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"BCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1274/91
of 15 May 1991
introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 on certain marketing
standards for eggs
(OJ L 121, 16.5.1991, p. 11)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3540/91 of 5 December 1991 L 335 12 6.12.1991
"M2 Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2221/92 of 31 July 1992 L 218 81 1.8.1992
"M3 Commission Regulation (EC) No 3300/93 of 30 November 1993 L 296 52 1.12.1993
"M4 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1259/94 of 31 May 1994 L 137 54 1.6.1994
Corrected by:
"C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 233, 22.8.1991, p. 31 (1274/91)
"C2 Corrigendum, OJ L 292, 8.10.1992, p. 34 (2221/92)
"C3 Corrigendum, OJ L 320, 22.12.1993, p. 42 (3300/93)1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 1
COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1274/91
of 15 May 1991
introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No
1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990
on certain marketing standards for eggs (1) and in particular Articles 5
(3), 10 (3), 11 (2), 20 (1) and 22 (2) thereof;
Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 contains a thorough revision of
such marketing standards as were implemented in pursuance of previous
Regulations; whereas provision is made therein for detailed rules
necessary for the implementation of such standards to be adopted in
accordance with Article 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 (2),
as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1235/89 (3); whereas such rules
are in particular to be laid down as regards the conditions for registration
of collectors and packing centres, the identification, frequency of
collection and the delivery and handling of eggs, quality criteria and
weight gradings, the particulars of indications on eggs and their packs,
terms to be used for indications of the type of farming, and criteria
concerning the origin of eggs, and exemption in the case of small
quantities from the obligation for eggs to be packed in large packs;
Whereas both technological developments and consumer demand now
make it appropriate to provide for prompter delivery, collection, grading
and packing of eggs; whereas however certain producers are in a position
to provide guarantees of maintaining the temperature at which the eggs
are kept at a level such as would make possible a permanent exemption
from the general requirement of daily collection or delivery in the case of
eggs intended for labelling as ‘extra’ eggs as provided for in Article 12 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90; whereas, however, for a transitional
period, it is appropriate to provide for a general exemption for the benefit
of all operators;
Whereas markets, access to which is restricted to authorized packing and
processing undertakings, provide guarantees of correct handling such
that they may be allowed to deliver eggs on the second working day
following that of reception;
Whereas the deliberate cumulation of the various time limits, to the
detriment of egg freshness, must be prevented in the case where a
packing centre delivers ungraded eggs to another packing centre;
Whereas only undertakings whose premises and technical equipment are
suited to the scale of their operations, which therefore permit the proper
handling of the eggs, should be authorized to collect, or to grade eggs by
quality and weight;
Whereas, for the avoidance of confusion and in order to facilitate
identification of consignments of eggs for the purposes of the
enforcement of this Regulation, each packing centre should be allotted
a distinguishing registration number based on a uniform coding system;
Whereas, in order to ensure that the consumer is supplied with good
quality produce, criteria of a high standard should be fixed for each
quality grade;!B
(1) OJ No L 173, 6. 7. 1990, p. 5.
(2) OJ No L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 49.
(3) OJ No L 128, 11. 5. 1989, p. 29.1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 2
Whereas quality characteristics for fresh eggs, also known as Grade ‘A’
eggs, should be defined so as to be limited to eggs of the highest quality;
whereas certain eggs may be considered to be ‘extra fresh’ in so far as
especially stringent arrangements apply to their collection and further
distribution;
Whereas eggs of ordinary quality, the characteristics of which do not
allow their inclusion in the grade ‘fresh eggs’ must be described as
‘second quality eggs’ and graded as such; whereas eggs which have
undergone a process of cleaning, dipping refrigeration or preservation
should, as a general rule, be put in that grade;
Whereas a third quality grade should be established for eggs which do
not meet the requirements of the higher grades but are still suitable for
human consumption;
Whereas in practice these eggs are largely intended for direct delivery to
the food industry, including food industry undertakings approved in
accordance with Council Directive 89/437/EEC of 20 June 1989 on
hygiene and health problems affecting the production and placing on the
market of egg products (1), as amended by Directive 89/662/EEC (2), and
on condition that packs containing them are labelled with that
destination, do not in that case need to bear the distinguishing mark
which would otherwise identify them as Grade ‘C’ eggs;
Whereas under the same conditions this waiver may also be extended to
Grade ‘B’ eggs; whereas such labelling must also not allow of confusion,
whether accidental or deliberate with that provided for in the case of eggs
unfit for human consumption which may be delivered only to the
non-food industry;
Whereas, since graded eggs are liable to depreciate in transport, high
standards should be enforced as regards packing, storage and transport;
whereas such risks, including that of microbiological contamination, can
be substantially reduced by imposing severe restrictions on the use of
packing material; whereas detailed conditions need to be laid down in
order to give effect to certain exemptions provided for in the case of
direct local deliveries for retail sale of eggs without special packaging,
otherwise known as loose sales;
Whereas, in addition to the mandatory packing date for use on egg packs
and grading date in the case of loose sales, relevant additional
information may be provided to the consumer by the optional indication
on eggs or on packs containing them of the recommended sell-by date
and/or best-before date and/or laying date; whereas it seems appropriate
to relate the recommended sell-by date and best-before date to the
quality criteria for eggs; whereas subject to certain safeguards it is
appropriate to provide that the laying date may also be stamped on eggs
at the farm;
Whereas, to counter the risk of fraud, not only daily collection and
immediate grading and marking, but also especially rigorous registration,
record-keeping and monitoring procedures need to be introduced in the
case of eggs on which it is intended to stamp the date of laying;
Whereas, in the case of eggs on which the date of laying has been
stamped at the farm, the rule providing for daily collection may be
relaxed in order to avoid discrimination against producer establishments
other than those supplying packing centres situated at the same site;
Whereas, in view of current commercial practice, it seems unnecessary to
provide for specific indications for the eggs of laying hens kept in
batteries; whereas, however, provision should be made for a limited
number of indications for the eggs of hens not raised in batteries, so as to
avoid confusion amongst consumers as regards the principal non-battery
production systems;!B
(1) OJ No L 212, 22. 7. 1989, p. 87.
