15.07.2011

New rules insisting on the use of on-farm stamping for free range egg producers operating under the Lion code have now come into force.
On-farm stamping was already in operation for Lion cage producers and was originally due to come into effect for non-cage producers, including free range, from the beginning of this year, but the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) agreed to delay implementation for six months to give non-cage units more time to source suitable stamping equipment. The new rules finally came into force on June 30 and free range producers who want their eggs to be sold through the Lion scheme must now stamp on-farm
From 30th June 2011, all eggs produced on a Lion registered laying farm are required to be marked on farm with the Producer Establishment Number (PEN). 
The introduction of on-farm stamping by Lion is seen as one of the initiatives being undertaken by the egg industry to counter fraud (Farming UK).