Article 12Marking of packs
1.Packs containing Class A eggs shall bear on the outer surface in easily visible and clearly legible type:
(a)the packing centre code;
(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’;
(c)the weight grading in accordance with Article 4(2) of this Regulation;
(d)the date of minimum durability in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation;
(e)the wording ‘washed eggs’ for eggs washed in accordance with Article 3 of this Regulation;
(f)as a special storage condition in accordance with Article 3(1)(6) of Directive 2000/13/EC, an indication advising consumers to keep eggs chilled after purchase.
2.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.
For the identification of the farming method only the following terms shall be used:
(a)for conventional farming, the terms set out in Part A of Annex I, and only if the relevant conditions laid down in Annex II are fulfilled;
(b)for organic production, the terms set out in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91(1).
The meaning of the producer code shall be explained on or inside the pack.
Where laying hens are kept in systems of production in accordance with the requirements laid down in Chapter III of Council Directive 1999/74/EC, the identification of the farming method may be complemented by one of the indications listed in Part B of Annex I to this Regulation.
3.Paragraph 2 shall apply without prejudice to national technical measures going beyond the minimum requirements laid down in Annex II, which may apply only to producers of the Member State concerned and provided that they are compatible with Community law.
4.Packs containing Class B eggs shall bear on the outer surface in easily visible and clearly legible type:
(a)the packing centre code;
(b)the quality grading; packs shall be identified either by the words ‘Class B’ or the letter ‘B’;
(c)the packing date.
5.The Member States may require, for packs of eggs produced on their territory, that the labels be affixed in such a way so as to be broken when opening the packs.