Egg labeling
Egg labeling is the labeling of chicken eggs that are placed on the market, i.e. given to further processing companies and consumers.
European Union
For chicken eggs , precise labeling rules have been in place within the European Union since 2004 , which are part of the EU marketing standards for eggs. Sorted eggs that are sold by the producer directly to the end consumer have had to be labeled since July 2005. Easier labeling applies to unpacked and unsorted eggs that are sold directly at the production site or at the front door. The labeling requirement does not apply to brightly colored eggs (Easter eggs). Since there is no information on the egg, the origin cannot be determined. Only the best before date, the supplier and the quantity need to be stated on the packaging.
Producer code
The consumer can find the following information from the producer code affixed to the eggs :
- the attitude form of chicken,
- the country where the egg comes from,
- the identification of the farm, for example a producer farm and house number .
Each member state defines its own system for identifying the company. In Germany, the federal state is given by the first digits of the farm and stall numbers. The issuing of producer identification numbers is the responsibility of the authorities responsible for the implementation of the Laying Hen Business Register Act in the respective federal states.
The egg shown at the top with the identification 0-DE-1344461 is an organic egg from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and comes from the stable with the identification number 44461. The Austrian egg below comes from Burgenland barn farming with the number 126814. It would also be possible to specify the Laying date.
Posture
The number in the first position indicates the type of chicken keeping, which reflects the corresponding legal requirement:
| Digit | designation | Chickens per m² house |
Barn space per chicken |
Run-out area per chicken |
Further rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Organic farming | 6th | 1,667 cm² | 4 m² a | Stricter rules compared to free-range farming , as well as rules of organic farming |
| 1 | Free range | 9 | 1,100 cm² | 4 m² b | |
| 2 | Free run | 9 | 1,100 cm² | ||
| 3 |
Keeping in cages , also in small groups |
9 13 18 |
1,100 cm² 750 cm² 550 cm² |
banned in the EU since 2012; banned in Austria since 2009, in Germany since 2010; Small groups are allowed |
The individual forms of husbandry are precisely defined in the EC regulation. The classification is based on ideas from animal welfare and food monitoring . The legal situation is determined by the Food Labeling Ordinance ( LMKV ) and by EU law . In Germany, keeping chickens in battery cages has been banned since 2010, across the EU since 2012.
country code
The letters in the second and third positions of the producer code indicate the country of origin:
|
|
|
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Identification of the establishment
In Germany, the first two digits after the country code stand for the state:
|
01 = Schleswig-Holstein |
05 = North Rhine-Westphalia |
09 = Bavaria |
13 = Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
The following four digits identify the manufacturing company. In the case of a farm with several houses, the last number refers to the respective house.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture writes:
“Market regulation law does not provide for the establishment number to be published by the authorities in connection with the name and address of the relevant establishment and is not compatible with data protection.
Consumers who want to find out more about the producers should contact the company or organization named on the packaging directly. Some of these companies or organizations offer the possibility of obtaining information about the respective laying farm via the Internet and by means of the information printed on the egg. "
In Austria, the farm is identified by its agricultural farm number ( LFBIS number ).
packagings
The egg packaging is usually provided with labels that contain the quality class and a code number of the packing center. Packing stations check the quality of eggs, classify eggs into quality classes, sort them by weight and pack them. The packing center does not have to be directly related to the producer. It can be in a different country than the stable of origin. A packing center can be identified throughout Europe by its packing center number. The first two characters of the code identify the country in which the packing center is located. The other positions are determined by the competent authorities.
For the packing centers in Austria, the packing center code number is made up as follows:
AT <Bundeslandziffer> <Zahl des Bezirks> <laufende Nummer des Betriebs>
The following federal state numbers are specified:
|
1 = Burgenland |
4 = Upper Austria |
7 = Tyrol |
In addition, packaging with Class A eggs must contain a number of additional information, including the weight class, the best-before date and the type of housing. If the packaging says “Extra” or “Extra Fresh”, the laying date must also be given. Eggs may only be marketed under this name up to nine days after the laying date.
Voluntary information
Certain other information is voluntary but regulated by law.
- Feeding the hens: Information on the type and quantity of grain is possible
- Laying date: If the laying date is stated on the packaging, it must also be printed on all eggs.
- Last recommended date of sale: For retail information. (Maximum the 21st day after the laying day.)
Grades
Hen eggs are divided into classes A and B according to the EU marketing standards for eggs. Retailers typically only sell Grade A eggs; Class B eggs may only be supplied to industry. The previously existing quality class C was merged with quality class B in 2004.
| Grade | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| A (or "fresh") | The shell and cuticle must be clean, undamaged, and normal in shape. The air chamber must be immobile and no more than 6 mm high. The egg yolk may only be visible in the form of a shadow when fluoroscopic and must also remain central when rotated. The egg white must be clear and see-through. Foreign smells, foreign deposits and deposits or a visible germ are not permitted. The eggs may not be washed or otherwise cleaned and also not preserved or - except for 24 hours during transport or a maximum of 72 hours in the sales room - be cooled to below 5 degrees Celsius. | |
| B. | Eggs that do not meet the criteria of quality class A are classified in quality class B. They are not considered to be directly suitable for consumption and may only be sold to the food industry and other industrial companies, for example for processing in cosmetics . | |
The text label "Extra" or "Extra Fresh" may only be used on packaging for eggs of the quality class up to nine days after the laying date. The air chamber of “A extra” quality eggs must not be more than 4 mm high.
