As of January 1, 2004, eggs may only be placed on the market from a barn for which the competent authority for the registration of laying hen farms has issued a registration number and which are stamped with a corresponding producer code.
Farms are subject to registration
- which keep 350 or more laying hens or
- farms that keep fewer than 350 hens but market their eggs subject to mandatory labeling.
If fewer than 350 hens are kept and the eggs are sold directly to the end consumer on the farm or at the door without being labeled, there is no obligation to register.
In addition to the farm of origin, the producer code on the egg also shows how the laying hens are kept.
