{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-589/article-12",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-589/article-12.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2008/589",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 of 23 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-589",
  "path": "article/12",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "12",
  "heading": "Marking of packs",
  "text": "1. Packs containing Class A eggs shall bear on the outer surface in easily visible and clearly legible type:\n(a) the packing centre code;\n(b) the quality grading; packs shall be identified either by the words ‘Class A’ or the letter ‘A’, whether alone or in combination with the word ‘fresh’;\n(c) the weight grading in accordance with Article 4(2) of this Regulation;\n(d) the date of minimum durability in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation;\n(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(f) as a special storage condition in accordance with Article 9(1)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, an indication advising consumers to keep eggs chilled after purchase.\n2. In addition to the requirements laid down in paragraph 1, packs containing Class A eggs shall bear on the outer surface in easily visible and clearly legible type the farming method.\nFor the identification of the farming method only the following terms shall be used:\n(a) for conventional farming, the terms 'Free range eggs’, ‘Barn eggs’ or ‘Eggs from caged hens', and only if the relevant conditions laid down in Annex II are fulfilled;\n(b) for organic production, the terms set out in Article 23(1) of Council Regulation No 834/2007.\nThe meaning of the producer code shall be explained on or inside the pack.\nThe identification of the farming method may be complemented by the indication ‘Enriched cages’ where laying hens are kept in systems of production in accordance with the requirements laid down in—\n(i)) Schedule 4 to the English welfare regulations,\n(iii)) Schedule 3 to the Scottish welfare regulations,\n(iv)) Schedule 4 to the Welsh welfare regulations.\nThe terms referred to in this paragraph must appear in English, but may also appear in any other language.\n3. Paragraph 2 shall apply without prejudice to national technical measures going beyond the minimum requirements laid down in Annex II, provided that they are compatible with assimilated direct legislation.\n4. Packs containing Class B eggs shall bear on the outer surface in easily visible and clearly legible type:\n(a) the packing centre code;\n(b) the quality grading; packs shall be identified either by the words ‘Class B’ or the letter ‘B’;\n(c) the packing date.\n5. The relevant authority may require that the labels be affixed to packs of eggs in such a way so as to be broken when opening the packs.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Art. 12(1)(e) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(1)(f) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(2)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(b)(i)(aa); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(2)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(b)(i)(bb); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(b)(ii) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1453, regs. 1(2)(b), 14(7)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(3) substituted (27.2.2025) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/82), reg. 1(2), Sch. 15 para. 79(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Art. 12(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(12)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/589/article/12",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:52:12.886367+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."
}