(2) OJ No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13.1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 3
Whereas, in order to safeguard the consumer from misleading statements
which might otherwise be made with the fraudulent intention to obtain
prices higher than those prevailing for eggs of hens raised in batteries, it
is necessary, in the case of the optional use of indications relating to
particular types of non-battery farming, to lay down minimum husbandry
criteria to be respected, as well as especially rigorous registration,
record-keeping, and monitoring procedures;
Whereas, in order to ensure uniform application of the provisions of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, and in particular of those concerning
supervision, including the special arrangements to be implemented for
monitoring the use of the laying date, and of indications of particular
types of non-battery farming, and of those concerning the origin of eggs,
provision should be made for the continuous exchange of information
between the Member States and the Commission;
Whereas bands and labels must allows easy identification of the packs
and contents thereof;
Whereas special attention should be given to large and small packs
containing industrial eggs, on the one hand, and ‘extra’eggs on the other;
Whereas packing centres should be in a position to repack eggs, this
being necessary, in particular, when the packing is damaged, when a
trader wishes to sell eggs under his own name or when eggs in large
packs are required to be repacked in small packs; whereas it is also
necessary in such cases that the origin and age of the eggs be given in the
notices affixed to bands, labels and packs; whereas these notices should
show that the eggs have been regraded or repacked;
Whereas it is necessary, in the interest of correct and unequivocal
information to wholesale and retail purchasers and to the final consumer,
to make special arrangements for the labelling of eggs which have been
repacked, and in particular in cases where packs are re-used, as well as
where eggs are regraded in a lower quality grade;
Whereas the additional delay caused by repacking makes it essential to
forbid the use of the indication ‘extra’ in the case of repacked eggs;
Whereas effective supervision of compliance with marketing standards
requires the examination of a sufficient number of eggs chosen so as to
form a representative sample of the batch checked; whereas at the end of
the checking process the batch checked should be marked with the
decision of the checker;
Whereas, following the provision for and definition of loose sales
enacted in Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, the sampling parameters
should also be extended to such sales;
Whereas, since the methods used for grading eggs by quality and weight
are not fully accurate, the process should admit of certain tolerances;
whereas, moreover, as storage and transport conditions can affect the
quality and weight of the batch, it is advisable to differentiate tolerances
according to marketing stage;
Whereas, in order to facilitate marketing and the checking of eggs graded
by quality and weight when contained in large packs, provision should be
made for an average minimum net weight for each weight grade;
Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 delegates to the Commission the
enactment of a number of provisions formerly contained in Regulation
(EEC) No 2772/75, in order to facilitate future amendments; whereas
this has made necessary a large number of amendments to Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 95/69 (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No
3906/86 (2), which should for the sake of clarity be redrafted;
Whereas, therefore, Regulation (EEC) No 95/69 as well as Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 1295/70 (3), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No
36/85 (4), should be repealed;!B
(1) OJ No L 13, 18. 1. 1969, p. 13.
(2) OJ No L 364, 23. 12. 1986, p. 20.
(3) OJ No L 145, 3. 7. 1970, p. 1.
(4) OJ No L 5, 8. 1. 1985, p. 5.1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 4
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance
with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and
Eggs,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. Eggs shall be delivered from producers to, or collected from
producers by, the establishments referred to in Article 4 (1) (a) of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 at least every third working day.
2. Eggs intended for marketing as ‘extra’, as provided by Article 12 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, shall only be delivered to, or collected by,
packing centres every working day from each producer. However, such
delivery or collection may take place every second working day in those
cases where ambient temperatures at which eggs are kept at the farm do
not exceed 18 °C.
During a transitional period until 31 December 1992, delivery and
collection of these eggs may generally take place every second working
day.
3. Eggs on which it is intended to indicate the laying date in accordance
with Article 17 shall only be delivered from each producer, to, or
collected from each producer by, packing centres on the day of laying.
Eggs on which the laying date is stamped at the farm shall be delivered
or collected not later than the working day following the day of laying.
4. All collectors shall deliver eggs to packing centres not later than the
working day following that of reception.
However, operators at markets within the meaning of Article 2 (2) (a) of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 may deliver eggs not later than the second
working day following that of reception by the market.
5. Each delivery shall be identified by the name and address of the
producer or collector and the date of dispatch.
6. Packing centres are to grade and pack eggs at the latest on the second
working day following that on which the eggs were received at the
packing centre, except in cases where:
— the eggs received from producers are delivered to other packing
centres not later than the working day following that of reception,
— it is intended to indicate the laying date on eggs which are supplied
by production units situated at the same site as the packing centre
and which are not in sealed containers in which case they shall be
graded and packed on the day of laying or, if the day of laying falls
on a non-working day, on the first subsequent working day.
7. The indications provided for in Articles 7 and 10 (1) and (2) (c) of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 shall be apposed not later than on the day
of grading and packing.
Article 2
Eggs shall be maintained, during storage at the producer’s premises and
during transport from producer to collector or packing centre, at a
temperature best suited to assure an optimal conservation of their quality.
Article 3
1. Only undertakings and producers satisfying the conditions laid down
in paragraphs 2 to 4 shall be approved as collector or packing centres
within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90.!B
!M3
!B
!M2
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 5
2. The premises of collectors and packing centres must be:
(a) of sufficient area in relation to the volume of work done;(b) so built and equipped:
— that they afford suitable ventilation and lighting,— that they may be properly cleaned and disinfected,— that the eggs are protected from wide variations in the outside
temperature;
(c) reserved for handling and storing eggs; however, a part of the
premises may be used for storing other products on condition that the
latter do not impart extraneous odours to the eggs.
