The Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries of New Brunswick has issued an amendment to the Egg Plan and Levies Regulation, formalized under N.B. Reg. 2003-54 pursuant to the Natural Products Act. This amendment, contained in Order 3 of the Egg Farmers of New Brunswick Levy Order, establishes updated definitions, procedures, and responsibilities for the province’s egg producers regarding levy collection and quota management. The Order is intended to clarify regulatory responsibilities, ensure consistent levy application, and provide a framework for exemptions in special circumstances, improving transparency and operational efficiency for licensed egg producers.

The Order applies to any person producing and marketing eggs in New Brunswick, with the exception of those managing fewer than 200 laying hens in a separate facility unless their eggs are sent to a grading station. This establishes a minimum threshold for regulatory oversight while still capturing commercial-scale operations. Under the levy provisions, each licensed producer must pay an amount determined by both the provincial Board and the federal Agency on every dozen eggs marketed. The levy is calculated based on a producer’s quota allocation, the rate of lay, and the number of days in the levy period relative to the overall levy year. Adjustments are made when quota allocations change within a levy period, ensuring that levy obligations accurately reflect production capacity.

Additional provisions apply to hatchery supply flock operators and producers of industrial product eggs, who are subject to specific levy calculations based on egg grading reports and industrial egg pricing. Payment procedures are determined by the Board and must be followed in accordance with its directions. The Order also establishes conditions under which exemptions from levy payments may be granted. These include production losses due to force majeure, facility repairs or renovations, participation in specified Canadian Egg Marketing Agency programs, and short routine flock changeover periods required for cleaning and disinfection. Mandatory downtime of seven days between production cycles is enforced, during which no exemptions are permitted, and applications for exemptions must follow specified timelines and use designated forms.

The Order emphasizes accountability, requiring that all levy exemption requests be approved by the provincial Board. Late applications result in proportional reductions of the exemption period, and any levy amounts covered by insurance are not eligible for exemption. By codifying the levy structure, payment obligations, and conditions for exemptions, the Order reinforces regulatory compliance while providing producers with clarity and predictability in managing their production operations and financial responsibilities within New Brunswick’s egg industry. The framework aligns with both provincial objectives and federal marketing policies, ensuring coordinated governance of the egg sector.

New Brunswick (3/2026) March 4, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.