Commission Directive 2002/4/EC

of 30 January 2002

on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens1, and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Directive 1999/74/EC lays down specific requirements for the protection of laying hens in various systems of farming and allow the Member States to choose the most appropriate system or systems.

(2)

Article 7 of Directive 1999/74/EC requires that every establishment covered by the scope of that Directive shall be registered by the competent authority of the Member State and given a distinguishing number, which will be the medium for tracing eggs placed on the market for human consumption.

(3)
Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs2, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 5/20013, makes it compulsory to stamp eggs with a code designating the producer's distinguishing number and permitting the farming method to be identified.
(4)
The farming methods are defined by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1274/91 of 15 May 1991 introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs4, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1651/20015, and also by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs6, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2491/20017, as far as organic production is concerned.
(5)

A registration of the establishments under distinguishing numbers is a condition for tracing eggs placed on the market for human consumption.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: