Guide · Standards and regulation
Egg traceability for free-range and organic eggs: must the flow be separate?
Yes, according to MAPA (question 27): each type of egg needs a separate production flow to ensure traceability. These flows must be described in the self-control programme (Programa de Autocontrole) and in the product record in the PGA-SIGSIF system. Per-egg records help document what was graded, but they do not replace the description of the flow.
Updated · 3 min read
Do free-range and organic eggs need a separate flow?
According to MAPA's answer 27, yes: each type of egg must have its own production flow to ensure traceability. The answer speaks of "each type of egg" and gives no list of types. Free-range and organic eggs are examples of differentiated production, and the rule applies to any type the establishment produces.
Mixing types on the same line, without a separate and described flow, does not meet MAPA's answer. The separation must exist in the operation and also be documented.
Where must the separate flow be described?
In the self-control programme (Programa de Autocontrole) and in the product record in the PGA-SIGSIF system. The table shows what each document must contain, according to answer 27.
If the operation changes, the description must follow the change. A flow that exists only in practice does not meet what MAPA asks, because the requirement is that it be described.
| Document | What it must contain |
|---|---|
| Self-control programme (Programa de Autocontrole) | The production flows for each type of egg |
| Product record in PGA-SIGSIF | The production flow of each type of egg, in the product record |
Does a per-egg record help with traceability?
Yes, as evidence, but it is not enough on its own. Vigiovo produces, for each egg, a record with the class, the scores, a readable reason and the raw measurements (see how it works). This history shows the decision taken for each egg and lets those decisions be reviewed later.
In practice, traceability by type depends on knowing which flow each batch belongs to. A per-egg record helps with this only if the operation identifies the flow of each batch. The camera sees the surface of the egg; internal defects still depend on candling.
How do you keep the flows separate day to day?
Separation depends on simple, documented procedures. The list below is a suggested practice, not a literal requirement of MAPA.
- Define a production flow for each type of egg before grading starts.
- Describe each flow in the self-control programme and in the product record in PGA-SIGSIF.
- Identify each batch with its type of egg when it enters the line.
- Keep the grading records together with the identification of the batch and the flow.
- Review the descriptions whenever the line, the type of egg or the destination changes.
To understand the difference between a farm and a processing unit, see poultry farm vs egg processing unit. For the criteria on cracked eggs, see how to identify cracked eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Can free-range and organic eggs be mixed on the same line?
- According to MAPA's answer, each type of egg must have a separate production flow to ensure traceability. Mixing them without a separate and described flow does not meet that answer. The separation must exist in the operation and be documented in the self-control programme.
Does a per-egg record guarantee traceability?
- No. A per-egg record is useful evidence, because it shows the class, the reason and the measurements of each egg. Traceability, however, depends on the flow being described and on the operation identifying the batch. No record on its own certifies an establishment.
Does this article cover organic certification?
- No. It summarises what MAPA's answer 27 says about separate flows for traceability. The certification requirements for each type of egg are not part of this article's sources and should be checked separately.
Sources
- Perguntas e respostas sobre a Portaria MAPA nº 612/2022 (versão de 05/06/2023), Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA)
How Vigiovo helps
Vigiovo grades eggs on the conveyor as clean, dirty, cracked or unverified, in real time, with deterministic computer vision: every decision comes with the measurements behind it, on an ordinary CPU.