Packaging with a red band and the designation "industrial eggs" identify eggs that are intended for further industrial processing.
Weight classes
Depending on their weight, chicken eggs are divided into four (previously eight) weight classes:
| Weight class | description | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| XL | Very large | at least 73 g |
| L. | Large | 63 g to less than 73 g |
| M. | medium | 53 g to under 63 g |
| S. | Small | under 53 g |
Expressiveness
In 2013 there were indications that incorrectly labeled eggs were on the market on a large scale. Eggs were labeled as coming from organic, free range, floor or cage rearing even though they did not meet the necessary criteria due to overcrowding in hen houses. Companies mainly from Lower Saxony but also from North Rhine-Westphalia and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well as from the Netherlands and Belgium were affected. Over 100 preliminary investigations have been initiated, some have been closed on payment of fines, and some have resulted in penal orders.
In Austria in 2015/2016 a laying economist was sentenced to a fine and conditional imprisonment for fraudulently dating 700,000 eggs.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the country of origin must be stamped on all chicken eggs that are not sold directly from the producer to the end consumer. The producer code on the egg follows the example of the EU (see # producer code ).
| 12 Swiss eggs at least 53 g per egg Once cooled, keep eggs permanently at a maximum of 5 ° C. |
In addition, the producer must indicate:
- the product description, which, if it is not chicken eggs, must contain the species, e.g. B. "Duck eggs" or "Pigeon eggs",
- the date of sale and, in the case of unrefrigerated eggs, the best before date or, in the case of chilled eggs, the use-by date,
- the name and address of the producer, including the country of production,
- the detailed price,
- the number of eggs and either the net weight or the minimum weight per egg in grams,
- an indication of the storage temperature in the case of chilled eggs,
- in the case of imported eggs from caged chickens, the note “from cage not permitted in Switzerland”.
If a laying date is given, it must be clearly identifiable as such. Instructions for use must be given for duck eggs, for example a note "Cook for at least 10 minutes before eating!"
If the eggs are sold loose, only the price has to be stated in writing. The other information can be given orally.
Web links
- Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture : What does the code on the egg mean?
- Eggs: The symbols for freshness, origin, husbandry - European consumer center
- Westfälisch-Lippischer Landwirtschaftsverband eV (bauernhof.net): Voluntary egg labeling
- Association for controlled alternative animal husbandry eV, Bonn: What is on the egg? (Database for the identification of voluntarily registered companies via egg labeling)
- Matthias Düsi: Legal basis for egg labeling. In: Düsiblog. November 23, 2012, accessed April 1, 2013 .
- LAVES : Marketing of eggs: packing stations
- Packing station numbers
- Egg database Austria: Find voluntarily registered companies through egg labeling
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008 of the Commission of 23 June 2008 with implementing provisions for Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 of the Council with regard to the marketing standards for eggs
- ↑ Claudia Wobst: The labeling of eggs. In: Bavarian Consumer Information System. Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, February 27, 2013, accessed on September 13, 2013 .
- ↑ No labeling requirement for Easter eggs , accessed on September 30, 2019
- ↑ Directive 2002/4 / EC of the Commission of January 30, 2002 on the registration of laying hen holdings in accordance with Council Directive 1999/74 / EC Comment = consolidated version . January 1, 2007 ( PDF (PDF) ).
- ↑ What's on the egg? Association for controlled alternative forms of animal husbandry , accessed on September 30, 2018 .
- ↑ a b Questions and answers on keeping laying hens in Germany. Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture , accessed on December 27, 2018 .
- ↑ Press release No. 299 of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of December 29, 2009: As of 2010 no more eggs from cages ( Memento of March 16, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on April 19, 2011.
- ↑ EU Directive 2002/004, 2.2. Registration Member State code
- ↑ Quote BMEL - publication of the establishment number
- ↑ a b Individual labeling ( memento from June 27, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) Tyrol Chamber of Agriculture 2006, accessed on April 19, 2011, archived from the original
- ↑ BLE : Marketing standards for eggs .... , specifically: Art. 78 Paragraph 1 e) Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 17, 2013 on a common market organization for agricultural products with annex VII Part VI . More detailed, ongoing implementation regulations in: Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008 of the Commission of 23 June 2008 with implementing provisions for Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 of the Council with regard to marketing standards for eggs
- ↑ Appendix VII Part VI No. II para. 3 d. VO (EU) No. 1308/2013
- ↑ Regulation (EC) No. 2052/2003 of the Council of November 17, 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No. 1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs
- ↑ Art. 2 Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008 of the Commission
- ↑ Overcrowding of chicken coops in Lower Saxony - Oldenburg public prosecutor's office has applied for 26 penalty orders so far ( memento of April 2, 2015 in the Internet archive ) Press release no. 05/13, Oldenburg public prosecutor's office, April 18, 2013, archived from the original
- ↑ CRIME The farmer's confession spiegel.de, on February 25, 2013
- ^ Judgment: Judgment against Toni's Freilandeier final , January 22, 2016, accessed February 25, 2019.
- ↑ Economics and Health Directorate , Canton Basel-Landschaft, Cantonal Laboratory (Ed.): Egg sale - storage, labeling and self-control . Leaflet. ( PDF ).