1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSIONREGULATION(EEC)No1274/91
of15May1991
introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 on certain marketing
standardsforeggs
(OJ L 121, 16.5.1991, p. 11)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3540/91 of 5 December 1991 L 335 12 6.12.1991
►M2Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2221/92 of 31 July 1992 L 218 81 1.8.1992
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 233, 22.8.1991, p. 31 (1274/91)
►C2Corrigendum, OJ L 292, 8.10.1992, p. 34 (2221/92)
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COMMISSIONREGULATION(EEC)No1274/91
of15May1991
introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No
1907/90oncertain marketingstandardsforeggs
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European EconomicCommunity,
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 rulesnecessary for the implementation of such standards to be adopted inaccordance 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 ofcollection and the delivery and handling of eggs, quality criteria andweight gradings, the particulars of indications on eggs and their packs,terms to be used for indications of the type of farming, and criteriaconcerning 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, gradingand packing of eggs; whereas however certain producers are in aposition to provide guarantees of maintaining the temperature at whichthe eggs are kept at a level such as would make possible a permanentexemption 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 atransitional period, it is appropriate to provide for a general exemptionfor the benefit of all operators;
Whereas markets, access to which is restricted to authorized packing and
processing undertakings, provide guarantees of correct handling suchthat 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 apacking 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 properhandling of the eggs, should be authorized to collect, or to grade eggs byquality 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 allotteda 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 eachquality grade;
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 as1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 2
(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.
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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 haveundergone a process of cleaning, dipping refrigeration or preservationshould, 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 inaccordance 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 thatdestination, do not in that case need to bear the distinguishing markwhich 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 ofconfusion, whether accidental or deliberate with that provided for inthe case of eggs unfit for human consumption which may be deliveredonly 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, canbe substantially reduced by imposing severe restrictions on the use ofpacking material; whereas detailed conditions need to be laid down inorder 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 additionalinformation may be provided to the consumer by the optional indicationon 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 thequality criteria for eggs; whereas subject to certain safeguards it isappropriate to provide that the laying date may also be stamped on eggsat the farm;
Whereas, to counter the risk of fraud, not only daily collection and
immediate grading and marking, but also especially rigorous registra-tion, record-keeping and monitoring procedures need to be introduced inthe 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 establishmentsother 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 inbatteries; 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-batteryproduction systems;
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 toparticular types of non-battery farming, to lay down minimum1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 3
(1) OJ No L 212, 22. 7. 1989, p. 87.
(2) OJ No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13.
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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 concerningsupervision, including the special arrangements to be implemented formonitoring the use of the laying date, and of indications of particulartypes 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 atrader wishes to sell eggs under his own name or when eggs in largepacks are required to be repacked in small packs; whereas it is alsonecessary 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 beenrepacked, 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 thedecision 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 thequality and weight of the batch, it is advisable to differentiate tolerancesaccording to marketing stage;
Whereas, in order to facilitate marketing and the checking of eggs
graded by quality and weight when contained in large packs, provisionshould be made for an average minimum net weight for each weightgrade;
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; whereasthis has made necessary a large number of amendments to CommissionRegulation (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;1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 4
(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.
▼B
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance
with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat andEggs,
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) ofRegulation (EEC) No 1907/90 at least every third working day.
However, delivery or collection from producers to packing centres or to
the industry may take place once a week only in those cases where
ambient temperatures at which eggs are kept at the farm do not exceed18 ºC.
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 inthose cases where ambient temperatures at which eggs are kept at thefarm do not exceed 18 ºC.
During a transitional period until 31 December 1992, delivery and
collection of these eggs may generally take place every second workingday.
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 oflaying.
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 thesecond 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 centreand which are not in sealed containers in which case they shall begraded 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 dayof 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 atemperature best suited to assure an optimal conservation of theirquality.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 5
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Article 3
1. Only undertakings and producers satisfying the conditions laid
down in paragraphs 2 to 4 shall be approved as collector or packingcentres within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90.
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 thatthe 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 andgrading, 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 3
Italy 4
Luxembourg 5
Netherlands 6
Denmark 7
Ireland 8
United Kingdom 9
Greece 10
Spain 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 inits territory, showing the name and address and the number allotted toeach centre. Any alteration of that list shall be communicated at thebeginning of each quarter of the calendar year to the other MemberStates and to the Commission.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 6
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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 marked as ‘extra’,
it shall not exceed 4 mm at the time of
packing, or time of customs clearance, inthe case of imports;
White: clear, limpid, of gelatinous consistency,
free of extraneous matters of any kind;
Yolk: visible on candling as a shadow only,
without clearly discernible outline, notmoving appreciably away from the centreof 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 atless than + 5 ºC. However, eggs which have been kept at a temperaturebelow + 5 ºC during transport of not more than 24 hours or on retailpremises or in annexes thereto, shall not be considered as refrigerated inso 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;
Yolk: — visible on candling as a shadow only;
this characteristic is not required ofeggs 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 ºC.
