EU: Egg labelling scheme approved by Council of Ministers

A compulsory EU labelling scheme for eggs has been approved by the European Union Council of Ministers, which will ensure that the farming method used to produce them will have to be indicated on "class A" eggs and on large and small packs of "class A" eggs, using a distinguishing mark or a code including a producer’s distinguishing number. National governments will be free to decide the exact form of labels, but they could be similar to those used in the existing voluntary scheme, namely: free range, semi-intensive, deep litter, perchery and cage production, and will apply to both EU produced and imported eggs.

December 21, 2000

A compulsory EU labelling scheme for eggs has been approved by the European Union Council of Ministers, which will ensure that the farming method used to produce them will have to be indicated on “class A” eggs and on large and small packs of “class A” eggs, using a distinguishing mark or a code including a producer’s distinguishing number. National governments will be free to decide the exact form of labels, but they could be similar to those used in the existing voluntary scheme, namely: free range, semi-intensive, deep litter, perchery and cage production, and will apply to both EU produced and imported eggs.