THE EC EGG MARKETING STANDARDS REGULATIONS
1. INTRODUCTION
Please read this leaflet carefully before completing "Application for Registration of a Packing Centre" form EMR2. This is intended as a general guide to the requirements of EEC law on egg marketing which is applicable in all European Union Member States. It is not a complete and authoritative statement of the law. If you wish to know more about egg marketing legislation, you should refer to the regulations set out below.
1.1 Regulations
The Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995 (as amended)
The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 (as amended)
The Registration of Establishments Keeping Laying Hens (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (as amended)
1.2 Purpose and Objectives
The Regulations lay down rules which apply throughout the European Community. Minimum standards of quality and weight grading, marking, packaging, storage, transport and presentation for retail sale of eggs are set to ensure they are marketed on a fair and competitive basis. The rules ensure that the quality of eggs is maintained.
1.3 What the Regulations Cover
The regulations apply to hen eggs marketed within the Community. They do not apply to eggs sold direct by producers to the final consumer at the farm gate, in local public markets (with the exception of auction markets), or by door-to-door selling. However, to be exempt the eggs must be from the producer's own hens, and none of the quality and weight grading or labelling specifications set out in the Regulations may be used. Eggs, which are marketed using a declaration of the production method e.g. "Free Range", are covered by the regulations regardless of the method of sale. However, eggs not covered by the regulations must have the best before date clearly indicated by a notice on the stall or vehicle or a pre-printed note on the package or given with the eggs to the consumer at time of purchase.
Minimum standards for housing hens in certain types of production such as free range and cage are also covered.
2. EGG-PACKING CENTRESA premises used to grade eggs is termed a "Packing Centre". There is no minimum throughput qualifications for registration of a packing centre. If your business is covered by the Regulations you are required to apply to register your premises by contacting The Scottish Executive Egg Marketing Inspectorate. Contact details are given at Appendix D.
2.1 Activities of Egg-Packing Centres
Eggs should be dispatched from the production site (hen house) to the packing centre not less than every third working day. The only exception being for eggs kept on the farm at an ambient temperature artificially maintained at less than 18oC where eggs may be dispatched once a week.
Eggs must be labelled as follows in the packing centre. In the case of eggs coming from production sites at a different location to the packing centre labelling must take place prior to leaving the production site:
Packing centres must grade, pack and mark eggs within 2 working days of receipt. If eggs are transferred from the primary packing centre to another packing centre this must be carried out within 1 working day. If however, the transferred eggs were graded and marked at the primary packing centre then the secondary packing station has 3 working days in which to pack them.
2.2 Requirements for approval
To qualify for registration, your premises must be:
of an area suited to the scale of operation;
clean, well maintained and free from extraneous odours;
so built and equipped that:
they afford suitable ventilation and lighting,
they may be properly cleaned and disinfected,
the eggs are protected from wide fluctuations in outside temperature;
reserved for handling and storing of eggs or for storage of other products which cannot impart extraneous odours to the eggs;
include the following clean and well maintained equipment:
suitable candling equipment continuously staffed and allowing the quality of each egg to be examined separately;
a device for measuring the air cell;
a machine for grading the eggs by weight;
one or more approved balances for weighing eggs;
equipment for marking eggs with a producer code (Section 4.1) or date of lay markings (Section 4.5).
Provided your premises and equipment are of the required standard, registration will be approved and for packing centres, a registered number will be allocated.
3. GRADES OF EGGS3.1 Characteristics of grade A eggs
The Regulations specify the minimum characteristics for Quality Grade A (see Appendix A). All eggs which do not meet these requirements are Grade B and may only be passed to approved food industry undertakings. Grade A eggs may be described as "Extra" if they meet certain additional conditions. Further advice on quality testing can be obtained from your Egg Marketing Officer.
3.2 Grading of grade A eggs
Grade A eggs shall be graded by weight as follows:
Eggs may also be marketed as "eggs of different sizes" with a net or minimum weight on the label. Further information on this mode of sale is available from the Egg Marketing Inspectorate.
4. MARKING OF EGGS AND EGG PACKAGES4.1 General Provisions on Marking
Individual "Grade A" eggs must be stamped with the appropriate producers code (issued by this department) which, in turn, should be explained on the pack or separate notice, as follows:
In addition there are a number of optional shell marks for Grade A eggs, full details of which are given in Appendix B.
All egg packs must bear a label, in black print, (Appendix C), which has been approved by the Egg Marketing Inspectorate and may not be reused. For eggs in small packs the information detailed in Appendix C may be printed directly onto the pack.
4.2 Indication of Date of Minimum Durability
All large packs and small packs must bear an indication of minimum durability (the "Best-Before" date) which must be applied no later than the second working day following the day on which the eggs are received at the packing centre except:
if the eggs are being delivered to other packing centres not later than the next working day;
if it is intended to indicate the laying date on eggs in which case they must be graded and packed on the day of laying.
The maximum best-before date is 28 days from the date of lay but eggs must be delivered to the consumer within 21 days of lay. The "Best-Before" date must be indicated by 2 sets of figures representing the day and the month e.g. Best Before Date 2303. Zeroes must be used to pad out single digits. As an alternative to numbers the month may be expressed by up to 4 letters of the alphabet.
In the case of loose egg sales an indication of Best Before Date must be applied in such a manner as to be clearly visible and unequivocal to the consumer.
4.3 Indication of the Packing Date (optional)
An indication of packing date may be indicated optionally. This date must follow the same format as the Best Before date.
4.4 Recommended sell-by date (optional)
In addition to Best Before date (and packing date), the recommended sell-by date may be marked on the eggs or packs during packing. The recommended sell-by date shall not exceed the maximum time limit of 21 days after laying. The date must follow the same format as the Best Before date.
