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The government’s big decision! Expiration date will be written on each egg now, new rules will be applied from April 1

Samira Vishwas | March 17, 2026 5:25 PM CST

Egg Stamp Expiry Date: The Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh has taken an important step regarding food safety and purity – a measure that is directly linked to your health and your kitchen. By now, you are used to checking the expiry dates on milk or bread packets (…)

Egg Stamp Expiry Date: The Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh has taken an important step regarding food safety and cleanliness – a measure that is directly linked to your health and your kitchen. By now, you were used to checking the expiry dates on milk or bread packets; However, each egg sold in the markets of UP will now have the ‘Expiration Date’ and ‘Expiry Date’ printed on it. Effective from April 1, this new rule is no less than a big gift for egg lovers, as the practice of selling stale or spoiled eggs is now going to be completely stopped.

Carelessness will prove costly; Eggs will be destroyed

The government has made it clear that compromising public health for profit will not be tolerated. According to a new directive issued from Lucknow, if a trader or poultry farm operator fails to mark the eggs with both the ‘use by date’ (the egg was given) and the ‘expiry date’, the administration will seize those eggs and destroy them immediately. Such eggs will be labeled “unsafe for human consumption”, meaning they cannot be sold under any circumstances.

People often wonder how old an egg is. Experts suggest that at normal room temperature (around 30°C), an egg remains suitable for consumption for up to two weeks, while in a cold environment – such as a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) – it can be preserved for up to five weeks. Keeping this scientific principle in mind, the government has implemented these strict measures. Additionally, eggs can no longer be stored with vegetables in the same cold storage facilities, as the storage requirements for the two are quite different. However, at present, only Agra and Jhansi have specialized cold storage facilities for eggs within the state – a situation that may pose a significant challenge in the near future.

Why was this strict law necessary?

Mukesh Meshram, a senior official in the animal husbandry department, says that inspections have revealed several irregularities where old and substandard eggs were being sold to customers. The general public often had no way of knowing how much of a fresh protein source they were actually consuming. The UP government has taken this tough stance to restore transparency and prevent adulteration.