3. The technical equipment of packing centres must ensure proper
handling of the eggs and include in particular:
(a) suitable candling equipment continuously manned throughout and
allowing the quality of each egg to be examined separately. Where
use in made of an automatic machine for candling, sorting and
grading, the equipment must include an independent candling lamp;
(b) devices for measuring the height of the air space;
(c) a machine for grading the eggs by weight;(d) one or more adjusted balances for weighing eggs;(e) equipment for stamping eggs, where use is made of the provisions of
Articles 7 and 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90.
4. The premises and technical equipment must be kept clean and in
good repair and be free of extraneous odours.
Article 4
1. Any request for the approval of a collector or packing centre shall be
submitted to the competent authority of the Member State on whose
territory the premises of the collector or centre are situated.
2. That authority shall give the packing centre approved by it a
distinguishing number, the first figure of which shall be as follows:
Belgium 1
Germany 2
France 3Italy 4Luxembourg 5
Netherlands 6
Denmark 7Ireland 8
United Kingdom 9
Greece 10Spain 11
Portugal 12.
3. Only packing centres which have been subject to special registration
may be authorized to pack Grade ‘A’ eggs marked ‘extra’ or to indicate
the laying date in accordance with Article 17 or the terms provided for in
Article 18.
4. Each Member State shall provide the other Member States and the
Commission, before 1 June 1991, with a list of the approved centres in its
territory, showing the name and address and the number allotted to each
centre. Any alteration of that list shall be communicated at the beginning
of each quarter of the calendar year to the other Member States and to
the Commission.!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 6
Article 5
1. Grade ‘A’ eggs shall have the following minimum characteristics:
Shell and cuticle: normal, clean, undamaged;
Air space: height not exceeding 6 mm, stationary; however, for
eggs to be marketed as ‘extra’, it shall not exceed 4
mm;
White: clear, limpid, of gelatinous consistency, free of
extraneous matters of any kind;
Y olk: visible on candling as a shadow only, without clearly
discernible outline, not moving appreciably away
from the centre of the egg on rotation, free of
extraneous matter of any kind;
2. Grade ‘a’ eggs shall not be washed or cleaned by any other means
before or after grading.
3. Grade ‘A’ eggs shall not be treated for preservation or refrigerated in
premises or plants where the temperature is artificially maintained at less
than + 5 °C. However, eggs which have been kept at a temperature
below + 5 °C during transport of not more than 24 hours or on retail
premises or in annexes thereto, shall not be considered as refrigerated in
so far as the quantity stored in these annexes does not exceed the
requirements for three days of retail sale on the premises in question.
Article 6
1. Grade ‘B’ eggs shall have the following minimum characteristics:
Shell: normal and undamaged;
Air space: height not exceeding 9 mm;
White: clear, limpid, free of extraneous matter of any kind;
Y olk: — visible on candling as a shadow only; this characteristic
is not required of eggs preserved in lime,
— free of extraneous matter of any kind;
Germ cell: imperceptible development;
Odour: free of extraneous odour.
2. Grade ‘B’ shall include three types of eggs:
(a) eggs neither refrigerated nor preserved:
Grade ‘B’ eggs which have not undergone any preservative treatment
and have not been refrigerated in premises or plants where the
temperature is artificially maintained at less than +5 °C.
However, eggs which have been kept at a temperature below +5 °C
during transport of not more than 24 hours or on retail premises or in
annexes thereto, shall not be considered as refrigerated in so far as
the quantity stored in these annexes does not exceed the
requirements for three days of retail sale on the premises in question;
(b) refrigerated eggs:
Grade ‘B’ eggs which have been refrigerated in premises artificially
maintained at a temperature below + 5 °C;
(c) preserved eggs:
Grade ‘B’ eggs which have been preserved, whether refrigerated or
not, in a gas mixture the composition of which differs from that of
atmospheric air, and those which have undergone any other
preservative treatment.!B
!M3
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 7
Article 7
Grade ‘C’ eggs shall be eggs which do not meet the requirements
applicable to eggs in Grades ‘A’ and ‘B’. They may only be passed to
food industry undertakings approved in accordance with Article 6 of
Directive 89/437/EEC or to non-food industry undertakings.
Article 8
Grade ‘A’ eggs shall be graded by weight as follows:
— Grade 0: 75 g and over,— Grade 1: from 70 g up to 75 g,— Grade 2: from 65 g up to 70 g,
— Grade 3: from 60 g up to 65 g,
— Grade 4: from 55 g up to 60 g,— Grade 5: from 50 g up to 55 g,— Grade 6: from 45 g up to 50 g,— Grade 7: under 45 g.
Article 9
In the case of stamping Grade ‘A’ eggs in accordance with Article 7 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, the following applies:
— the Grade ‘A’ distinguishing mark shall be a circle of at least 12 mm
in diameter,
— the distinguishing mark for weight grading shall be a number
between 2 mm and 3 mm high, placed inside the abovementioned
circle,
— the packing centre number shall be of three or more figures at least 5
mm high,
— the indication of dates consists of letters and figures at least 5 mm
high showing the terms listed in Annex I, followed by day and month
as defined in Article 14.
Article 10
1. The distinguishing mark showing quality grading for Grade ‘B’eggs
shall be as follows:
(a) for ‘eggs neither refrigerated nor preserved’, a circle at least 12 mm
in diameter in which shall appear the letter B in roman type at least 5
mm high;
(b) for ‘refrigerated eggs’, an equilateral triangle with each side at least
10 mm long;
(c) for ‘preserved eggs’, a rhombus with diagonals of 16 mm and 7 mm.Anyone who refrigerates or otherwise preserves eggs shall mark them as
indicated in (b) or (c) before doing so.
