Selling poultry from your farm — RHD and MLO step by step
Want to sell chickens, eggs or carcasses from your own farm? You have two simple routes: agricultural retail trade (RHD) and marginal, local and restricted activity (MLO). We explain in plain terms what you may sell, where to register, what the limits are, and how to keep records so you do it legally.
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Two routes: RHD and MLO
Poultry and eggs from your own farm can be sold legally in two simplified forms. Agricultural retail trade (RHD) means selling food from your own production directly to the consumer — at a market, from the farm, and to some extent to local shops and catering as well. Marginal, local and restricted activity (MLO) covers deliveries of small quantities of products (e.g. carcasses or meat) to local retail shops and catering establishments. Both routes are designed for small farms and do not require setting up a full processing plant. If you are just starting, see also the guide on poultry farming for sale.
What you may sell — carcasses and eggs
Under RHD/MLO you mainly sell fresh poultry carcasses (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys) and table eggs from your own flock. The key rule: the product must come from your own farm, not from trade or buying-in. Slaughter of poultry for this sale takes place on the farm under defined hygienic conditions — without running a full slaughterhouse. Some activities and thresholds differ between RHD and MLO, so it is best to agree the exact scope with the district veterinary officer. We cover live-bird collection and slaughter in more detail in broiler live-bird collection.
Quantity limits and local sales
Both forms have quantity limits — weekly or annual limits on the number of birds slaughtered — and a range for ‘local’ sales (usually within the region or neighbouring districts). Limits and definitions change in the regulations, so it is not worth relying on numbers you have heard second-hand — you will find the current thresholds in the regulations and on government pages about RHD. If in doubt, an Agricultural Advisory Centre (ODR) adviser or the district veterinary officer can help.
First register the flock, then sell
Before you start selling, your flock must be properly registered and recorded. You keep the holding number and records in the IRZplus system — our IRZplus flock records help with this, and — if you want — we file your flock-change reports to IRZplus for you automatically. The farm itself should also have a settled veterinary status; we cover this in veterinary number registration for the farm and in poultry farm registration. Only on this basis do you report your RHD or MLO activity.
Records and order with DlaFerm.pl
Selling from the farm also means keeping records — quantities, dates, buyers, and for treated animals also withdrawal periods. DlaFerm.pl brings this together in one place: you keep a digital Flock Card, watch the treatment and withdrawal records, and issue an invoice for a shop or catering in line with KSeF invoicing. This keeps you ready for an inspection with a full sales history.
How to legally sell poultry from your farm
Six steps that lead from the idea of selling to your first legal transaction under RHD or MLO.
1. Sort out flock registration
Check whether the holding has a producer number and whether the flock is reported in IRZplus. Without proper flock records you cannot start legal sales. Settle the veterinary status too — see the farm veterinary number.
2. Choose the form: RHD or MLO
Decide whether you sell mainly directly to consumers (RHD) or supply carcasses and meat to local shops and catering (MLO). This choice determines the requirements, limits and the authority you register with. If in doubt, consult the district veterinary officer or an ODR adviser.
3. Register with the vet or sanitary office
Submit a registration application — usually with the district veterinary officer (poultry, meat, eggs as products of animal origin), and in some food cases also with the sanitary inspectorate. Registration is free but mandatory before your first sale.
4. Prepare hygienic slaughter conditions
Arrange a clean, separate place for slaughter and carcass handling, access to water, cooling and proper waste disposal. Apply hygiene rules so as not to contaminate the meat. The principles from clean and dirty zones and farm biosecurity help here.
5. Label products and prices
Mark each product (carcasses, eggs) with the required labelling — producer details, information that it comes from the farm and, where needed, a date. Eggs and meat have separate labelling requirements. Clear labels are not only an obligation but also part of customer trust.
6. Run sales and records
Record quantities, dates and buyers, watch the limits and medicine withdrawal periods. You can do this conveniently in a digital Flock Card, and issue invoices for shops through KSeF. Good records mean peace of mind at any inspection.
