| EU says eggs must carry details of the hen that laid them | |
| The Press: | "The European Union says that every egg sold in the EU will soon have to be stamped with the method of production, country of origin, who produced and packed it, a “best before” date and details about the specific hen that laid it..." (Daily Telegraph, 7 February 2003) |
| The Facts: | EU legislation providing for optional marking of eggs was originally adopted in 1990. Eggs stamped with information such as "best before" dates have long been familiar to Europeans. The latest regulation for the labelling of eggs was adopted to address demands for clear and unambiguous labelling to allow EU consumers to make informed choices. The mandatory information required is limited to "a code designating the producer’s distinguishing number and permitting the farming method to be identified". |