Commission Directive 2002/4/EC of 30 January 2002 on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC

Commission Directive 2002/4/EC
of 30 January 2002
on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 1999/74/EC lays down specific requirements for the protection of laying hens in various systems of farming and allow the Member States to choose the most appropriate system or systems.
(2) Article 7 of Directive 1999/74/EC requires that every establishment covered by the scope of that Directive shall be registered by the competent authority of the Member State and given a distinguishing number, which will be the medium for tracing eggs placed on the market for human consumption.
(3) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs(2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 5/2001(3), makes it compulsory to stamp eggs with a code designating the producer's distinguishing number and permitting the farming method to be identified.
(4) The farming methods are defined by 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(4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1651/2001(5), and also by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs(6), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2491/2001(7), as far as organic production is concerned.
(5) A registration of the establishments under distinguishing numbers is a condition for tracing eggs placed on the market for human consumption.
(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,