Brussels, 22/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European regulation introducing marketing standards applicable to the egg sector was published in the Official Journal No. L/220 of 15 August. It redefines the provisions relating to identification of batches of eggs as well as the wording for designating how the hens are bred. Thus, for the mode of breeding of laying hens, only the following wording may appear on the packs: - free range eggs; - barn eggs; - eggs from caged hens. To this wording may be added on the eggs themselves: - free; - barn; - cage. Article 1 of the regulation stipulates that the recommended sell-by date shall not exceed the maximum time limit for the delivery of eggs to the consumer of 21 days after laying".
Annexed, the regulation stipulates the minimum requirements to fulfil by poultry farmers for the different types of farming for laying hens.
For "free range eggs", poultry must have "continuous daytime access to open-air runs, except in case of temporary restrictions by veterinary authorities".
The open-air runs to which hens have access must be "mainly covered with vegetation and not used for other purposes except for orchards, woodland and livestock grazing if the latter is authorised by the competent authorities".
"The maximum stocking density must not be greater than 2,500 hens per hectare of ground available to the hens or one hen per 4 square meters at all times and the runs are not to extend beyond a radius of 150 meters from the nearest pophole of the building.
An extension of up to 350 meters from the nearest pophole of the building is permissible provided that a sufficient number of shelters and drinking troughs within the meaning of that provision are evenly distributed throughout the whole open-air run with at least four shelters per hectare.
The reference to particular ingredients entering the composition of feed is only authorised "in the case of cereals, if they account for at least 60% in weight of the feed formula given which may include not more than 15% of cereal by-products". However, "where reference is made to specific cereals, each shall account for at least 30% of the feed formula used in the case of one cereal mentioned and for at least 5% of several cereals mentioned.