{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2006-89/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2006-89/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2006/89",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 89/2006 of 19 January 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 with regard to the terms that may be used when marketing eggs where the access of hens to open-air runs is restricted",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2006-89",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 89/2006\nof 19 January 2006\namending Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 with regard to the terms that may be used when marketing eggs where the access of hens to open-air runs is restricted\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs, and in particular Article 7(1)(d) and Article 10(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 lays down detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90.\n(2)\nCommission Directive 2002/4/EC of 30 January 2002 on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC lays down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens.\n(3)\nIn order to safeguard consumers against statements which might otherwise be made with the fraudulent intent of obtaining prices higher than those prevailing for eggs of hens raised in batteries or standard grade eggs, Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 lays down minimum husbandry criteria to be respected by farmers claiming to use particular rearing methods. Only the terms listed in Annex II to that Regulation may be used and Annex III thereto lists the requirements that must be satisfied in order to be able to use those terms.\n(4)\nAmong the specific requirements that must be satisfied in order to market eggs using the term ‘free-range eggs’, access to open-air runs is essential.\n(5)\nRestrictions, including veterinary restrictions, adopted under Community law to protect public and animal health, may restrict the access of poultry to open-air runs.\n(6)\nWhere producers can no longer satisfy all the rearing conditions laid down in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003, they must, in the interests of consumers, cease to use the compulsory labelling relating to the rearing method.\n(7)\nIn order to take account of the possible economic consequences of such temporary restrictions, since the whole of the sector needs a reasonable adjustment period, especially as regards labelling, and provided that product quality is not substantially affected, provision should be made for a transitional period during which producers can continue to use the labelling relating to the ‘free-range’ method of rearing.\n(8)\nA derogation from access to open-air runs is explicitly provided for in the first indent of point 1(a) of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 in the event of ‘temporary restrictions imposed by veterinary authorities’.\n(9)\nSince the duration of temporary restrictions during which producers may continue to use the term ‘free-range’, although hens no longer have access to open-air runs, is not specified, a time-limit should be laid down in order to protect the interests of consumers.\n(10)\nRegulation (EC) No 2295/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(11)\nThe measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 173, 6.7.1990, p. 5. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1039/2005 (OJ L 172, 5.7.2005, p. 1)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 340, 24.12.2003, p. 16. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1515/2004 (OJ L 278, 27.8.2004, p. 7)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "OJ L 30, 31.1.2002, p. 44. Directive as amended by the 2003 Act of Accession."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2006/89/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:53:58.568880+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}