4.5 Indication of Laying Date (optional)
Producers intending to supply eggs which indicate, or on which it is intended to indicate, a laying date must be registered with the Department. Producers and packers who use this optional marking will be subject to inspections at least every 2 months. Full details on the conditions relating to this marking are set out in the separate leaflet EMR7.
4.6 Indication of Poultry Rearing Methods
Eggs should be marketed under one of the descriptions " Eggs from Caged hens", " Free Range Eggs", or " Barn Eggs". Explanatory Leaflet EMR14 explains the criteria for each of these descriptions. Producers who do not pack their own eggs should notify their Area Egg Marketing Officer before supplying a packing centre.
4.7 Indication of How Laying Hens are Fed (optional)
Additional optional indications of how laying hens are fed may be applied to eggs and packs. In order to state that hens have been fed on cereals, they must make up a minimum of 60% of the feed formula (including not more than 15% cereal by-products) or where a specific cereal is mentioned it must make up a minimum of 30% of the feed formula. If several individual cereals are mentioned they must each make up at least 5% of the feed formula.
4.8 Indication of the Origin of Eggs (optional)
Individual eggs or packaging may indicate the origin of the eggs, e.g. Scottish Eggs, Aberdeenshire Eggs. Terms must be approved by the Egg Marketing Inspectorate prior to use.
5. RECORDSDetailed records should be maintained by packers, producers, collectors, wholesalers and approved food industry undertakings. Additional records are also required where eggs are marketed with a description of origin, a laying date (EMR7), or where an indication is made of how laying hens are fed. Article 29(1) of Commission Regulation 2295/2003 requires that average number of laying hens present on holdings shall be submitted to Brussels by April 1each year.
5.1 Producers
Separate Records for each origin and production type by house showing:
the date of placing, age at placing and number of laying hens;
the date of culling and the number of hens culled;
daily egg production;
number or weight of eggs delivered per day;
number and weight of eggs sold from the farm-gate;
names and addresses of purchasers and the establishment number;
In addition for eggs marketed under a feed description the following should be recorded:
quantity and type of feed supplied and/or mixed on site;
date of delivery;
the name of the manufacturer or supplier.
Records must be kept on farm for at least six months after the flock has been disposed of and may be subject to inspection.
5.2 Packers
Separate records must be kept for each origin mark, production description (e.g. Free Range) or feed description (e.g. produced by hens fed on cereals) detailing:
the quantities of eggs they receive, broken down by producer, giving name, address and distinguishing number of the producer and laying date or period;
the quantities of ungraded eggs delivered to other packing centres, including the distinguishing numbers of those centres and the laying date or period;
the qualities and weight gradings of these eggs;
the quantities of graded eggs received coming from other packing centres, including the distinguishing numbers of those centres, the date of minimum durability and specifying the identity of the sellers;
the number and/or weight of eggs delivered, by weight grade number and/or weight of eggs delivered , packing date and use-by date, and by purchaser, with the name and address of the later;
invoices and delivery notes may be substituted for records of sales and deliveries;
weekly physical stock records.
Records must be kept by the packer for at least 6 months after the producer ceases to supply eggs or at least 6 months after the flock has been disposed of and may be subject to inspection.
5.3 Collectors
Records showing:
the dates and quantities of collections;
the name, address and distinguishing number of the producers;
dates and quantities of deliveries to the relevant packing centre.
Collectors are required to maintain records for at least 6 months.
5.4 Wholesalers
Records showing:
the dates and quantities of both purchases and sales;
the names and addresses of the suppliers/purchasers;
invoices and delivery notes may be substituted for records of sales and deliveries;
weekly physical stock records.
Wholesalers are required to maintain records for at least 6 months
5.5 Feed Manufacturers and Suppliers
Records showing:
Feed Manufacturers and Suppliers are required to maintain records for at least 6 months
6. PACKAGINGEgg packs may be of any size. Those containing more than 36 eggs are referred to as large packs or boxes. Similarly, those containing 36 eggs or less are referred to as small packs or pre-packs.
Unsealed Keyes trays containing 36 eggs or less are not regarded as small packs but loose egg sales. Keyes trays cannot be regarded as packs unless shrink-wrapped. Eggs on Keyes trays should normally be packed in boxes which comply with the labelling requirements for large packs or boxes. When eggs are marketed loose on Keyes trays in palletainers or display units at retail, the containers must comply with the labelling requirements for a large pack (Section 14).
Small packs or pre-packs may only be used once. Packs should be shock-resistant, dry, clean and in good repair. They should be made of materials which protect the eggs from extraneous odour and the risk of quality deterioration e.g. Fibre pulp, plastic or polystyrene. If eggs are packed in small packs, they need not be placed in boxes.
Large packs, boxes or Keyes trays may be re-used provided they are clean and in good condition, and that they do not show old markings which may confuse or mislead the purchaser. Materials suitable for large packs or boxes include shrink-wrapped packs, fibreboard, plastic coated wire baskets (for small packs only) or Kraft bags.
7. Storage and Transport ConditionsDuring storage at the producers premises and during transport eggs must be kept in clean, dry places, free form extraneous odours and effectively protected from shocks and from the effects of light and excessive fluctuations in temperature.
8. Administration and EnforcementThese regulations are enforced in Scotland at marketing stages other than retail by The Scottish Executive Egg Marketing Inspectorate. At retail level, enforcement is carried out by the Local Authority. Producers, collectors, packing centres and wholesale outlets are visited periodically to ensure that the Regulations are being complied with.
9. EnquiriesIf you have any questions on any aspect of the Egg Marketing Regulations, please contact the Egg Marketing Officer for your area. Details are shown in Appendix D.