Legal rules for quail farming
Before you start selling quail eggs or meat, the holding and flock must be registered, and you must meet welfare, egg-labelling and Salmonella-testing requirements. There is no separate EU directive for quail — the general poultry welfare rules and national law apply. We have gathered the whole map of duties in one place — in plain language, with links to detailed pages. This is an informational guide, not binding legal advice: the law changes, so confirm key points with your local veterinary officer and the agricultural agency.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
Quail farming in Poland is more than rearing — it is also a set of duties towards the authorities. Before you produce quail eggs or meat for sale, the holding and flock must be registered, and you must meet welfare, biosecurity and flock-health requirements. This page is an overview — a map of duties showing what to arrange and where, and pointing to separate guides for the details. The whole process is covered in the hub on quail farming.
Where do these rules come from?
Here is an important difference from broilers and laying hens: there is no separate EU welfare directive for quail. The general Council Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of farm animals applies, together with Polish national rules (the animal protection act and regulations of the Minister of Agriculture on keeping poultry). This means there are no fixed, EU-wide stocking thresholds like the 33/39/42 kg/m’ used for broilers — you follow general welfare principles and national rules. Practical guidance is in the guide on quail welfare.
Where do you handle all this?
Three main places: ARiMR and the IRZplus system (flock holding registration and poultry records), the local veterinary officer (registration or approval of the operator, veterinary number, Salmonella testing, oversight of egg and meat sales) and your own farm records (flock register, treatment log, sales documentation). The law is updated from time to time — always confirm dates, forms and thresholds with ARiMR and your veterinary officer before each cycle.
From registration to selling eggs — what you must arrange
- 1
Register the flock holding in IRZplus (ARiMR)
The first step, even before placing birds: register the flock holding with the agricultural agency (ARiMR) and obtain a holding number in the IRZplus system. This underpins all later records — from registration you keep a flock register (placement date, number of birds, origin, mortality, events). The IRZplus portal can be unintuitive, so the later status-change reports — placements and slaughter — can be filed in IRZplus for you by DlaFerm.pl, automatically, if you want; you can also do it yourself if you prefer. The step-by-step is in the guide on flock records in IRZplus.
- 2
Notify the operator to the veterinary officer and obtain a veterinary number
As an operator in the food chain, a quail farm must be notified to the local veterinary officer and — depending on scale and type of activity (eggs, meat) — registered or approved, with a veterinary number. This number identifies the farm in trade and is required when selling eggs off the holding and when trading meat. The procedure and required documents are in the guide on farm veterinary number — registration.
- 3
Meet welfare requirements (98/58/EC + national rules)
There is no separate EU directive for quail — the general Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of farm animals applies, together with Polish rules on keeping poultry. In practice this means: provide enough space, access to feed and water, a proper microclimate, litter or cage equipment matching the birds’ natural needs, and daily inspection of the flock. Practical welfare guidance is in the guide on quail welfare, calculating birds per square metre in quail stocking density and housing equipment in housing requirements for quail.
- 4
Choose a legal route for selling eggs and meat
Selling quail eggs and meat has several formal routes. Small-scale sales of products from your own holding go through agricultural retail trade or marginal, local and restricted activity — with quantity limits, a registration duty and hygiene requirements. Above these thresholds an approved establishment is needed. Eggs sold off the holding are subject to labelling rules (producer mark, durability date, storage conditions), and meat to slaughter and hygiene rules. Confirm the scope and limits with your local veterinary officer — this is an informational guide, not binding advice.
- 5
Carry out Salmonella testing
Poultry flocks, including commercially kept quail, may be covered by the national programme to control Salmonella serotypes (mainly Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium). Samples (usually boot or faecal swabs) and a test result are a condition for safely trading eggs and meat — a positive result for the serotypes covered means trade restrictions and mandatory measures. Dates and procedure are in the guide on Salmonella on a poultry farm.
- 6
Keep treatment records and observe withdrawal periods
Every medicine given (especially antibiotics) goes into the treatment log, and before selling eggs or slaughter you must observe the withdrawal period — the time after which eggs and the bird’s tissues are free of residues. This applies to both eggs and meat. Details are in the guide on withdrawal periods in poultry. For prevention and common health problems see quail diseases.
The most important rules for quail farming
Four pillars on which legal quail farming rests. Act names and rules are given as a reference — confirm the legal position with your veterinary officer and ARiMR*.
Directive 98/58/EC — general welfare (no separate one for quail)
There is no separate EU directive for quail as there is for broilers (2007/43/EC) or laying hens (1999/74/EC). The general Council Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of farm animals applies, together with Polish regulations on keeping poultry. There are no fixed EU-wide stocking thresholds — you follow general welfare principles and national rules.
