Guide · Standards and regulation
Poultry farm or egg processing unit: what is the difference?
Under RIISPOA, a poultry farm and an egg processing unit differ in where their eggs come from and what they do with them. A farm sells only its own eggs, directly. A processing unit also receives eggs and industrialises them. Both candle and grade eggs, and a farm may sell to a processing unit.
Updated · 4 min read
What is the difference between a poultry farm and a processing unit?
The difference lies in where the eggs come from and what the establishment does with them. A poultry farm (granja avícola) produces eggs and sells them directly. The law defines it by eggs that come exclusively from its own production and are meant for direct sale (RIISPOA, art. 20, § 1).
An egg processing unit (unidade de beneficiamento de ovos e derivados) also produces, but adds receiving and industrialisation. The definition also covers packing, labelling, storage and dispatch of eggs and egg products (RIISPOA, art. 20, § 3).
The table summarises what art. 20 says about each type. Each row follows the wording of the regulation and adds no interpretation beyond it.
| Criterion | Poultry farm | Egg processing unit |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of the eggs | Only own production (art. 20, § 1) | Own production and receipt of eggs (art. 20, § 3) |
| Destination of the eggs | Direct sale (art. 20, § 1) | Industrialisation and dispatch of eggs and egg products (art. 20, § 3) |
| Candling and grading | Yes (art. 20, § 1) | Yes (art. 20, § 3) |
| Sales of eggs between the two types | May sell to a processing unit (art. 20, § 2) | Art. 20 does not cover this case |
Can a poultry farm sell eggs to a processing unit?
Yes. Paragraph 2 of art. 20 allows a poultry farm to sell eggs to an egg processing unit (RIISPOA, art. 20, § 2). It is a permission to sell: the text does not say that the farm becomes a processing unit because of it.
In practice, eggs from a farm can move on to a processing unit. Before any sale, the farm needs candling and grading in its own establishment, because they are required of egg establishments (RIISPOA, arts. 45 and 223).
Do both types need candling and grading?
Yes. Both types list candling and grading among their activities (RIISPOA, art. 20, §§ 1 and 3). Art. 223 requires egg establishments to carry out a general check of shell cleanliness and integrity, candling, grading and a check of the packaging. Art. 45 requires facilities and equipment for candling and grading.
A camera over the conveyor inspects the surface, but it does not replace candling, which sees the inside of the egg. The reason is explained in mandatory candling in Brazil and in the glossary entry for candling. Vigiovo grades by the surface and keeps a record of each decision; candling remains the step for the interior (how it works).
How do you tell which type your establishment is?
Look at what the establishment does with the eggs. If the eggs come only from its own production and go to direct sale, the text of art. 20, § 1 describes a poultry farm. If it also receives eggs and industrialises them, the text describes a processing unit (art. 20, § 3).
Use the list below as a starting point. It follows the definitions in the regulation but does not replace an analysis of your own case.
- Check where the eggs come from: only your own production, or also other suppliers.
- Check where the eggs go: direct sale, or industrialisation of eggs and egg products.
- Note whether you sell eggs to another establishment, and whether that establishment is a processing unit.
- Compare the result with the table above before deciding the type of your establishment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a poultry farm industrialise eggs?
- Art. 20, § 1 does not include industrialisation among the activities of a poultry farm. The farm's list is production, candling, grading, packing, labelling, storage and dispatch. Industrialisation appears in the definition of the egg processing unit (RIISPOA, art. 20, § 3).
Can a poultry farm sell eggs to a processing unit?
- Yes. Paragraph 2 of art. 20 allows a poultry farm to sell eggs to an egg processing unit (RIISPOA, art. 20, § 2). The text covers the sale and does not say that the farm stops being a farm because of it.
Do poultry farms and processing units both need candling?
- Yes. Both definitions include candling (RIISPOA, art. 20, §§ 1 and 3), and art. 223 requires egg establishments to carry out candling. A surface camera does not replace this step, because it cannot see the inside of the egg.
Sources
- Decreto nº 9.013/2017 (RIISPOA), Presidência da República (Brasil)
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.