For eggs preserved in lime, however, these marks may be applied after
the preserving process has been carried out.
2. The distinguishing mark for the quality grading of Grade ‘C’eggs
shall be a circle at least 12 mm in diameter in which shall appear the
letter C in roman type at least 5 mm high.
3. Notwithstanding the above, Grade ‘B’ and ‘C’ eggs need not be
marked in the case of direct deliveries to the food industry, provided that
packs containing them are clearly marked to show this destination.!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 8
Article 11
1. The distinguishing marks applied in accordance with Articles 9 and
10 and the indications on eggs provided for in Articles 16, 17, 18 and 19
must be clearly legible.
2. Eggs shall be marked in an indelible colour resistant to boiling. The
product used must comply with the provisions in force in respect of
colouring matters which may be used in foodstuffs intended for human
consumption.
Article 12
1. Packs, including inner packing material, must be shock-resistant,
dry, clean and in good repair, and made of materials which protect the
eggs from extraneous odour and the risk of quality deterioration.
2. Large packs, used for transporting and dispatching eggs, including
inner packing material, shall not be re-used unless they are as new and
meet the technical requirements of paragraph 1. Re-used large packs,
must not bear any previous marking likely to lead to confusion.
3. Small packs may not be re-used.
4. The derogation referred to in Article 11 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No
1907/90 applies in the case of delivery within a radius of 20 kg from the
packing centre and for daily quantities of less than 3 600eggs per
delivery and of less than 360 per buyer. The name, address and number
of the packing centre as well as the number of eggs, quality and weight
grades and grading date shall be indicated on accompanying documents.
Article 13
1. Eggs must be stored in clean, dry premises, free of extraneous odour.
2. Eggs in transport and during storage must be kept clean, dry and free
of extraneous odour and effectively protected from shocks, weather and
the effect of light.
3. Eggs in store and in transport must be protected from extremes of
temperature.
Article 14
1. The indication of the date of minimum durability referred to in
Articles 10 and 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 shall be made at the
time of packaging in accordance with Article 9 (2) of Council Directive
79/112/EEC (1). It shall comprise one or more of the following:
— Consúmase preferentemente antes del …,
— Mindst holdbar til …,
— Mindestens haltbar bis …,
—Ανάλωση κατά πρ/omikronτίµηση πριν απ/omikronacute … ,
— Best before …,
— À consommer de préférence avant le …,
— Da consumarsi preferibilmente entro …,
— Ten minste houdbaar tot …,
— A consumir de prefêrencia antes de …
For this purpose the date shall be indicated by two sets of figures
representing, in the following order:
— the day, from 1 to 31,!B
(1) OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1.!M31991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 9
— the month; from 1 to 12.
2. Large packs, and small packs even when contained in large packs,
shall bear on the outer surface in clearly visible and legible type an
indication to advise consumers to keep eggs refrigerated after purchase.
3. In case of loose egg sales, wording equivalent to the indication
referred to in paragraph 2 shall be indicated in such a manner as to be
clearly visible and unequivocal to the consumer.
Article 15
The indication of the packing date referred to in Articles 10 and 15 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 shall comprise one or more of the
following:
— Embalado el: …,— Pakket den: …,— Verpackt am: …,—Ηµερ/omikronµηνία συσκευασίας: … ,
— Packing date: …,— Emballé le: …,— Data d’imballaggio: …,— Verpakt op: …,— Embalado em: …followed by the two sets of figures as referred to in the second
subparagraph of Article 14 (1).
Article 16
1. In addition to the date of minimum durability and/or the packing
date, the recommended sell-by date may be indicated by the operator at
the time of packing on eggs or on packs containing them or on both.
2. The recommended sell-by date is an indication of the last date eggs
should be offered for sale to the consumer, after which there remains a
storage period of seven days. It shall be fixed in such a way that grade
‘A’eggs will retain the characteristics described in Article 5 (1) until the
end of that storage period when properly stored. The date of minimum
durability corresponds to the end of this storage period.
The indication must be worded in such a way that the meaning of the
recommended sell-by date is clear.
3. The laying date may be indicated by the operator on packs at the
time of packing, in which case it shall also be indicated on the eggs
contained in the packs. The laying date may, however, also be stamped on
eggs at the farm.
4. For the indication of the dates referred to in this Article on eggs, and
in the case of the sell-by and laying dates also on packs, one or more of
the terms listed in Annex I shall be used.
5. The dates referred to in this Article shall be indicated by two sets of
figures, as referred to the second subparagraph of Article 14 (1).!M31991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 10
!M2
Article 17
Where the laying date is indicated on eggs and on packs containing them
in accordance with the provisions of "M3Article 16 3, the following
conditions shall apply:
1. packing centres shall keep separate records:
— of the names and addresses of the producers supplying such
eggs, who shall be registered following an inspection by the
competent authority of the Member State,
— at the request of this authority, of the number of laying hens kept
by each producer;
2. the producers referred to in paragraph 1 shall subsequently be
inspected regularly. They shall keep current records:
— of the date of placing, the age at placing and the number of
laying hens, broken down by henhouse,
— of the daily egg production of each henhouse;— of the number or weight of eggs delivered and on which it is
intended to indicate the laying date, or on which the laying date
has already been stamped at the farm, broken down by buyer,
and to include the latter’s name, address, and packing centre
number;
3. eggs on which it is intended to indicate the laying date shall be
delivered to packing centres in sealed containers except in cases of
production units situated at the same site. Deliveries of these eggs
and of eggs on which the laying date has already been stamped at the
farm shall be identified by:
— the laying date,— name, address and number of producer, together with a coded
reference to the henhouse from which the eggs came,
— the date of dispatch,— the number or weight of the eggs in the delivery.This information shall be shown on the container and on accom-
panying documents, the latter to be kept at the packing centre for a
period of at least six months;
4. containers referred to in point 3 shall be opened in the packing centre
immediately before grading starts. All eggs from a single container
shall be graded and packed without interruption.
"C2The laying
date shall be 3stamped during or immediately after grading on
those eggs intended for such marking;
5. in the case of packing centres supplied from their own production
units situated at the same site with eggs which are not in sealed
containers, eggs are to be:
— stamped with the laying date on the day of laying; however, eggs
laid on non-working days may be stamped on the first
subsequent working day, together with the eggs laid on that
day with the date of the first non-working day, or
— graded and packed in accordance with the provisions of Article 1
(6), or
— delivered to other packing centres or industry on the day of
laying or, if the day of laying falls on a non-working day, on the
first subsequent working day.
If these packing centres are also supplied with eggs from external
producers on which it is not intended to indicate the laying date,
these eggs shall be stored and handled separately. Daily records of
collection or reception and grading of such eggs shall be kept;1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 11
6. packing centres shall keep separate records of:
— daily quantities, by producer, of eggs arriving at the centre and
on which it is intended to indicate the laying date, or on which
the laying date has already been stamped at the farm, including
the producer’ s name, address, and registration number,
— daily quality and weight grading of these eggs,— the number and/or weight of eggs sold, by weight grade and
buyer, together with the latter’s name and address;
7. production units and packing centres referred to in point 1 shall be
inspected at least once every two months.!M21991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 12
Article 18
1."M2In order to indicate types of farming as referred to in Article
10 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 with the exception of organic or
biological farming, on grade A eggs and on small packs containing such
eggs, no other terms except those set out hereunder may be used, and in
any case only if the relevant conditions laid down in Annex II are
fulfilled: 3
on packs: on eggs:
(a) Huevos de gallinas camperas Camperas
Æg fra fritgående høns Fritgående
Eier aus Freilandhaltung FreilandΑυγά ελεύθερης /betatwo/omikronσκής Ελεύθερης /betatwo/omikronσκήςFree range eggs Free range
Œufs de poules élevées en libre par-
coursLibre parcours
Uova di allevamento all’aperto —
sistema estensivoAperto estensivo
Eieren van hennen met vrije uitloop —
extensief systeemVrije uitloop — extensief
Ovos de galina criada ao ar livre Ar livre;
(b) Huevos de gallinas criadas en parque Parque
Æg fra fritgående høns — intensivt
systemFritgående — int.
Eier aus intensiver Auslaufhaltung Auslauf
Αυγά περι/omikronρισµένης /betatwo/omikronσκής Περι/omikronρισµένης /betatwo/omikronσκής
Semi-intensive eggs Semi-intensive
Œufs de poules élevées en plein air Plein airUova di allevamento all’aperto Aperto
Eieren van hennen met vrije uitloop Vrije uitloop
Ovos de galinha criada em parque Parque;
(c) Huevos de gallinas explotadas en el
sueloSuelo
Skrabeæg Skrabeæg
Eier aus Bodenhaltung BodenhaltungΑυγά δαπέδ/omikronυ µε στρωµνή ∆απέδ/omikronυ-στρωµνή
Deep litter eggs Deep litter
Œufs de poules élevées au sol Poules au solUova di galline allevate a terra Allevate a terra
Scharreleieren Scharrelei
Ovos de cama Cama;
(d) Huevos de gallinas criadas en aseladero Aseladero
Æg fra volierehønsehold V oliereEier aus V olierenhaltung V oliere
Αυγά κλιµακωτής σ/khiάρας Κλιµακωτής σ/khiάρας
Perchery eggs (Barn eggs) Perchery (Barn)Œufs de poules élevées sur perchoirs PerchoirsUova di galline allevate in voliera V oliera
V olière-eieren V olière
Ovos de capoeira Capoeira.
In the case of loose sales, these indications of the type of farming may be
used only if individual eggs are marked with the respective term.!B
!M2
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 13
2. Packing centres authorized to use the terms referred to in paragraph
1 shall keep a separate record, by type of farming:
— of the names and addresses of the producers of such eggs, who shall
be registered following an inspection by the competent authority of
the Member State,
— at the request of this authority, of the number of laying hens kept by
each producer.
The said producers shall subsequently be inspected regularly. They shall
keep records of the date of placing, the age at placing and the number of
laying hens by type of poultry system, showing also the number of eggs
produced and delivered per day, the date of dispatch and the names of the
purchasers.
Each Member State shall provide the other Member States and the
Commission, before 1 January 1993 with the list of the registered
producers in its territory, for each type of farming showing the name and
address of each of them and any number alloted to them. Any alteration
of that list shall be comunicated at the beginning of each calendar year to
the other Member States and to the Commission.
3. In accordance with Article 4 (4) each Member State shall provide the
other Member States and the Commission with a list of the packing
centres in its territory thus registered, and any alteration to that list.
4. Eggs are referred to in paragraph 1 shall be delivered to packing
centres in containers bearing one of the terms referred to in paragraph 1
in one or more Community languages. Deliveries shall be identified by
name and address of producer, type, number or weight of eggs and date
of dispatch and delivery, and up-to-date records thereof and of stocks on
a weekly basis shall be kept at the packing centre.
5. Eggs as referred to in paragraph 1 shall be graded and packed only
on days indicated at least one working day in advance to the competent
authority of the Member State. During storage, grading and packing they
shall be clearly separated from any other eggs.
