The Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 62

AGRICULTURE, ENGLAND

The Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025

Made

22nd January 2025

Coming into force

23rd January 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 37(1) and 50(3) of the Agriculture Act 2020(1).

The Secretary of State has carried out a consultation, in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety(2), in relation to the revisions to food law made by these Regulations.

In accordance with sections 37(6) and 50(6)(a) of the Agriculture Act 2020, a draft of this instrument has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 and come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Amendment to Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008

2.—(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs(3) is amended as follows.

(2) In Annex 2 (Minimum requirements for systems of production for the various egg farming methods), in paragraph 1, at the end of point (a), insert as new subparagraphs—

“The second subparagraph does not apply to eggs marketed in England.

For eggs marketed in England, should measures adopted under assimilated law require access of hens to open-air runs to be restricted in order to protect public or animal health, those eggs may be marketed as ‘free-range’ notwithstanding that restriction.”.

Daniel Zeichner

Minister of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

22nd January 2025

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make an amendment to the legislation relating to the marketing of eggs as free-range in the event of measures being adopted which restrict continuous daytime access of laying hens to open-air runs in order to protect public or animal health.

Regulation 2 amends Annex 2 to 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 marketed in England. The amendment removes the limit on the length of time that laying hens can have their access to open air runs restricted and still have their eggs marketed as free-range in England.

A full impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. A de minimis assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the cost of business has been prepared and is available from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

(1)

2020 c. 21.

(2)

EUR 2002/178, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(3)

EUR 2008/589, as amended by S.I. 2019/1422; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.