http://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/589/article/2Commission 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 eggsCommission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008Commission 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 eggsKing's Printer of Acts of Parliamenthttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/eu-exit/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02008R0589-20171125texttext/xmlen2025-03-12Expert Participation2025-02-27 Quality characteristics of eggsArticle 21Class A eggs shall have the following quality characteristics:ashell and cuticle: normal shape, clean and undamaged;bair space: height not exceeding 6 mm, stationary; however, for eggs to be marketed as ‘extra’, it may not exceed 4 mm;cyolk: visible on candling as a shadow only, without clearly discernible outline, slightly mobile upon turning the egg, and returning to a central position;dwhite: clear, translucent;egerm: imperceptible development;fforeign matter: not permissible;gforeign smell: not permissible.2Class A eggs shall not be washed or cleaned, before or after grading ....3Class A eggs shall not be treated for preservation or chilled in premises or plants where the temperature is artificially maintained at less than 5 °C. However, eggs which have been kept at a temperature below 5 °C during transport for not more than 24 hours or on retail premises or in annexes thereto for not more than 72 hours shall not be considered as chilled.4Class B eggs shall be eggs which do not meet the quality characteristics provided for in paragraph 1. Class A eggs which no longer have those characteristics may be downgraded to Class B.Words in Art. 2(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 4(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)