6."M2Packing centres as referred to in paragraph 2 "C2shall
keep separate records of daily 3"M2quality and weight grading and
of sales of eggs and small packs marked in accordance with paragraph 1
including the name and address of the buyer, the number of packs, the
number and/or weight of eggs sold by grade of weight and date of
delivery as well as of stocks of graded eggs on a weekly basis. Instead of
keeping sales records, they may, however, keep files of invoices or
delivery notes marked as indicated in paragraph 1. 3
7. Large packs containing eggs or small packs marked in accordance
with paragraph 1 shall bear one of the indications referred to in
paragraph 1.
8. The provision of paragraphs 1 to 7 shall apply without prejudice to
national technical measures going beyond the minimum requirements set
out in the Annex, which are applicable only to producers of the Member
State concerned, provided that they are compatible with Community law
and are in conformity with the common marketing standards for eggs.
9 . T h en a t i o n a lm e a s u r e sr e f e r r e dt oi np a r a g r a p h8s h a l lb e
communicated to the Commission.
10. At any time and at the request of the Commission, Member States
shall provide all the information necessary for assessing the com-
patibility of the measures referred to in this Article with Community law
and their conformity with the common marketing standards for eggs.
Article 19
1. In order to indicate the origin of Grade ‘A’ eggs or small packs
containing eggs in accordance with Article 10 (3) of Regulation (EEC)
No 1907/90, terms and/or symbols may be used which refer to the
Member State and/or to an administrative or other region, defined by the!B
!M2
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 14
competent authority to the Member State in which the eggs were
produced. In the case of loose egg sales these indications of the origin of
eggs may be used only if individual eggs are marked with the respective
terms and or symbols.
2. Packing centres which make use of the terms and/or symbols
referred to in paragraph 1 shall keep a detailed record of deliveries by
origin, showing the name and address of the producer, the number or
weight of eggs and the date of delivery. The producer shall keep current
records of the number and age of laying hens, showing also the number
of eggs produced and delivered, the date of dispatch, and the names of
the purchaser.
3. Packing centres as referred to in paragraph 2 shall keep separate
records of the daily quality and weight grading and sales of small packs
and of eggs marked with the terms and/or symbols referred to in
paragraph 1, including name and addresss of the buyer, the number of
packs, the number or weight of eggs sold and the date of delivery, as well
as of stocks on a weekly basis.
Instead of keeping records, they may however keep files or invoices or
delivery notes marked as indicated in paragraph 1.
4. Large packs containing eggs or small packs marked with the terms
and/or symbols referred to in paragraph 1 shall bear the same terms
and/or symbols.
Article 20
1. Each Member State shall report to the other Member States and to
the Commission:
— the monitoring methods applied for the implementation of Articles
17, 18 and 19,
— annual, before 1 April, the average number of laying hens present (1),
the number or weight of eggs delivered as recorded in accordance
with Article 18 (2) and (4) as well as the number or weight of eggs
sold, as recorded in accordance with Article 18 (6), in the previous
calendar year.
2. The checks carried out in the Member State shall be discussed, on a
regular basis, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18 of
Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75.
Article 21
1. The bands and labels provided for in Article 11 of Regulation (EEC)
No 1907/90 shall be white and the indications shall be printed in black on
these bands and labels.
2. Apart from the information provided for in Article 10 of Regulation
(EEC) No 1907/90, these bands and labels, which may be numbered,
shall bear an official marking laid down by the competent authority. Each
Member State shall before 1 June 1991 provide one or more specimens
of the band and label to the other Member States and to the Commission.
Article 22
1. The following shall be marketed in packs with a yellow band or label
which cannot be re-used after the pack has been opened:
(a) eggs referred to in Article 2 (2) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90
and not of Grade ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’;
(b) Grade ‘A’ or ‘B’ eggs which no longer have the characteristics of
those grades but have not been regraded;!B
(1)Average number of laying hens present ¼
number of hens placed /C2laying weeks
52!M3
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 15
(c) Grade ‘C’ eggs.
2. The bands of labels mentioned in paragraph 1 shall conform to a
model laid down by the competent authority. Each Member State shall,
before 1 June 1991, provide one or more specimens of the band and label
to the other Member States and to the Commission. They shall show in
clearly visible and legible black type:
(a) the name or business name and address of the undertaking which
dispatched the eggs;
(b) the number or net weight of the packed eggs;
(c) the marking
‘"C2EGGS FOR THE FOOD INDUSTR Y 3’ in letters, 2 cm
high, in one or more languages of the Community.
Article 23
1. Industrial eggs within the meaning of Article 1 (2) of Regulation
(EEC) No 19078/90 shall be marketed in packs with a red band or label.
2. The band and the label mentioned in paragraph 1 shall conform to a
model laid down by the competent authority. Each Member State shall,
before 1 June 1991, provided one or more specimens of the band and
label to the other Member States and to the Commission. The band and
the label shall bear:
(a) the name or business name and address of the undertaking to which
the eggs are being sent;
(b) the name or business name and address of the undertaking which
dispatched the eggs;
(c) the marking ‘industrial eggs’ in black capital letters, 2 cm high, and
the marking ‘unsuitable for human consumption’ in black letters at
least 0,8 cm high, in one or more languages of the Community.
Article 24
1. The band or label referred to in Article 12 of Regulation (EEC) No
1907/90 must be printed or affixed in such a way that none of the
information on the pack is obscured by the position of the band or label.
The term ‘extra’ shall be printed on the band or label in italics at least 1
cm high, followed by the word ‘until’ and the two sets of figures as
referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 14 (1) indicating the
seventh day after packing.
Where the packing date is indicated on the packs, the indication referred
to above may be replaced by the following indication ‘extra until seventh
day after packing’.
2. Where the band or label referred to in paragraph 1 cannot be
removed from the pack the band or pack must be removed from the sales
area not later than the seventh day after packing and the eggs repacked.
