Coop Companion

NPIP in Maryland

Verified September 2026

The short version

Maryland participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, administered in-state by Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health (Maryland's Official State Agency). A key Maryland-specific rule: since 2017, all sellers of live poultry and hatching eggs in Maryland are required to participate in the NPIP (sales through authorized auction markets are exempt). The only disease test required to participate is annual pullorum-typhoid (PT) testing. Exact fees, testing procedures, and current requirements are set by the state agency — the MDA participant packet lists a $25/year participation fee, but confirm current details with them using the official links below.

Maryland Official State Agency

Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health (Official State Agency)

Official website →NPIP contact →

Joining NPIP in this state

  • NPIP is administered in Maryland by Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health (50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21410) — apply to join through that Official State Agency by submitting the NPIP application.
  • Since 2017, all sellers of live poultry and hatching eggs in Maryland are required to participate in the NPIP; sales through authorized auction markets are exempt.
  • The only disease testing required to participate is annual pullorum-typhoid (PT) testing; avian influenza is recommended and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) / Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are optional programs.
  • Participants must hold a current Maryland Poultry Premises Registration, pass an annual flock and premises inspection, and keep the required sales/movement records.

Pullorum-typhoid testing

  • The only disease test required for NPIP participation in Maryland is annual pullorum-typhoid (PT) testing — the MDA packet lists PT testing at $0.50/bird, with turkeys tested by laboratory blood test.
  • Poultry moving interstate generally must be pullorum-typhoid clean (via NPIP participation) or test negative before leaving the state — most destination states require it.
  • PT testing can be done by MDA inspectors during the annual NPIP inspection, or by an Authorized Maryland Poultry Testing Agent (PTA); the state agency can tell you who can test and how to arrange it.

Selling & shipping eggs and birds

  • Because Maryland requires all sellers of live poultry and hatching eggs to be in the NPIP (since 2017), you generally need NPIP participation to sell — with authorized auction-market sales exempt.
  • NPIP participation lets Maryland flock owners sell both within Maryland and ship interstate; interstate mail-order shipment is allowed with a VS Form 9-3, and destination-state requirements still apply.
  • Participants must submit VS Form 9-3 (Report of Sales of Hatching Eggs, Chicks and Poults) to the MDA within seven days of poultry shipment or movement — confirm the current process with the state agency.

Show testing requirements

  • Many Maryland shows and fairs require negative pullorum-typhoid test results or NPIP participation for entry; the exact requirement is set by each show and state animal-health rules.
  • Confirm a specific show's testing requirement with the show secretary and Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health before entering.

Record-keeping

  • Maryland NPIP participants must retain three years of poultry purchase and sales records using VS Form 9-3; periodic inspection of records by state officials may be conducted to verify compliance.
  • Keep your NPIP flock/certificate number, premises registration, testing dates and results, and buyer/sales records handy — a printable testing log and sales ledger makes this painless; see the NPIP record pack below.

Confirm these with the state agency

  • Whether Maryland currently holds official "U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean State" status — we couldn't confirm this from a readable official source, so verify it against the national NPIP clean-states list or with Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health rather than assuming.
  • Current NPIP fees can change — the MDA New Participant Information Packet lists a $25/year participation processing fee for flocks and $50/year for commercial hatcheries, plus per-bird testing fees; confirm the current amounts with the state agency.
  • Exact Maryland Poultry Premises Registration steps, permit details, and any farmers-market or intrastate-sale specifics — confirm with Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health rather than relying on any national summary.

Frequently asked questions

Who administers NPIP in Maryland?
Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health — Maryland's Official State Agency for the National Poultry Improvement Plan (50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21410).
Do I need NPIP to sell hatching eggs from Maryland?
Generally yes. Since 2017, Maryland requires all sellers of live poultry and hatching eggs to participate in the NPIP (authorized auction-market sales are exempt), and shipping across state lines also generally requires poultry and eggs to be pullorum-typhoid clean via NPIP. Confirm the current rules with Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health.
How much does NPIP cost in Maryland?
The MDA New Participant Information Packet lists a $25/year participation processing fee for flocks ($50/year for commercial hatcheries), plus per-bird testing fees such as $0.50/bird for pullorum-typhoid testing. Fees can change, so contact Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health (links above) to confirm current costs.
Are all poultry sellers in Maryland required to join NPIP?
Yes — beginning in 2017, all sellers of live poultry and hatching eggs in Maryland are required to participate in the NPIP. Sales through authorized auction markets are exempt. Confirm how this applies to you with Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health.

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