FROM today, all eggs produced in NSW must be stamped with a unique identifying mark so they can be easily traced back to the farm where they were produced.
Producers will be required to place a unique stamp, code or mark on each individual egg to identify the source of the egg.
The stamp can be a symbol or a series of numbers and letters. They can be made by hand, inkjet-printed or laser etching.
The regulations follow a spike of Salmonella poisoning incidents in recent years. Between 2010 and 2014 in NSW, more than 700 people were made sick in 40 food poisoning outbreak which were linked to the unsafe use of eggs.
Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said the egg stamp is intended for traceability in the event of an outbreak, not advice.
"Consumers will still find the relevant information about where their eggs come from and which production method was used on the outer packaging."
The regulations apply to all egg producers, licensed and unlicensed, including producers who sell through farmers' markets.
However, operators that produce less than 20 dozen eggs a week and sell those eggs direct from the farmgate for the purposes of fundraising where the eggs will be cooked and consumed immediately, will be exempt.
Ms Hodgkinson said her government has provided free stamps to small businesses producing less than 1000 eggs a day to assist with the costs.
The stamps have a pre-assigned, six-digit code consisting of three letters followed by three numbers.
NSW Food authority will be responsible for monitoring compliance among producers and retailers.