Is NPIP certification required to sell hatching eggs?

It's voluntary federally, but **most states won't allow poultry or hatching eggs to enter unless they're U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean**, so in practice you generally need NPIP participation (or state-approved testing) to ship across state lines. Within your own state, rules vary — check with your Official State Agency.

It's a joint federal-state-industry program: **USDA APHIS** at the federal level, and each state's **Official State Agency** administers participation locally. That's why the exact process differs by state.

What is U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean?

The base NPIP classification — certifying a flock is free of Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum. It's the entry test for the plan and the status most states require to bring poultry in.

Where are the actual hobbyist/exhibition rules?

In **9 CFR part 145 (Subpart E)**, with detail in the NPIP Program Standards. The definitive, current requirements for your situation come from those documents and your state's Official State Agency.

How much does NPIP cost and how long does it take?

That's set by your state — fees and timelines vary, and some states charge little or nothing for small flocks. We don't quote a national figure because it would be wrong somewhere; ask your Official State Agency.

NPIP Certification: A Complete National Overview

Verified September 2026

The short version

The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a voluntary federal-state-industry program (established 1935, administered by USDA APHIS with each state's Official State Agency) that tests and certifies flocks, chicks, poults, and hatching eggs for specific diseases. The base certification is U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean — and because most states bar incoming poultry that isn't pullorum-typhoid clean, NPIP participation is what lets most breeders ship hatching eggs and birds across state lines. Hobbyist and exhibition rules live in 9 CFR part 145 (Subpart E), and the exact process, testing, and fees are set by your state, so confirm details with your Official State Agency.

What NPIP is

The National Poultry Improvement Plan is a voluntary cooperative testing and certification program for poultry breeding flocks, baby chicks, poults, hatching eggs, hatcheries, and dealers. It was established in 1935 and is administered jointly by USDA APHIS, the states (through each state's Official State Agency), and industry.

The plan sets standards for freedom from certain poultry diseases and certifies flocks that meet them. Participation is voluntary at the federal level — but in practice it is close to mandatory for anyone shipping birds or eggs between states, because states set their own entry requirements on top of the plan.

Why it matters for selling and shipping

The single most important fact for breeders: the vast majority of U.S. states prohibit the entry of poultry shipments unless they are designated U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean. That means if you want to sell and ship hatching eggs or live birds across state lines, you generally need NPIP participation (or state-approved testing) to do it legally.

NPIP is also a trust signal in the marketplace — sellers of hatching eggs and chicks routinely advertise their NPIP number, and many U.S. trading partners require NPIP participation for imports. Some states additionally require Mycoplasma (MG) clean status for certain species; requirements vary.

The main disease programs

The U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean classification (freedom from Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum) is the foundational one — it is the base test to enter the plan and the classification most states require for entry.

Beyond that, the plan runs classifications for U.S. Avian Influenza Clean and for Mycoplasma (M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae), among others. Which classifications you need depends on your species and where you ship; the definitive lists are in the NPIP Program Standards and 9 CFR.

What it means for hobbyists and exhibitors

Requirements for poultry used in exhibition, as a hobby, or for breeding to sell are set out in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 145 (Subpart E). Many shows also require pullorum-typhoid testing (or NPIP status) for entry.

For a small exhibition or hobby flock, joining usually means applying through your state, having your birds pullorum-typhoid tested by an authorized tester (or becoming a certified tester yourself, where the state allows), and keeping the records the plan requires. The specific steps, who can test, and any fees are set by your state, which is why the state pages and your Official State Agency are the authority — not this overview.

How records fit in

NPIP participation comes with record-keeping: testing dates and results, flock/source information, and sales records (who you sold to, when, and what). Keeping these organized is exactly what a sales ledger and testing log are for — and having them ready makes an inspection or a buyer's questions painless.

Frequently asked questions

Is NPIP certification required to sell hatching eggs?: It's voluntary federally, but most states won't allow poultry or hatching eggs to enter unless they're U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean, so in practice you generally need NPIP participation (or state-approved testing) to ship across state lines. Within your own state, rules vary — check with your Official State Agency.
Who runs NPIP?: It's a joint federal-state-industry program: USDA APHIS at the federal level, and each state's Official State Agency administers participation locally. That's why the exact process differs by state.
What is U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean?: The base NPIP classification — certifying a flock is free of Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum. It's the entry test for the plan and the status most states require to bring poultry in.
Where are the actual hobbyist/exhibition rules?: In 9 CFR part 145 (Subpart E), with detail in the NPIP Program Standards. The definitive, current requirements for your situation come from those documents and your state's Official State Agency.
How much does NPIP cost and how long does it take?: That's set by your state — fees and timelines vary, and some states charge little or nothing for small flocks. We don't quote a national figure because it would be wrong somewhere; ask your Official State Agency.

Sources

National Poultry Improvement Plan — official site — NPIP (poultryimprovement.org) (Official / government)
NVAP Reference Guide: National Poultry Improvement Plan — USDA APHIS (Official / government)
NPIP Program Standards (Subparts A–E) — NPIP / USDA (Official / government)