Sask. government clarifies egg policy, grading not required for direct sales from farmers

WATCH: The province is walking back a plan impacting the sale of fresh eggs at public markets, including farmers’ markets.

The provincial government is clarifying its position on amending the rules around the sale of farm eggs in Saskatchewan.

The clarification comes after proposed amendments to the province’s Food Safety Act led to criticism from producers who worried the amendments would restrict the sale of their eggs at venues such as farmers’ markets.

“What we do is organic, and I know we’re doing a superior product for people,” Jim White, who operates a dairy farm in the Lumsden area, told CTV News on March 21.

The Regina Farmers’ Market was another voice of opposition – noting that the change would restrict sales when public sentiment to “buy local” is at an all-time high.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

On Tuesday, the province moved to “clarify” its position – revealing that the ministry of health ruled that there is no need to grade eggs that are sold directly from farmers to consumers.

“We just need to find a commonsense approach for people to be able to go to farmers’ markets and pick up locally grown vegetables or locally raised meats and eggs and I think the clarification today will help that and ensure again that a lot of our small producers in the province still have the ability to sell directly to consumers,” Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill told reporters Tuesday.

The minister also noted that the deadline for stakeholders to offer feedback on the proposed amendments has been extended two weeks to April 16.

“[We’re] really providing more people in the province, whether they’re customers or whether they’re producers, again, to have more direct say,” he added.