Limits, formalities and risks of selling from the farm
Six things that most often decide whether selling poultry from the farm is truly legal and safe.
Quantity and local limits
RHD and MLO have limits on the amount of poultry slaughtered (weekly or annual) and on the range of ‘local’ sales. Exceeding a limit means having to switch to full activity with an approved establishment. Check the current thresholds in the RHD regulations, not in numbers you have heard.
Mandatory registration
Selling without registration with the district veterinary officer (and for some food — with the sanitary inspectorate) is illegal, even at a small scale. Registration is free and one-off, but you must do it before your first sale and report significant changes.
Hygiene and HACCP at small scale
Even on the farm, food hygiene rules based on the HACCP system (hazard analysis and critical control points) apply — in a simplified form matched to the scale. It is about cleanliness, temperature control, clean water and no cross-contamination. HACCP and QAFP on the farm helps with this.
Labelling carcasses and eggs
Carcasses and eggs must be labelled in line with food labelling rules — with producer details and information about origin. Labelling mistakes are one of the most common reasons for remarks during inspections. Check the requirements separately for meat and separately for eggs.
Taxes and lump-sum tax
Income from RHD up to a defined annual limit may benefit from a preferential lump-sum tax or exemption from income tax — under conditions. Above the limit you settle on general terms. Confirm the details and current amounts with a tax adviser or the tax office, because the limits change.
Records and medicine withdrawal
You must keep sales records (quantities, dates, buyers) and — if you treated the flock — watch withdrawal periods so that meat and eggs reach the market only after they expire. You can keep this conveniently in treatment and withdrawal records; more on the withdrawal itself in medicine withdrawal in poultry.
Frequently asked questions about selling poultry from the farm
What is the difference between RHD and MLO?add
Agricultural retail trade (RHD) means selling food from your own production mainly directly to the consumer — from the farm, at a market, and to some extent to local shops and catering. Marginal, local and restricted activity (MLO) means deliveries of small quantities of products, including carcasses and meat, to local retail shops and catering establishments. Both forms are simplified and intended for a small scale, but they differ in scope, limits and detailed requirements.
Where do I have to register to sell poultry?add
Selling poultry, meat and eggs as products of animal origin is usually registered with the district veterinary officer. For some food products the sanitary inspectorate may also be the right authority. Registration is free but mandatory before your first sale. If unsure what applies to you, ask the district veterinary officer directly.
How much poultry can I sell under RHD or MLO?add
Both forms have quantity limits — weekly or annual — on the number of birds slaughtered, and limits on the range of local sales. The specific thresholds are set in the regulations and are sometimes updated, so it is not worth relying on numbers you have heard. Check the current values on government pages about RHD or with the district veterinary officer.
Can I slaughter poultry for sale on my own farm?add
Under RHD/MLO, slaughter of poultry from your own flock for this sale may take place on the farm, but under defined hygienic conditions and within the applicable limits. This is not the same as running a full slaughterhouse. Agree the exact scope of what you may do on site with the district veterinary officer.
Do I need HACCP for such small sales?add
Yes, food hygiene rules based on the HACCP system apply at a small scale too, although in a simplified form matched to the size of production. In practice it is about cleanliness, temperature control, good water and avoiding cross-contamination. You do not have to create extensive documentation like a large plant, but the basic rules and records are required.
How do I settle tax on poultry sold from the farm?add
Income from agricultural retail trade up to a defined annual limit may benefit from a preferential lump-sum tax or exemption from income tax, once the conditions are met. Once the limit is exceeded you settle on general terms. Since the limit amounts and rules change, confirm the current state with a tax adviser or the tax office.
Keep poultry sales from your farm in order with DlaFerm.pl
Want sales records, medicine withdrawal and the Flock Card under control? We will show you how DlaFerm.pl helps you keep RHD and MLO records without the mess. Write to us.
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+48 796 258 151