (city, municipal or town council) · Health inspections and certificates of compliance under the Food Safety Act, 2019
Read the 23 passages this page is built on
“This Act may be cited as the Food Safety Act, 2019, and”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“shall come into operation on the date appointed by the Minister by statutory instrument.”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“Date of Assent: 12th August, 2019”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“means a product of a live animal such as milk, eggs and honey and their by products or other products of animal origin intended for human or animal consumption;”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“includes to offer, advertise, keep, store, expose, transmit, convey, deliver or prepare for sale or exchange,”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“A person shall not sell, import, export, manufacture or store any food that—”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“is unsafe, contaminated or adulterated;”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“Food shall be stored and transported in a manner that preserves its composition, quality and purity and minimises the dissipation of its nutritive properties from climate and other deteriorating conditions.”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“A person shall not prepare, treat, pack, process, manufacture, sell, transport or store any food under insanitary conditions.”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“A person shall not label, package, sell or advertise any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive as regards its character, nature, value, substance, quality, composition, merit or safety or in contravention of this Act.”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“A person who requires regulatory health clearance under Part IV shall not handle food or permit food to be handled—”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“on food premises in respect of which a health inspection report and certificate of compliance have not been issued; or”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“Where a licence, certificate or permit is obtained under any other written law in accordance with the procedures specified under the Business Regulatory Act, 2014, and requires regulatory health clearance,”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“A person who intends to operate a business or continue to operate a business that requires regulatory health clearance shall apply to the local authority or regulatory services centre in the prescribed manner and form on payment of the prescribed fee, for a health inspection to be undertaken of the business premises.”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“means a building, structure, stall or other similar structure, and includes a caravan, vehicle, stand or place used for or in connection with the handling of food;”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“includes manufacture, process, produce, pack, prepare, keep, offer, store, transport or display for sale or serving,”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“exempting an article from all or any provision of this Act and the conditions of the exemption;”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“This Act may be cited as the Local Government Act, 2019.”
Act No. 2 of 2019, ss.16, 58 and First Schedule · read 2026-10-28
“providing for the issue or supply of licences, permits, certificates and other instruments and documents;”
Act No. 2 of 2019, ss.16, 58 and First Schedule · read 2026-10-28
“control persons and premises engaged in or used for the manufacture, preparation, storage, handling, sale or distribution of items of food or drink;”
Act No. 2 of 2019, ss.16, 58 and First Schedule · read 2026-10-28
“develop trading regulations;”
Act No. 2 of 2019, ss.16, 58 and First Schedule · read 2026-10-28
“or raw, which is intended for human consumption,”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
“The Food and Drugs Act, 1972 and sections 79 and 83 of the Public Health Act, 1972 are repealed.”
Act No. 7 of 2019, ss.1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 15, 24, 25, 64, 65 · read 2026-10-28
What we couldn't confirm
- The Food Safety Act, 2019 comes into operation on a date set by statutory instrument; that instrument was not read from an official source. Section 65 of that Act repeals the Food and Drugs Act, 1972, which was not read.
- Which egg sellers require regulatory health clearance, and any small-seller exemption, were not found in the parts of the Food Safety Act read; regulations under the Act were not read.
- No egg-specific grading, carton, label or temperature rule was found in the national Acts read. Zambia Bureau of Standards and Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency documents were not checked.
- Council by-laws and trading regulations on food sellers and markets vary and were not surveyed.
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