However, eggs which have been kept at a temperature below +5 ºC
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 therequirements 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 ºC;
(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 ofatmosphericair, and those whic h have undergone any otherpreservative treatment.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 7
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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 tofood industry undertakings approved in accordance with Article 6 ofDirective 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.
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 of1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 8
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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 theeggs 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 andmeet 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 numberof the packing centre as well as the number of eggs, quality and weightgrades 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, weatherand the effect of light.
3. Eggs in store and in transport must be protected from extremes of
temperature.
Article 14
The indication of the packing date referred to in Articles 7 and 10 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 shall comprise one or more of thefollowing:
— EMBALADO EL: …,
— PAKKET DEN: …,
— VERPACKT AM: …,
—ΗΜΕΠΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΣΥΣΚΕΥΑΣΙΑΣ: …,
— PACKING DATE: …,
— EMBALLÉ LE: …,
— DATE D'IMBALLAGGIO: …,
— VERPAKT OP: …,
— EMBALADO EM: ….
For this purpose the date shall be indicated by two sets of figures
representing, in the following order:
— the day, from 01 to 31,
— the month, from 01 to 12.
Article 15
1. In addition to the packing date, the recommended sell-by date and/
or best-before date may be indicated by the operator at the time of
packing on eggs or on packs containing them or on both.
2. 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 eggscontained in the packs. The laying date may, however, also be stampedon eggs at the farm.
3. For the indication of the dates referred to in this Article on eggs,
and in the case of the laying date also on packs, one or more of the termslisted in Annex I shall be used.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 9
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4. The dates referred to in this Article shall be indicated by two sets
of figures representing, in the following order:
— the day, from 01 to 31,
— the month, from 01 to 12.
Article 16
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 areasonable storage period of at least seven days in the home. It shall be
fixed in such a way that Grade ‘A’ eggs will retain the characteristics
described in Article 5 (1) of this Regulation until the end of that storageperiod when properly stored. The best-before date corresponds to theend of this storage period.
The indication must be worded in such a way that the meaning of these
dates is clear.
Article 17
Where the laying date is indicated on eggs and on packs containing them
in accordance with the provisions of Article 15, 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 competentauthority 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 ofproduction units situated at the same site. Deliveries of these eggsand 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
accompanying 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 containershall be graded and packed without interruption. ►
C2The laying
date shall be ◄stamped 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 sealedcontainers, 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 subsequent1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 10
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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 firstsubsequent 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, theseeggs shall be stored and handled separately. Daily records ofcollection or reception and grading of such eggs shall be kept;
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.
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 oforganic 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 inAnnex II are fulfilled: ◄
on packs: on eggs:
(a) Huevos de gallinas camperas Camperas
Æg fra fritgående høns Fritgående
Eier aus Freilandhaltung FreilandΑυγά ελεύθερης βοσκής Ελεύθερης βοσκής
Free range eggs Free range
Œufs de poules élevées en libre parcours Libre parcoursUova 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 system Fritgående — int.
Eier aus intensiver Auslaufhaltung Auslauf
Αυγά περιορισµένης βοσκής Περιορισµένης βοσκήςSemi-intensive eggs Semi-intensiveŒufs de poules élevées en plein air Plein air
Uova di allevamento all'aperto Aperto
Eieren van hennen met vrije uitloop Vrije uitloopOvos de galinha criada em parque Parque;1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 11
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on packs: on eggs:
(c) Huevos de gallinas explotadas en el suelo Suelo
Skrabeæg SkrabeægEier aus Bodenhaltung Bodenhaltung
Αυγά δαπέδου µε στρωµνή ∆απέδου -στρωµνή
Deep litter eggs Deep litterŒufs 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 Voliere
Eier aus Volierenhaltung VoliereΑυγά κλιµακωτής σχάρας Κλιµακωτής σχάραςPerchery eggs (Barn eggs) Perchery (Barn)
Œufs de poules élevées sur perchoirs Perchoirs
Uova di galline allevate in voliera VolieraVolière-eieren Volière
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.
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 ofthe 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 oflaying hens by type of poultry system, showing also the number of eggsproduced and delivered per day, the date of dispatch and the names ofthe purchasers.
