Starting Jan. 1, all eggs sold in Colorado must be from a cage-free facility. All egg producers in Colorado housing more than 3,000 egg-laying hens will need to comply with the requirements of a cage-free facility as defined in the amended Cage-Free Egg rule. Additionally, all eggs and egg products for sale in Colorado will need to show they are compliant by including “CO-COM,” “organic”, or “cage-free” on a label.
“Farmers all over the country who produce eggs sold in Colorado have been preparing to comply with these new cage-fee requirements since 2020,” said Julie Mizak, Colorado Egg Program manager. “This final phase in Colorado’s cage-free standards aligns with the operational changes many egg producers are already voluntarily making. Standardizing these requirements ensures a fair market for our Colorado egg producers.”
All farms and businesses producing or selling eggs in Colorado must conduct an annual audit to seek certification from the state. An accredited certifying agent must complete the audit, and a copy of the results must be submitted to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, certifying the operation is cage-free and adheres to the requirements of the Colorado Cage-Free Rule.
