15.8.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 220/5 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1651/2001 of 14 August 2001 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1274/91 introducing detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 5/2001 (3, and in particular Article 10(3) and Article 20(1) and (4) thereof, Whereas: 1) 335 coL0o0o AN ol ol anll onl Q=N = Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1274/91 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 505/98 (¥, lays down the necessary provisions for the implementation of marketing standards in the egg sector. In order to improve the traceability of eggs and the accuracy of date indications by packing centres, provi- sions to identify deliveries of eggs from producers to packing centres should be reinforced in particular regarding the indication of the laying date or laying period on the container at the production site as well as for the dispatch of ungraded eggs between packing stations. In the case of automated egg-candling systems, it is appropriate to authorise Member States to dispense with continuous manning of the machine. In order to ensure adherence to the existing weight grades comprising weight ranges of 10 g, rules should be reinforced to prevent splitting weight grades into two bands using different pack colours or symbols with different price structure, thus undermining orderly marketing and clear information of consumers. Experience has shown that it is not necessary to link the derogation permitting the delivery of non-packed eggs in small quantities directly from packer to retailer to the distance of delivery. The obligation to indicate the grading date must be replaced by the indication of the best-before date which is the compulsory date to be shown. The definitions of the date of minimum durability and of the recommended sell-by date should be clarified and be linked to the maximum time limit of 21 days after 73, 6.7.1990, p. 5. , 5.1.2001, p. 1. 21, 16.5.1991, p. 11. 3, 4.3.1998, p. 16. laying for the delivery of eggs to the consumer laid down in Council Decision 94/371/EC of 20 June 1994 laying down specific public health conditions for the putting of the market of certain types of eggs (°), which implies a maximum of not more than 28 days after laying for the date of minimum durability. Based on the experience gained and following the adop- tion of Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens (%), the detailed provisions regarding the optional indication of the various farming methods should be adapted with a view to reducing the number of such methods and to redefine the terms which may be used in the different Community languages in partic- ular for the keeping of hens in battery cages. Further- more, the minimum requirements to be met by poultry establishments for the various farming methods should be brought in line with the provisions of Directive 1999/74/EC although certain additional criteria should be laid down for free range eggs in order to prevent abuse of open-air runs. It is also necessary to provide for more detailed rules regarding record keeping by opera- tors in order to improve monitoring of product flow. Finally optional indication of farming methods should be extended to cover eggs for processing in order to promote the marketing of egg products manufactured from eggs of different types and their control. For the optional indication of eggs and their packs of how laying hens are fed, detailed rules must be laid down including in particular provisions which allow to monitor the flow of eggs produced from hens which are fed on a specific type of feed. These rules should provide for minimum rates for the incorporation of cereals when reference is made to their use in the feed of laying hens for which Member States may fix stricter requirements applicable only to producers of the Member State concerned and not impeding exchange of eggs in the Community. Supervision of these rules may also be delegated to bodies which are independent of producers and which should be allowed to recover the costs of controls from operators making use of the indications of how hens are fed and of the farming method in view of the optional character of these indications. 994, p. 34. 999, p. 53.