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The EC Egg Marketing Standards Regulations: Explanatory Leaflet

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1. INTRODUCTION

Please read this leaflet carefully before completing "Application for Registration of a Packing Centre" form EMR2. This is intended as a general guide to the requirements of European Community law on egg marketing which is applicable in all European Union Member States. It is not a complete and authoritative statement of the law. If you wish to know more about egg marketing legislation, you should refer to the regulations set out below.

1.1 Regulations

The Eggs and Chicks (Scotland) Regulations 2008

The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 (as amended)

The Registration of Establishments Keeping Laying Hens (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (as amended)

1.2 Purpose and Objectives

The Regulations lay down rules which apply throughout the European Community. Minimum standards of quality and weight grading, marking, packaging, storage, transport and presentation for retail sale of eggs are set to ensure they are marketed on a fair and competitive basis. The rules ensure that the quality of eggs is maintained.

1.3 What the Regulations Cover

The regulations apply to hen eggs marketed within the Community. They do not apply to eggs sold direct by producers to the final consumer at the farm gate or locally door-to-door *. However, to be exempt the eggs must be from the producer's own hens.

* Producers with up to 50 laying hens may sell their eggs at a local public market, provided that the name and address of the producer is indicated at the point of sale. Producers with more than 50 hens must also stamp their eggs going for sale at a local public market with a producer code.

Producers with more than 350 laying hens must be registered regardless of how the eggs are marketed.

Minimum standards for housing hens in certain types of production such as free range and cage are also covered (see Explanatory Leaflet EMR14).

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Page updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2008