9 October 2024. As INPROVO had announced in May 2024, the Royal Decree focuses on aspects such as labelling, farming systems, and marketing, both at national and international level.

Below we summarise the 8 key relevant points of Royal Decree 1027/2024 for poultry farmers:

1. Amendments to the Designation of Farming Systems

• Two of the terms for farming systems have been amended. Code 3 will now be designated “eggs from hens kept in enriched cages“, and code 2 will be designated “eggs from barn hens“. Codes 0 (organic production) and 1 (free-range hens) remain unchanged.
• This amendment aims to provide consumers with more precise information about farming practices, ensuring greater market transparency.

2. Repeal and Consolidation of Previous Regulations

• Royal Decree 372/2003, which established the General Register of Laying Hen Holdings, and Royal Decree 226/2008, which regulated egg marketing, are hereby repealed. Both are incorporated into this new regulation to avoid regulatory fragmentation and ensure coherence with European Union law.
• Obligations relating to laying hen holdings are now governed by Royal Decree 637/2021 and Royal Decree 479/2004, with automatic cross-references to the new regulations replacing the previous ones.

3. Egg Stamping and Traceability

• Egg stamping must be carried out at the production holding, except in cases where the first packing centre to which the eggs are delivered is authorised to do so. This exception may be granted upon application, provided that traceability controls are met.
• A strict system is established for stamping controls, ensuring that each packing centre has a self-monitoring system compliant with European Union marketing standards. The competent authority or an independent body shall carry out official controls every six months.

4. Labelling and Marketing

• Egg labelling is regulated to guarantee consumer transparency, both on the egg itself and on packaging and containers. In addition, a Multi-Species Optional Labelling Register (ETIMUES) is established for the management of authorised optional labelling.
• Optional labelling will include additional objective statements, such as “cereal-based diet”, provided these claims can be demonstrated and verified by the competent authority.

5. Exemptions from Egg Stamping

• Exemptions from egg stamping are provided for when eggs are marketed locally, sold directly from the producer to the final consumer at public markets or through home delivery. Such holdings must have a maximum of 50 laying hens.
• Eggs destined for the food processing industry may also be exempt from stamping, provided a contract exists and express authorisation has been granted by the competent authority.

6. Food Quality Control and Coordination

• Coordination mechanisms between competent authorities are strengthened through the Food Quality Coordination Committee, ensuring uniform application of regulations throughout the national territory.
• The competent authorities, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, will carry out official controls to ensure compliance with marketing, labelling, and traceability regulations.

7. Information and Communication with the Competent Authority

• The autonomous communities and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla must notify the Ministry of Agriculture of information on the volumes of eggs marketed and the application of optional labelling.
• Packing centres will also be required to periodically report information on eggs marketed, including those marketed under optional labelling.

8. Transitional Periods and Penalties

• Several transitional periods are established, including the deadline of 8 November 2024 for continuing to stamp eggs at packing centres without prior authorisation.
• It is noted that, in the event of non-compliance with egg marketing regulations, the penalty regime set out in Royal Decree 1945/1983, the General Law for the Defence of Consumers and Users, and applicable regional legislation will apply.
  

This regulatory update will strengthen European consumer confidence in eggs and the different production systems

This new regulatory framework aims to update and consolidate national legislation with European regulations, seeking to improve transparency, traceability, and sustainability in egg production and marketing. Poultry farmers must familiarise themselves with these changes in order to comply with the requirements, particularly with regard to labelling, farming systems, and control and registration procedures, so as to ensure the quality of the final product and consumer confidence.

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Main innovations of the new Royal Decree on Egg Labelling

The new regulation introduces, among other changes, a set of exemptions that allow eggs to be stamped outside the farm. Rather than requiring stamping exclusively at the production holding, the possibility of doing so at a packing centre is now permitted, provided the competent authority grants the corresponding authorisation. To this end, certain conditions must be met, including the implementation of a control system to ensure compliance with marketing standards.

This measure aims to provide greater flexibility for producers, particularly smaller operations or those located in rural areas where on-farm stamping may present a logistical challenge. Nevertheless, the regulation establishes strict controls in order to ensure product traceability and safeguard food safety.

Definition and labelling of flavoured eggs

One of the most significant aspects of the new regulation is the incorporation of a definition for flavoured eggs, which until now lacked specific legislation. The text clearly establishes how this type of product must be classified and labelled, so that consumers can readily distinguish it from conventional eggs.

The aim is to facilitate the entry of flavoured eggs into the market, underpinned by clear production and labelling criteria. This responds to the growing demand for differentiated products tailored to specific tastes or needs.

Reporting of marketed volumes by packing centres

The regulation also introduces an obligation for packing centres to report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the volumes of eggs they market. This statistical requirement is established to compile accurate data on production and sales volumes in the sector, enabling authorities to better monitor market trends and respond more swiftly to fluctuations.

Innovations in free-range hen ranges and inter-administrative coordination

Another notable measure is the possibility for competent authorities to regulate the use of free-range hen outdoor ranges for additional purposes, such as the installation of solar panels. This seeks, on the one hand, to promote sustainability on holdings and, on the other, to optimise producers’ energy costs, in line with European policies on ecological transition and the promotion of renewable energy.

Furthermore, the Royal Decree provides for the creation of the Food Quality Coordination Committee, a body whose purpose is to coordinate the actions of the various competent administrations and the poultry sector. Its aim is to uphold quality standards and ensure that inspections and controls are applied consistently throughout the national territory.

Transparency and multi-species labelling

Finally, the regulation reinforces transparency and responds to consumer demands for more comprehensive information. To this end, a multi-species optional labelling system is introduced, which will allow the origin of eggs from different species to be identified on a single product. The aim is to broaden the range of options available to consumers and to offer greater added value to poultry production, particularly given an increasingly informed public with a growing interest in knowing the origin of the food they purchase.

This multi-species labelling system has been introduced to address the growing demand for variety in poultry products and the need to provide consumers with clear and useful information about the origin and characteristics of what they consume.

For further information:
-. Egg marketing standards
-. Royal Decree 1027/2024, of 8 October, regulating the conditions for the application of European Union egg marketing regulations.