3."C2Large packs containing small packs marked ‘EXTRA’shall be
marked in capital letters 32 cm high ‘PACK CONTAINING SMALL
“EXTRA’’ PACKS’ in one or more languages of the Community.
Article 25
1. Eggs which have been regraded in accordance with Article 8 (2) of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 may be marketed in the packs in which
they were contained before regrading. If they are repacked, each pack
may contain only the eggs of a single batch.!B
!M2
!B
!M2
!M4
!M2
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 16
2. The band or label on large packs shall bear in clear and legible a
black characters at least the following information:
(a) the name or business name and address of the undertaking which
regraded the eggs or had them regraded;
(b) the distinguishing number of the packing centre which first packed
the eggs or, in the case of imported eggs, the country of origin;
(c) the quality and weight grading;(d) the number of eggs packed;
(e) — for grade A eggs: the original date of minimum durability, and
below this the words ‘regraded eggs’,
— for eggs of other grades: the words ‘packing date:’, followed by
the date of first packing; and below this the word ‘regraded:’,
followed by the date of the regrading, in the same manner as
provided for in the second subparagraph of Article 14 (1);
and below this the word ‘regraded:’ followed by the date of the regrading
in the same manner as provided for in Article 14;
(f) particulars of the refrigeration or method of preservation, uncoded
and in Roman type, for refrigerated or preserved eggs.
3. Small packs containing regraded eggs shall bear only the particulars
provided for in paragraph 2, in clearly visible and legible characters; in
cases where the original packs are being re-used, the particulars which
are no longer applicable shall be covered over. In addition, small packs
may bear the trade mark of the undertaking which regraded the eggs or
had them regraded.
Article 26
1. Except in the case provided for in Article 8 (2) of Regulation (EEC)
No 1907/90 packed eggs may be repacked in other large or small packs
only by packing centres. Each pack shall contain only the eggs of a single
batch.
2. The band or label on large packs shall bear in clearly visible and
legible black characters at least the following information:
(a) the name or business name and address of the undertakings which
repacked the eggs or had them repacked;
(b) the distinguishing number of the packing centre which repacked the
eggs;
(c) the quality and weight grading;
(d) the number of eggs packed;
(e) — for grade A eggs: the original date of minimum durability, and
below this the words ‘repacked eggs’,
— for eggs of other grades: the words ‘packing date:’, followed by
the date of first packing; and below this the word ‘repacked:’,
followed by the date of repacking, in the same manner as
provided for in Article 14 (1);
(f) particulars of the refrigeration or method of preservation, uncoded
and in Roman type, for refrigerated or preserved eggs;
(g) the distinguishing number of the packing centre which first packed
the eggs or, in the case of imported eggs, the country of origin;
3. Small packs containing repacked eggs shall bear, in clearly visible
and legible characters, only the particulars provided for in paragraph 2.
In addition, small packs may bear the trade mark of the undertaking
which repacked the eggs or had them repacked. The word ‘extra’ may not
be used.!B
!M3
!B
!M3
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 17
4. The provisions of Article 1 (6) and (7) shall apply.
Article 27
1. The provisions of Article 21 shall apply to the bands and labels
mentioned in Articles 25 and 26. The specimens shall be supplied before
1 June 1991.
2. If the original packs are used for regrading and repacking they shall
be considered as re-used within the meaning of Article 12 (2).
3. The particulars on the bands or labels of large packs which are
re-used in accordance with Article 12 (2) shall be completely covered
over by new bands or new labels or rendered illegible in some other
manner.
4. Large packs may bear one or more of the particulars appearing on
the bands and labels with which they are fastened. In addition, large
packs may bear the trade mark of the undertaking which repacked the
eggs or had them repacked.
Article 28
The forms of wording defined in this Regulation for use on eggs and
packs shall be expressed
— in the case of sales to the ultimate consumer: in a language easily
understood by purchasers as referred to in Article 14 of Council
Directive 79/112/EEC (1) in the Member State in which such sales
take place; this provision shall not prevent such particulars from
being indicated in various languages;
— in any other case: in one or more languages of the Community.
Article 29
1. The decisions provided for in Article 19 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No
1907/90 shall not be taken unless the check has been carried out in
accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2 to 5.
2. Where the eggs are in large packs not containing small packs, at least
the following numbers of eggs shall be checked as samples.
Number of eggs in the batchNumber of eggs to be checked
% of batchMinimum number of
eggs
up to 180 100 —
181 to 1 800 15 1801 801 to 3 600 10 2703 601 to 10 800 5 360
10 801 to 18 000 4 540
18 001 to 36 000 3 72036 001 to 360 000 1,5 1 080over 360 000 0,5 5 400
3. Where the eggs are in small packs, whether or not these are inside
large packs, at least the following numbers of small packs and eggs shall
be checked as samples.!B
(1) OJ No L 33, 8. 2. 1979, p. 1.!M1
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 18
Number of eggs in the batchPercentage of small
packs checkedNumber of eggs to be
checked per back
checked (%)
up to 180 100 100
181 to 1 800 15 100
1 801 to 3 600 10 1003 601 to 10 800 5 10010 801 to 18 000 4 100
18 001 to 36 000 3 100
36 001 to 360 000 1,5 100over 360 000 0,5 100
4. For batches of not more than 18 000 eggs, the eggs to be checked
shall be selected from at least 20 % of the large packs.
For batches of more than 18 000 eggs, the eggs to be checked shall be
selected from at least 10 % of the large packs and from at least ten large
packs.
5. In the case of non-packed eggs which are displayed or put up for sale
in the retail trade, 100 % of the eggs up to 180 eggs and for greater
quantities 15 % of the eggs with a minimum of 180 eggs shall be checked
as samples.
