Comparison · Standards and regulation
Should you wash eggs before selling them? Brazil and the EU
In Brazil, washing is mandatory in specific cases, mainly for dirty eggs going to industrial processing, and it must be entirely mechanical. Cracked eggs may not be washed. In the European Union, Class A eggs may not be washed or cleaned, before or after grading. The answer depends on the egg's destination and class.
Updated · 4 min read
When is washing mandatory in Brazil?
Only in specific cases, mainly for dirty eggs going to industrial processing. MAPA's answer to question 28 says washing is mandatory only for dirty, intact eggs and for eggs destined for processing. Question 38 cites art. 18 of Ordinance 612/2022, which describes the obligation for dirty, uncracked eggs going to processing. In practice the art. 18 text is the rule: washing is mandatory for dirty, uncracked eggs going to industrial processing, and a cracked egg is never washed.
Outside those cases, MAPA does not indicate mandatory washing. This also applies to a clean egg that is not going to processing.
Can cracked eggs be washed?
No. Cracked eggs may not be washed (MAPA FAQ, question 28). Cracked eggs with a clean shell can be broken, and that is their destination.
Dirty cracked eggs have no use as human food and must be discarded immediately (MAPA FAQ, question 5). If they are not discarded immediately, they must be broken into a properly labelled container (question 26). For the difference between a check and a leaker, see how to identify cracked eggs.
What is the rule for each type of egg?
The table separates the cases. The Brazil column reproduces MAPA's answers. The EU column is a direct reading of the cited articles, because the regulation text does not cover each of these cases.
| Case | Brazil (MAPA) | EU (Class A) |
|---|---|---|
| Dirty, intact egg | Mandatory washing (question 28) | Not Class A, because the shell must be clean (Article 3(1)(a)) |
| Dirty, uncracked egg going to industrial processing | Mandatory washing (question 38, art. 18 of Ordinance 612) | No equivalent rule in the cited text |
| Clean, intact egg for consumption | Outside the cases of mandatory washing (question 28) | Can be Class A if it meets the Article 3(1) characteristics, but may not be washed or cleaned (Article 4(1)) |
| Cracked egg with a clean shell | May not be washed; can be broken (question 28) | Not Class A, because the shell must be undamaged (Article 3(1)(a)); may not be washed (Article 4(1)) |
| Dirty cracked egg | Discard immediately or break into a labelled container (questions 5 and 26) | Not Class A (Article 3(1)(a)) |
How must washing be done when it is mandatory?
Entirely by mechanical means, with procedures that prevent microbial penetration into the egg (MAPA FAQ, question 30). This applies to establishments of every size, and manual washing does not meet it.
Flows for washed and unwashed eggs must be kept separate so every egg stays traceable. Each flow must be described in the self-control programme (Programa de Autocontrole) and in the product registration in the PGA-SIGSIF system (MAPA FAQ, question 27). For the processing side, see washing eggs for industrial processing.
Does a camera decide whether an egg should be washed?
No. A camera does not wash eggs and does not set the flow on its own. It grades each egg and records the class, which helps check whether the right batch goes to the washer.
Vigiovo grades each egg as clean, dirty, cracked or unverified, and treats an egg as dirty when its stains add up to 3% or more of the visible area. That is a configuration value, calibrated on each line, not a legal criterion. See how it works.
A surface camera does not measure the cuticle, nor does it see inside the egg. So it cannot confirm whether an egg was washed, and it does not replace candling.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash dirty eggs before selling them in Brazil?
- It depends on the destination. For dirty eggs going to industrial processing, washing is mandatory (MAPA FAQ, question 38). It must be done entirely by mechanical means (question 30). A dirty cracked egg may not be washed and must be discarded or broken into a labelled container (question 26).
Can a cracked egg be washed?
- No. MAPA says cracked eggs may not be washed (question 28). Cracked eggs with a clean shell can be broken. Dirty cracked eggs have no use as human food and must be discarded immediately (question 5).
Does the EU allow washing Class A eggs?
- In general, no. Article 4(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465 says Class A eggs may not be washed or cleaned, before or after grading. The same article provides for an exception in paragraph 3, which this guide does not describe.
Sources
- Perguntas e respostas sobre a Portaria MAPA nº 612/2022 (versão de 05/06/2023), Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465, marketing standards for eggs, EUR-Lex
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.