Criterias for 09004 28.May 2010 Procurement of fresh hen eggs (shell eggs), pasteurised whole hen eggs, hen egg yolk, hen egg white of free-range hens
Procurement of fresh hen eggs (shell eggs), pasteurised whole hen eggs, hen egg yolk, hen egg white of free-range hens (09004/28.5.2010) 1. Introduction Important objectives regarding implementation of environmental protection in the facilities of the Vienna City Administration include reduction of resource consumption (e.g. energy), prevention of substances harmful to the environment, prevention and reduction of waste, increase in disposal safety of unavoidable waste, as well as reduction of noise and hazardous substances at the work place. The aim of this criteria list is the procurement of fresh hen eggs (shell eggs), pasteurised whole hen eggs, hen egg yolk and hen whites from conventional free-range hens or from controlled organic farming. Information for procurers The Council Directive of the European Union for the protection of laying hens (Council Directive 1999/74/EC) which specifies the minimum requirements of poultry farms was implemented in Austria by the Animal Welfare Act (Bundestierschutzgesetz) Federal Law Gazette I No 118/2004 in the applicable version, and by Animal Keeping Regulation No 1 (1. Tierhaltungsverordnung), Federal Law Gazette II No 485/2004 in the applicable version. The Animal Welfare Act regulates that as of 1 January 2009 the keeping of laying hens in unenriched cages shall be prohibited. The import of cage eggs from foreign countries is still allowed. Free-range poultry complies with animal-friendly chicken farming. Special regulations on livestock farming of laying hens in alternative systems are specified in annex 6 of the Animal Keeping Regulation No 1 (1. Tierhaltungsverordnung). Additionally, the minimum requirements of production systems for different kinds of laying hens shall apply, as specified in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 regarding marketing standards for eggs. 2
The Regulation on marketing standards of eggs, Federal Law Gazette II No 365/2009 in the applicable version serves the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation), OJ No L 299, 16.11.2007, p 1 and 2. Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 on marketing standards of eggs, OJ No L 163, 24.6.2008, p. 6. When marketing eggs of organic production, all provisions shall apply according to the marketing standards. Regarding the type of keeping practices the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as well as its implementing provisions shall apply. Furthermore, the provisions of the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus (Austrian food codex), Chapter A 8 (agricultural products of organic farming and derived products made thereof) shall apply. Labelling on the egg: For the traceability of eggs determined for human consumption, the producer code shall be specified on the egg with the following data: Method of production: "0" stands for organic product, "1" for free-range, "2" for barn and "3" for cage eggs Country code: The country of origin as a letter code (AT, for instance stands for Austria). Registration number The registration number can be extended by a barn number (separated from the registration number by a hyphen (see Section 5 paragraph 3 of the Council Regulation as regards marketing standards of eggs) Voluntary specifications on the egg may be inter alia the best-before date (BBD). Labelling of packaging: The following specifications are mandatory: Name and address of the packing centre or retailer Number of packing centre Quality and weight grading Amount (or weight) of packed eggs Date of minimum durability and information for consumers Specification of method of production 3
Additional details can be specified, such as purchase price, sell-by date, regional origin. Only class A eggs shall be marketed as fresh produce for direct human consumption. They shall comply with the legal quality criteria and be graded according to their weight: XL: very large (73 g and over), L: large (63 g up to 73 g), M: medium (53 g up to 63 g), S: small (under 53 g). Eggs of class A shall be sold to the customer within 21 days of laying according to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 (Hygiene rules for food of animal origin) annex III section X chapter I number 3. Eggs not corresponding to class A shall be graded class B and shall only be supplied to approved food industry and non-food industry establishments. Communal catering facilities (such as hospitals) are not rated as approved establishments of the food industry. 2. Minimum requirements of the provisions in the specification The specification needs to contain at least the following minimum requirements: All tendered products shall comply with the respective applicable regulations of food law, as well as with other provisions applicable to products and produce. Furthermore, the following minimum requirements shall be adopted regarding method of production: Fresh hen eggs (shell egg), pasteurised whole hen eggs, hen yolks and hen whites from controlled organic farming shall comply with Council Directive (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. Proof (e.g. test certificate of an approved control body) shall be enclosed which clearly states that the tendered products comply with Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. or: Proof shall be provided for fresh hen eggs (shell egg), pasteurised whole hen eggs, hen yolks and hen whites from free-range production that the products comply with the special regulations on live stock farming of laying hens in alternative systems according to annex 6 of the Animal Keeping Regulation No 1 (1. Tierhaltungsverordnung) as well as with the minimum requirements of production systems for different kinds of laying hens as specified in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 regarding marketing standards for eggs. 4
3. Packaging Halogenated polymers are in principle undesirable in packaging. Tenderers shall state, whether and in which collection and recycling system according to section 11 of the 1996 Regulation on Packaging, Federal Law Gazette (BGBl.) II No 648/1996 in the applicable version they are participating in. If they are not participating in a collection and recycling system they shall state which measures they take to recollect the packaging put into circulation. The packaging shall be labelled on the outside in German, according to the ordinance of labelling packed food (Food Labelling Regulation 1993 (Lebensmittelkennzeichnungsverordnung 1993 - LMKV) Federal Law Gazette (BGBl) No 72/1993 in the applicable version. 5