Requirements for the Circulation of Eggs in Small Quantities

Issued pursuant to
Section 8, Paragraphs ten and twelve and Section 13,
Paragraph three, Clause 3 of the Law on the
Supervision of the Handling of Food

1. The Regulation prescribes:

1.1. the hygiene requirements for the production of eggs and direct supply thereof in small quantities to a final consumer or a retail establishment supplying eggs directly to the final consumer;

1.2. the amount of direct supply of eggs;

1.3. the procedures for issuing, suspending, and renewing the permit for selling eggs (hereinafter - the permit);

1.4. the requirements for an additional marking.

[21 August 2018]

2. Small quantities of eggs (hereinafter - the eggs) shall be:

2.1. the eggs produced by a flock of laying hens, guinea fowls, quails, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and other poultry (hereinafter - the laying birds) if it has no more than 350 laying hens or 1000 laying birds of another species (except for ostriches) in total and the housing has no more than 1000 laying birds in total;

2.2. not more than 250 ostrich eggs sold per year.

3. Eggs shall be produced by the laying birds that are clinically healthy and have been examined in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the procedures for controlling and combating salmonella and other food-borne infectious diseases in poultry flocks intended for the production of small quantities of food products for direct supply to a final consumer.

4. Eggs may be directly supplied by an egg producer (hereinafter - the producer) that is registered in the Register of Establishments Involved in Primary Production of Food Products of Animal Origin created in the database of the Agricultural Data Centre (hereinafter - the Data Centre) and has received the permit.

5. In order to receive the permit, the producer shall submit an application to the Food and Veterinary Service (hereinafter - the Service) indicating the following:

5.1. the given name, surname or firm name of the owner of the flock and the registration number of the flock and housing in the Register of Livestock, Flocks, and Housing of the Data Centre;

5.2. the total number of birds in a housing, and also the number of laying birds;

5.3. the species of the bird producing eggs.

6. The Service shall, within 10 working days after receipt of the application referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Regulation, examine the housing and assess its compliance with:

6.1. the requirements of this Regulation;

6.2. the laws and regulations regarding the general livestock welfare requirements;

6.3. the laws and regulations regarding the procedures for registering livestock and aquaculture animals, their flocks and housings, and also the procedures for marking livestock;

6.4. the laws and regulations regarding the procedures for controlling and combating salmonella and other food-borne infectious diseases in poultry flocks intended for the production of small quantities of food products for direct supply to a final consumer.

7. The Service shall, within five working days after performing the activities referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Regulation, take one of the following decisions:

7.1. if egg production meets the requirements referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Regulation - to issue the permit to the producer and to include it in the list of permits issued;

7.2. if egg production does not meet the requirements referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Regulation - not to issue the permit to the producer.

8. The Service shall, within three working days, notify the producer of the decision taken, and if the decision referred to in Sub-paragraph 7.1 has been taken, issue the permit to the producer.

9. If the requirements referred to in this Regulation are not complied with, the Service shall:

9.1. take the decision to suspend the permit;

9.2. make an entry in the list of issued permits on the fact that the permit has been suspended;

9.3. within one working day, inform the producer of the decision taken.

10. In order to renew the permit, the producer shall submit an application to the territorial unit of the Service with a request to perform the examination of housing and to renew the permit.

11. The Service shall, within 10 working days after receipt of the application referred to in Paragraph 10 of this Regulation, examine the housing and, if the egg production meets the requirements referred to in Paragraph 6 of this Regulation, take the decision to renew the permit, notify the producer thereof, and delete the entry on the suspension of the permit made in the list of issued permits.

12. The Service shall perform the examination of housing referred to in Paragraph 11 of this Regulation for a charge in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the procedures for making payments for the State supervision and control operations and paid services of the Service.

13. The producer shall ensure the following:

13.1. collection of the laid eggs (every day);

13.2. records of the collected eggs (every day);

13.3. records of the sold eggs;

13.4. storage of information on the number of collected and sold eggs for three years following the selling of eggs.

14. The following shall be ensured during egg production, storage, transportation, and selling:

14.1. protection thereof against impact and contamination;

14.2. protection against exposure to direct sunlight;

14.3. storage of eggs in clean and dry premises.

15. The eggs to be sold are clean, dry, with undamaged shell.

16. The eggs shall be sold to a final consumer within 21 days after laying. The durability date of eggs shall be 28 days after laying.

17. When supplying eggs to a retail establishment, the producer shall provide it with the information referred to in Annex to this Regulation. The producer and a retail establishment shall present the information referred to in Annex to this Regulation upon request of the inspector of the Service, and also shall store it for three years following the selling, and destroy it afterwards.

[21 August 2018]

18. The following information shall be indicated in a place visible to the consumer at the point of sale of eggs:

18.1. given name, surname or firm name of the producer, number of the housing recorded in the register of the Data Centre, and address;

18.2. the species of the bird producing eggs;

18.3. the date of laying eggs;

18.4. the durability date of eggs;

18.5. the number of the permit;

18.6. for eggs produced by hens of the species Gallus Gallus - the method used for the keeping of laying hens:

18.6.1. organic production - "0";

18.6.2. free range eggs - "1";

18.6.3. barn eggs - "2";

18.6.4. eggs from caged hens - "3".

19. Eggs produced by the flock of hens of the species Gallus Gallus which consists of more than 50 laying birds may be supplied directly to the final consumer if the eggs are marked. The following information shall be included in the marking of an egg:

19.1. the number identifying the method for the keeping of laying hens (in conformity with Sub-paragraph 18.6 of this Regulation);

19.2. code of Latvia (LV);

19.3. registration number of the housing in the Data Centre.

19.¹ Eggs of domestic chickens (Gallus Gallus species) may be supplied to a retail establishment that supplies the eggs directly to the final consumer if the producer ensures the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Part VI of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 and in Articles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, Article 12(1), (2), and (3), Articles 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, and 28 of, and also in Annexes I and II 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.

[21 August 2018]

20. At a point of sale where fresh duck or geese eggs are sold a relevant indication "Fresh duck eggs, recommended to use cooked" or "Fresh geese eggs, recommended to use cooked" shall be put in a place visible to a consumer.

21. Cabinet Regulation No. 857 of 14 September 2010, Requirements for the Supply of Small Quantities of Eggs (Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2010, No. 148), is repealed.

Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis

Minister for Agriculture Jānis Dūklavs

Annex
Cabinet Regulation No. 235
3 May 2017

Information to be Provided to a Retail Establishment on the Producer and the Farming Method

[21 August 2018]

1. The given name, surname or firm name of the egg producer.

2. The address of the housing and the registration number granted by the Agricultural Data Centre.

3. The number of the permit for egg sale.

4. The species of the bird producing eggs.

5. For eggs produced by hens of the species Gallus Gallus - the method used for the keeping of laying hens:

5.1. organic production - "0";

5.2. free range eggs - "1";

5.3. barn eggs - "2";

5.4. eggs from caged hens - "3".

6. The name and address of the recipient (establishment).

7. The number of eggs supplied (pieces)

Translation © 2020 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)