Efficient egg labeling

With Hitachi CIJ printing technology and the PA7100 label printing dispenser

The correct labeling of eggs is a legal requirement and plays a key role in quality assurance and traceability. Our solutions with the Hitachi CIJ printing technology and the PA7100 label printing dispenser offer you an efficient, reliable and compliant solution that optimizes your production.

Why is egg labeling important?

Eggs must be correctly labeled in accordance with European Union legislation and German regulations. These regulations serve consumer protection, traceability and quality assurance. In Germany, egg labeling is regulated by EU regulations, which set clear requirements for the imprints on eggs and egg cartons.

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Legal requirements for egg labeling

What must be written on eggs and egg cartons?

Imprint on eggs

Each egg must be labeled with a so-called code for the origin which consists of several important pieces of information:

Form of husbandry:

Labeling of the conditions under which the chickens are kept:
'0' for organic production,
'1' for free range,
'2' for barn rearing,
'3' for cage rearing.

Country code (origin):

Two letters for the EU member state in which the egg was produced, for example:

AT = Austria
BE = Belgium
DE = Germany
NL = Netherlands

Identification of the company:

Each Member State has set up a system to assign a unique number to producer holdings. Additional digits can be added to identify individual herds/stables.

Example of a German producer code: 1-DE-0212341

1 = Free-range farming method

DE = Origin: Germany

0212341 = farm number, where the first two digits identify the federal state, the third to sixth digits the farm and the seventh digit the respective stable.

Printing on egg cartons

Egg cartons must also contain the same information that can be found on the eggs themselves, as well as additional information. The pack contains information on the number of eggs, quality class, weight class, best-before date and the pack number. There is also the consumer information "Keep at refrigerator temperature - heat through after the best-before date". This information is required by law.

Quality class

Class A or "fresh": Eggs must not be washed or otherwise cleaned, preserved or cooled ("normal" table eggs for private households).
Class B or "second quality or declassified eggs" are intended for companies in the food industry and companies in the non-food industry.

The criteria for classification into quality classes are the condition of the shell and cuticle, the air chamber, the yolk, the germ and the odor of the egg.

Farming methodTo enable consumers to make an informed choice, the farming method must also be clearly visible.

Weight class: Weight classes for eggs

	Designation	Weight class
S	Small	under 53 g
M	Medium	53 to under 63 g
L	Large	63 to under 73 g
XL	Very large	73 g and more

Best before date:

Boxes must also be labeled with a best-before date. The best-before date must not exceed 28 days after laying. The last date of sale is the 28th day after laying. For grade B eggs, the packing date must be indicated instead of the best-before date.

Packing station number:

This tells you where the eggs were packed. It is used by the inspection authorities to trace the eggs. It is quite possible and also legally permissible for eggs laid in a Dutch company (stamp on the egg: NL) to be sorted and labeled in a German packing station (PN number on the packaging: DE ....). The indication "DE" on the packaging therefore does not necessarily say anything about the origin of the eggs, only the stamp on the egg is decisive for this.

This information is either applied directly to the egg carton or on a label that can be printed using a label printing dispenser such as the PA7100 is applied."

Our solutions for egg labeling

Our solutions with Hitachi CIJ printing technology and PA7100 label printing dispensers enable simple and efficient compliance with these legal requirements:

Direct printing on eggs with Hitachi CIJ technology:

Hitachi CIJ printing technology allows the required information to be printed directly onto the eggshell without compromising the quality of the eggshell. This ensures long-lasting, clear and precise labeling. The inks are food-safe and meet all legal requirements.

Labeling of egg cartons with the PA7100 label printing dispenser:

The PA7100 label printer-dispenser prints all the necessary information on the egg cartons, such as origin, farming method and best-before date. This label printer is particularly suitable for high production speeds and can be easily integrated into existing packaging lines.

Learn more about Hitachi CIJ printers

Learn more about PA7100

Powerful solutions for your production

Why Hitachi CIJ printers are the ideal choice

Performance:

The printing systems can print up to 30.000 eggs per hour per lane and are therefore ideally suited to the high demands of the egg industry. This speed enables efficient production, even with large volumes.

Certified by Moba:

Hitachi printing systems are from Mobathe world's leading manufacturer of egg shunting, packaging and processing machines. This cooperation guarantees the highest quality and compatibility with Moba machines.

Coding requirements:

The Hitachi CIJ printing systems fulfill all legal coding requirements of the EU, such as the indication of the farming methodthe country of origin and the producer codeto ensure complete traceability of the eggs.

Technology and reliability:

With a drip control system the printers offer precise print quality that also enables multi-line coding. The systems are characterized by easy maintenance and high reliability, which minimizes downtime and maximizes operational efficiency.

Integration into the Moba Omnia series

Seamless integration with Moba Omnia series

The Hitachi CIJ printing systems are specially designed for integration into the Moba Omnia seriesa state-of-the-art range of machines for egg processing. These systems have been certified by Moba and meet all the requirements for seamless integration.