DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 
PROPOSED REGULATIONS 
MARKING REQUIREMENTS – CAGE FREE 
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California Code of Regulations 
Title 3. Food and Agriculture 
Division 3. Economics 
Chapter 1. Fruit and Vegetable Standardization 
Subchapter 3. Eggs 
Section 1354. Marking Requirements 
Section 1354. Marking Requirements . 
(a) Grade and Size Designation. Where eggs are not produced by the person whose 
name appears on the label, the name shall be qualified by a phrase that reveals the connection 
such person has with such eggs; such as, “Produced for _____”, “Distributed by _____”, or any 
other wording that expresses the facts. Each container or sub container of shell eggs shall be 
marked with the name, address and zip code of the person by or for whom the eggs were graded 
and packed, and the unabbreviated designation of one of the following sizes and grades: 
Size Grade 
Jumbo Medium Grade AA 
Extra Large Small Grade A 
Large Peewee Grade B 
Only one size and grade shall appear upon a container, subcontainer or placard. Size and grade 
shall be plainly marked in letters not less than 1/4 inch in height, as follows : 
(1) Containers holding three dozen or less, on the outside top face; and 
(2) Containers holding more than three dozen, on one outside top, side or end, except that 
oblong containers shall be marked on one outside end. 
(b) Price Advertising. Any advertisement, sign or placard, which indicates the price of eggs 
for sale, must also use the full designation of size and grade. 
(1) Superlative descriptions or other amplification of grade or size are not permitted on 
containers. Prohibited words related to grade include, but are not limited to: “fancy,” “select,” 
“premium,” and “superior.” Prohibited words related to size include, but are not limited to: 
“oversize,” and “giant.” 
(2) Brand names on consumer size containers which use a superlative term shall be 
separated from the size and grade designation in a style of lettering which makes it obvious that 
the brand name is not related nor intended to be read i n conjunction with size or grade 
designation. Additionally, each such brand name shall be followed immediately by the word          
   
  
       
             
      
           
              
           
       
            
            
        
            
           
            
           
        
            
         
            
 
      
      
         
            
         
           
             
         
  
         
      “brand” in letters at least one-half the size of letters or figures used in the brand name, and in the 
same color, style, and promine nce. 
(d) Descriptive Terms. 
(1) Descriptive terms, such as “polyunsaturated,” “plus polyunsaturates,” “higher in iodine,” 
“flavored with iron” or other wording, indicating a quality or ingredient different than found in a 
normally produced egg, may not app ear in labeling unless approved by the department. 
Information concerning the altered constituent(s) must be submitted to the department, describing 
the method used to create and verify the change. If determined that a statistically significant 
difference exists, relative to the descriptive term used, and provided the term is not judged 
misleading, permission may be granted for its use. 
(2) Terms such as “organic” and “organically produced” or similar description relating to 
production, qualities, nature of the product or other descriptive terms, if determined by the 
department not to be misleading or deceptive, may be used. 
(3) Eggs labeled with the descriptive term “Cage Free”, on consumer size containers, must 
be raised in Cage Free Housing Syste ms that meet the following minimum standards: 
(A) 1 (one) square foot of useable floor space per bird for egg laying hens in a multi -tiered 
aviary and partially slatted systems, or 1.5 (one point five) square feet of useable floor space per 
bird for egg laying hens in a single -level all -litter floor system. 
(B) Hens are allowed to roam unrestricted, except for external walls, and contain the 
following enrichments: scratch areas, perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing areas. 
(C) Farm employees are able to p rovide care while standing in the hen’s usable floor 
space. 
(e) Shell eggs packed in California in consumer size containers exclusively for out -of-state 
sales are exempt from the prohibitions of (c) above. 
(f) In accordance with section 1350 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations, 
commencing January 1, 2015, the principal display panel for containers for all eggs sold in 
California shall have the following statement: “California Shell Egg Food Safety Compliant”. The 
statement may be abbreviated to read “CA SEFS Compliant” or a similar abbreviation or other 
descriptive term may be used if determined by the Department not to be misleading or deceptive. 
The statement shall be legible and plainly marked on each container in letters not less than 1/4 
inch in height. 
Note: Authority cited: Sections 407, 27531 and 46002, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: 
Sections 27521, 27573, 27631 and 27637, Food and Agricultural Code.