Article 30
1. After the check and after any necessary correction of the batch for
compliance with Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, the checker shall affix
to the pack a band bearing an official stamp and the following
particulars:
(a) ‘Checked on (date) …,
at (place) …;’
(b) the number allotted to the checker by the checking agency.2. The check band shall be white red imprint. If the pack was fastened
before the check, it shall be refastened by means of the check band,
which may, if appropriate, be affixed over the original band or label.
3. After small packs marked ‘extra’ have been checked, the check band
small include the particulars referred to in paragraph 1 and the word
‘extra’ in italics 1 cm high.
Article 31
1. In the checking of a batch of Grade ‘A’ eggs, the following
tolerances shall be allowed:
(a) on dispatch from the packing centre:
— 5 % of eggs with quality defects, of which not more than:
— 2 % of eggs which are broken or with a cracked shell, visible
to the naked eye,
— 1 % of eggs with meat or blood stains.
However, in the checking of eggs marketed as ‘extra’ no tolerance
shall be allowed for the height of the air space either at the time of
packing or on customs clearance.
(b) at the other marketing stages:
— 7 % of eggs with quality defects, of which not more than:
— 4 % of eggs which are broken or with a cracked shell, visible
to the naked eye,
— 1 % of eggs with meat or blood stains.!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 19
2. In the checking of a batch of Grade ‘B’ eggs, a toleance of 7 % of
eggs with quality defects shall be allowed.
3. Where the batch checked is of less than 180 eggs, the percentages
referred to in paragraphs I and 2 shall be doubled.
Article 32
With the exception of the case provided for in Article 13 (3) of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, in the checking of a batch of Grade A
eggs, a tolerance shall be allowed as regards the weight per egg. Such a
batch may contain not more than 12 % of eggs of weight grades
bordering on that marked on the packing, but not more than 6 % of eggs
of the next lower weight grade.
Where the batch checked is of less than 180 eggs, the abovementioned
percentages shall be doubled.
Article 33
Large packs of Grade ‘A’ eggs, graded according to weight grades, shall
have the following minimum net weights:
Grade 0: 7,5 kg/100 eggs
Grade 1: 7,1 kg/100 eggs
Grade 2: 6,6 kg/100 eggs
Grade 3: 6,1 kg/100 eggs
Grade 4: 5,6 kg/100 eggs
Grade 5: 5,1 kg/100 eggs
Grade 6: 4,6 kg/100 eggs
Grade 7: minimum weight not laid down.
Article 34
Each Member State on whose territory a batch of eggs from another
Member State is regraded shall ensure that the decision to regrade is
immediately communicated to that Member State and, at the request of
that Member State, to the competent authority which it designates.
Article 35
Member States shall communicate to the Commission before 1 January
1992 measures taken in application of this Regulation.
Article 36
Regulation (EEC) Nos 95/69 and 1295/70 are hereby repealed.
Article 37
This Regulation shall apply with effect from 1 July 1991. However,
Articles 4 (4), 21 (2), 22 (2), 23 (2) and 27 (1) shall apply with effect
from 1 June 1991.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in
all Member States.!B
!M2
!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 20
ANNEX I
1. Date of minimum durability:
"C3cons. preferente 3
Mindst holdbar til
Mind. haltbarΑνάλωση πριν απ/omikronacute
Best before
à cons. de préf. av. or DCR (
1)
da cons. pref. entrotenm. houdb. tot
Cons. de pref. antes de
2. Packing date:
"
C3emb.3
Pakket
Ver p.ΣυσκευασίαPacked
Emb. le
Imball. ilVer p.Emb.
3. Sell-by date:
vender antes
Sidste salgsdato
Verkauf bis
ΠώλησηSell byà vend. préf. av. or DVR (
1)
data vend. racc.
uit. verk. dat.Vend. de pref. antes de
4. Laying date:
Puesta
LæggedatoGelegt
Ω/omikronτ/omikronκία
LaidPondu leDeposto il
Gelegd
Postura!
M3
(1) If the terms DVR or DCR are used, the indication on the pack must be worded
in such a way that the meaning of these initials is clear.1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 21
ANNEX II
Minimum criteria to be met by poultry enterprises producing eggs as referred
to in Article 18 (1) (a), (b), (c) and (d)
(a) Eggs in small packs bearing the words ‘Free range eggs’ must be produced in
poultry enterprises in which:
— hens have continuous daytime access to open-air runs,— the ground to which hens have access in mainly covered with vegetation,— the maximum stocking density is not greater than 1 000hens per hectare
of ground available to the hens or one hen per 10 m
2,
— the interior of the building must satisfy the conditions specified in (c) or
(d).
(b) Eggs in small packs bearing the words ‘Semi-intensive eggs’must be
produced in poultry enterprises in which:
— hens have continuous daytime access to open-air runs,
— the ground to which hens have access is mainly covered with vegetation,
— the maximum stocking density is not greater than 4 000 hens per hectare
of ground available to the hens or one hen per 2,5 m2,
— the interior of the building must satisfy the conditions specified in (c) or
(d).
(c) Eggs in small packs bearing the words ‘Deep litter eggs’ must be produced in
poultry enterprises in which:
— the maximum stocking density is not greater than seven hens per square
metre of floor space available to the hens,
— at least a third of this floor area is covered with a litter material such as
straw, wood shavings, sand or turf,
— a sufficiently large part of the floor area available to the hens is used for
the collection of bird droppings.
(d) Eggs in small packs bearing the words ‘Perchery eggs (Barn eggs)’ must be
produced in poultry enterprises in which:
— the maximum stocking density is not greater than 25 hens per square
metre of floor space available to the hens,
— the interior or the building is fitted with perches of a length sufficient to
ensure at least 15 cm of perch space for each hen.!B1991R1274 — EN — 01.06.1994 — 004.001 — 22