Food and drink

Eggs and poultry

Egg market regulations

See also:

Common organisation of the market in eggs

Regulation (EEC) 2771/75 (as amended) establishes the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) regime for the following:

  • Poultry eggs in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked (Customs Nomenclature 0407) (see also hatching eggs and chicks regulations)
  • Other eggs not in shell and other egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter (Customs Nomenclature 0408) The EC regime is essentially a light one where there are no price support mechanisms such as intervention buying. In consequence, EU market prices closely reflect the supply and demand situation.

The EC regime is essentially a light one where there are no price support mechanisms such as intervention buying. In consequence, EU market prices closely reflect the supply and demand situation.

The Regulation established the Eggs & Poultry Management Committee and permits the Council of Ministers to introduce Regulations to:

The text of the Regulation is available on the Europa website.

Common system of trade for ovalbumin and lactalbumin

Regulation (EEC) No 2783/75 (as amended), establishes the on CAP regime for egg albumin under Customs Nomenclature 3502 11, 3502 1190, 3502 19 and 3502 1990.

The EC regime is essentially a light one without price support mechanisms such as intervention buying. In consequence, market prices closely reflect the supply and demand situation.

The Regulation permits the Council of Ministers to:

The text of the Regulation is available on the Europa website.

Marketing standards for hen eggs

Council Regulation (EC) No. 1028/2006 (which repeals 1907/90) and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2295/03 (as amended) prescribe minimum harmonised standards to facilitate trade and to ensure EU consumers are provided with good quality hen eggs produced to a common standard. These regulations do not apply to other poultry eggs (e.g. ducks, geese etc).

Commission Regulation (EC) No. 89/2006 (which amends Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2295/03) was adopted in January 2006 following concerns about avian influenza.  Point 1(a) of Annex III to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2295/2003, as amended by Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 89/2006,  states:

'‘Free-range eggs’ must be produced in establishments which satisfy at least the conditions specified in Article 4 of Council Directive 1999/74/EC with effect from the dates referred to in that Article, and in which hens have continuous daytime access to open-air runs; any derogation from this requirement granted because of restrictions, including veterinary restrictions adopted under Community law, must not exceed 12 weeks'.

The derogation can last up to a maximum period of 12 weeks from the date of the decision to exercise the derogation and enables the free-range marketing status of eggs to be maintained in the event of a housing restriction. While it is in place, affected eggs can continue to be described as free-range eggs.

Such a derogation was issued on 9 February 2007:

Further information on avian influenza and related restrictions.

The Regulations cover the following areas:

  • grading by quality and weight (eg Class A or Class B);
  • packing;
  • storage and transport;
  • labelling and marking of eggs and packs; and
  • Special Marketing Term (SMT) criteria which must be met before certain claims about types of farming can be made (e.g. free range, barn).

The texts of both Regulations are available on the Europa website.

From 1 January 2004, compulsory stamping of hen eggs and the labelling of their packs with methods of production (organic barn cage or free range).

Details of the recent legislation agreed in Brussels:

From 1 January 2004, Council Regulation EC 5/2001 requires all Class A eggs sold at retail level within the EU to be marked (stamped) with a code identifying the establishment (production site), country of origin and method of production (i.e organic, free range, barn or cage). The UK supported the introduction of these rules because they will help improve consumer information, choice, and assist with traceability and enforcement of the EU Egg Marketing Regulations. However, it was agreed at the time that producers selling eggs produced on their farms direct to the consumer would not have to mark their eggs, since the traceability of such eggs was clear. Farmers can purchase egg marking equipment that best suits their needs. A very small producer may only wish to purchase a hand stamp that can cost as little as £30. The only requirements are that the code is legible and the ink is food grade.

The Registration of Establishments Regulations, which implements Commission Directive 2002/4/EC, came into force on 31 December 2003, and requires all laying hens establishments to be registered and allocated a distinguishing number comprising of a digit indicating the farming method, Member State code and a unique identification number. Establishments with fewer than 350 laying hens and those rearing breeding laying hens do not have to be registered under these Regulations. The main benefits of a registration system are traceability for eggs placed on the market for human consumption. Information on the location of egg producers can be used for other purposes, such as welfare and disease control (subject to Data Protection measures). Although the legal provisions of (EC) 5/2001 will not be incorporated within the Registration of Establishments Regulations, it is sensible to bring together the administrative requirements for registration and egg marking within one application form, basing the distinguishing number on current EMI producer identification numbers.

Because of enforcement difficulties in other Member States, it was agreed in November 2002 (by Council Regulation (EC) 2052/2003) that part of the derogation (set out in Council Regulation (EC) 5/2001) from marking for ungraded eggs be removed. Despite UK opposition to this amendment, from 1 July 2005 farmers selling eggs from their own farms at local public markets will no longer be exempt from the requirement to mark their eggs, irrespective of the number of laying hens kept. Some producers with fewer than 350 laying hens will therefore have to register for the first time, in order to obtain a distinguishing number. This measure had the support of the majority of other Member States. Sales in farm shops and door to door, however, remain exempt.

The EMI have despatched registration forms to all known (around 3,000) English egg producers to explain the new rules, together with a detailed list of suppliers and manufacturers of egg marking equipment. Regional EMIs are also available to give advice. Although the Regulations required establishments with 350 birds or more to be registered by 1 March 2004, in practice most needed to have done so by 31 December 2003 in view of the need for Class A eggs to be marked from 1 January 2004 with a code designating the producer's distinguishing number and identifying the farming method.

The amendments to make egg labelling compulsory meets the Council's request to the Commission to bring into line the marketing standards with the provisions of directive Council Directive 1999/74/EC as adopted and implemented in England by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002, No. 1646), together with a welfare code for laying hens to accompany these Regulations.

UK legislation on marketing standards for eggs

The EC legislation for the egg sector is directly applicable and executed and enforced in Great Britain through the Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995 (Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 1544), which also implements the hatching eggs and chick regulations. These regulations cover domestic fowl (eg. laying hens and broiler (table) chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and guinea fowl. The Marketing Standards for Eggs have since been amended by Statutory Instruments 1996 No.1725, 1997 No.1414 and 1998 No 1665.

The Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995 were introduced into UK law under the Food Safety Act 1990.

The Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1544) have been amended by:

These amendments update the references to the European Union legislation specified in the 1995 Regulations (as amended) following changes to the European legislation.

English Regulations are now being drawn up to include marketing standards for eggs and poultrymeat. We are due to consult shortly, and the consultation exercise will be posted on our website accordingly.

Guidance on marketing of eggs

Defra has produced an Egg Quality Guide which provides information on the defects which can occur in eggs, the likely causes and the means of identifying and removing those which are unsuitable. Paper copies (reference PB4821) and posters (reference PB4702) are available from Defra Publications.

Egg marketing forms

Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat PDF logo documents.

Page last modified: 18 February 2007

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs