{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-589/article-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-589/article-2.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/2",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Quality characteristics of eggs",
  "text": "1. Class A eggs shall have the following quality characteristics:\n(a) shell and cuticle: normal shape, clean and undamaged;\n(b) air space: height not exceeding 6 mm, stationary; however, for eggs to be marketed as ‘extra’, it may not exceed 4 mm;\n(c) yolk: visible on candling as a shadow only, without clearly discernible outline, slightly mobile upon turning the egg, and returning to a central position;\n(d) white: clear, translucent;\n(e) germ: imperceptible development;\n(f) foreign matter: not permissible;\n(g) foreign smell: not permissible.\n2. Class A eggs shall not be washed or cleaned, before or after grading ....\n3. Class A eggs shall not be treated for preservation or chilled in premises or plants where the temperature is artificially maintained at less than 5 °C. However, eggs which have been kept at a temperature below 5 °C during transport for not more than 24 hours or on retail premises or in annexes thereto for not more than 72 hours shall not be considered as chilled.\n4. Class B eggs shall be eggs which do not meet the quality characteristics provided for in paragraph 1. Class A eggs which no longer have those characteristics may be downgraded to Class B.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Art. 2(2) 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(3); 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/2",
    "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."
}