IRZplus / ARiMR — flock holding registration
The Animal Identification and Registration System (IRZplus) run by ARiMR. Duty to register the flock holding and obtain a number, keep a flock register and report events. Basis: the act on the animal identification and registration system.
Selling eggs and meat — local retail / marginal activity and labelling
Small-scale sales of quail eggs and meat from the holding can go through agricultural retail trade or marginal, local and restricted activity — with limits and registration with the veterinary officer. Eggs sold off the holding are subject to labelling rules; meat to slaughter and hygiene rules. Basis: EU and national food hygiene rules.
National Salmonella control programme
Poultry flocks may be covered by mandatory testing for Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium (and related serotypes covered). Samples are taken at set dates; a positive result for covered serotypes means trade restrictions and mandatory measures. Basis: EU rules and the national programme.
The most common formal shortcomings
These slip-ups recur at inspections — worth knowing before the veterinary officer visits.
Selling eggs off the holding without registering local retail/marginal activity
Quail eggs go to a market, shop or restaurant, but the sales are not registered under agricultural retail trade or marginal activity. Small-scale sales of products from a holding require registration and meeting hygiene requirements — even at a small scale. Confirm the scope with your veterinary officer.
No labelling of eggs sold off the holding
Eggs sold to other operators must be properly labelled and described (producer, durability date, storage conditions), and the sale documented. Missing marks or documentation is a typical shortcoming at egg-sales inspections.
Not observing the withdrawal period before selling eggs
The flock received a medicine, but eggs went on sale before the withdrawal period ended. This risks medicine residues in the eggs and is a serious breach. The withdrawal period is counted from the last dose and recorded in the log — details in withdrawal periods in poultry.
Placing birds before registering the flock holding
The birds are already on the farm, but the IRZplus holding number has not been issued yet. Registration is done before placement, not after — otherwise a gap appears in the flock register. How to handle it is in the guide on flock records in IRZplus, and starting the rearing in quail rearing.
Frequently asked questions about quail farming rules
Do I have to register a quail flock?add
Yes, if you farm to sell eggs or meat. The flock holding is registered with ARiMR in the IRZplus system, with a holding number issued, and the operator is notified to the local veterinary officer. You also keep a flock register. We cover this step by step in the guide on flock records in IRZplus. Confirm the scope for a very small scale with your veterinary officer.
Are there EU stocking-density rules for quail like for broilers?add
No. There is no separate EU welfare directive for quail and no fixed, EU-wide stocking thresholds (like the 33/39/42 kg/m’ for broilers). The general Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of farm animals applies, together with Polish national rules. You follow general welfare principles — enough space, water, feed, microclimate. Practical guidance is in the guides on quail welfare and quail stocking density.
How do I legally sell quail eggs?add
Small-scale sales of eggs from your own holding go through agricultural retail trade or marginal, local and restricted activity — with quantity limits, a registration duty with the veterinary officer and hygiene requirements. Eggs sold off the holding are subject to labelling rules (producer, durability date, storage conditions). Above these thresholds an approved establishment is needed. Confirm the specific limits with your local veterinary officer — this is an informational guide, not binding advice.
Does a quail farm need a veterinary number?add
Yes — as an operator in the food chain the farm must be notified to the local veterinary officer and, depending on scale and type of activity (eggs, meat), registered or approved with a veterinary number. The number identifies the farm in trade and is required when selling eggs off the holding and when trading meat. The procedure is in the guide on farm veterinary number — registration.
Are quail covered by Salmonella testing?add
Commercial poultry flocks may be covered by the national Salmonella control programme, which includes mandatory testing for the serotypes covered (mainly Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium). A positive result means restrictions on trading eggs and meat and mandatory measures. Confirm the scope for your scale with your veterinary officer. The procedure is in the guide on Salmonella on a poultry farm.
Is this binding legal advice?add
No. This page is an informational guide — it organises duties and points to the details, but it does not replace the regulations or an authority decision. The law is updated from time to time (forms, deadlines, retail/marginal limits and thresholds change), so always confirm key points with your local veterinary officer and ARiMR before each cycle. For profitability see quail farming profitability.
Sources & resources
- linkChief Veterinary Inspectorate — welfare, food sales, disease control programmes (wetgiw.gov.pl)
- linkARiMR — Animal Identification and Registration System (IRZplus) (gov.pl/web/arimr)
- linkCouncil Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- linkInternet System of Legal Acts — agricultural retail, marginal activity, poultry (isap.sejm.gov.pl)
Keep your paperwork in one place
DlaFerm.pl keeps your flock records and IRZplus data in one place, and can file the status-change reports in IRZplus for you — automatically, if you want. Along the way it tracks production indicators, watches mortality and feed, keeps the whole cycle history and a Flock Card, plus a farm entry log and a treatment log — without paper chaos. Create a free farm account or write to us.
Phone
+48 796 258 151