Each Member State shall provide the other Member States and the
Commission, before 1 January 1993 with the list of the registeredproducers in its territory, for each type of farming showing the name andaddress 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 1in one or more Community languages. Deliveries shall be identified byname 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 competentauthority of the Member State. During storage, grading and packing theyshall be clearly separated from any other eggs.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 12
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6.►M2Packing centres as referred to in paragraph 2 ►C2shall
keep separate records of daily ◄quality 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 ofdelivery as well as of stocks of graded eggs on a weekly basis. Instead ofkeeping sales records, they may, however, keep files of invoices ordelivery notes marked as indicated in paragraph 1. ◄
7. Large packs containing eggs or small packs marked in accordance
with paragraph 1 shall bear one of the indications referred to inparagraph 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 lawand are in conformity with the common marketing standards for eggs.
9. The national measures referred to in paragraph 8 shall be
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 compat-ibility of the measures referred to in this Article with Community lawand 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 theMember State and/or to an administrative or other region, defined by thecompetent 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 respectiveterms 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 currentrecords of the number and age of laying hens, showing also the numberof eggs produced and delivered, the date of dispatch, and the names ofthe 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 packsand of eggs marked with the terms and/or symbols referred to inparagraph 1, including name and addresss of the buyer, the number ofpacks, 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 19,1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 13
▼B
— annual, before 1 April, the average number of laying hens present(1),
the number or weight of eggs delivered as recorded in accordancewith 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 inblack.
2. Apart from the information provided for in Article 10 of
Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90, these bands and labels, which may benumbered, 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 tothe 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;
(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 andlabel 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 INDUSTRY ◄’i n
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 andthe 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;1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 14
(1) Average number of laying hens present =
number of hens placed × laying weeks
52▼M2
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(c) the marking ‘industrial eggs’ in black capital letters, 2 cm high, and
the marking ‘unsuitable for human consumption’ in black letters atleast 0,8 cm high, in one or more languages of the Community.
Article 24
1. The band or label mentioned in Article 12 of Regulation (EEC) No
1907/90 must be printed or affixed in such a way that none of theinformation on the pack is obscured by the position of the band or label.The word ‘extra’ shall be printed on the band or label in italics at least 1cm high.
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 salesarea 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 ◄2 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 whichthey were contained before regrading. If they are repacked, each packmay contain only the eggs of a single batch.
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) 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 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, theparticulars which are no longer applicable shall be covered over. Inaddition, small packs may bear the trade mark of the undertaking whichregraded 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 smallpacks only by packing centres. Each pack shall contain only the eggs ofa 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;1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 15
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▼B
(e) 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;
(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 undertakingwhich repacked the eggs or had them repacked. The word ‘extra’ maynot be used.
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 overby 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 frombeing 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 inaccordance 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 15 180
1 801 to 3 600 10 270
3 601 to 10 800 5 360
10 801 to 18 000 4 540
18 001 to 36 000 3 720
36 001 to 360 000 1,5 1 0801991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 16
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Number of eggs in the batchNumber of eggs to be checked
% of batchMinimum number
of eggs
over 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 shallbe checked as samples.
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 10 100
3 601 to 10 800 5 100
10 801 to 18 000 4 100
18 001 to 36 000 3 100
36 001 to 360 000 1,5 100
over 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 largepacks.
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 greaterquantities 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 affixto the pack a band bearing an official stamp and the followingparticulars:
(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 orlabel.
3. After small packs marked ‘extra’ have been checked, the check
band small include the particulars referred to in paragraph 1 and theword ‘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.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 17
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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 ofpacking 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.
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 Aeggs, 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 eggsof 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 eggsGrade 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.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 18
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ANNEX I
1.Packingdate:
emb.
pakketverp.συσκ.
packed
emb. leimb.verp.
emb.
2.Sell-bydate:
vender antes
Sælges til
Verkauf bisΠώλησηSell by
à vend. de préf. av. or DVR(
1)
da vendersiuit. verk. dat.
Lim. de venda
3.Best-beforedate:
cons. preferente
Mindst holdbar til
Mind.-haltbar
ΛήξηBest beforeà cons. de préf. av. or DCR(
2)
da consumarsi
tenm. houdb. totLim. de consumo
4.Layingdate:
puesta
lagtgelegt
ωοτοκία
laidpondu ledeposizione
gelegd
post1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 19
(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.
(2) 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.
▼B
ANNEX II
Minimum criteria to be met by poultry enterprises producing eggs as
referred toinArticle18(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.1991R1274 — EN — 01.08.1992 — 002.001 — 20