Eggs and poultry
Egg marking (stamping)
Since 1 January 2004, Council Regulation 5/2001 has required all Class A eggs sold at retail level in the EU to be marked with a code identifying the establishment, country of origin and method of production.
In addition, the Registration of Establishments Regulations 2003 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 identification number.
Establishments with fewer than 350 laying hens and those rearing breeding laying hens do not have to be registered under these Regulations, unless any of their eggs are destined to be graded for marketing as class A.
Since 1 July 2005, ungraded eggs sold at local public markets need to be marked with a code identifying the method of production and the establishment, irrespective of flock size.
- Ungraded eggs sold at public
markets - letter to hen egg producers
(13 KB) - Egg traceability legislation - letter to
producers of eggs (17 KB)
- Egg stamping - information for producers (13 KB)
- Background briefing and Q&A
Egg marketing forms
Egg Quality Guide
- The Egg Quality Guide (1.3 MB)
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Page last modified:
13 September 2006
Page published: 15 January 2004