16. 5. 91 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 121/11 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 eggs . THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs () and in particular Articles 5 (3), 10 (3), 11 (2), 20 (1) and 22 (2) thereof; Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 contains a thorough revision of such marketing standards as were implemented in pursuance of previous Regulations; whereas provision is made therein for detailed rules necessary for the implementation of such standards to be adopted in accordance with Article 17 of Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 2771/75 (3, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1235/89 (°) ; whereas such rules are in particular to be laid down as regards the conditions for registration of collectors and packing centres, the identification, frequency of collection and the delivery and handling of eggs, quality criteria and weight gradings, the particulars of indications on eggs and their packs, terms to be used for indications of the type of farming, and criteria concer- ning the origin of eggs, and exemption in the case of small quantities from the obligation for eggs to be packed in large packs; Whereas both technological developments and consumer demand now make it appropriate to provide for prompter delivery, collection, grading and packing of eggs ; whereas however certain producers are in a position to provide guarantees of maintaining the temperature at which the eggs are kept at a level such as would make possible a permanent exemption from the general requirement of daily collection or delivery in the case of eggs intended for labelling as ‘extra’ eggs as provided for in Article 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 ; whereas, however, for a transitional period, it is appropriate to provide for a general exemption for the benefit of all operators ; Whereas markets, access to which is restricted to autho- rized packing and processing undertakings, provide guarantees of correct handling such that they may be allowed to deliver eggs on the second working day follo- wing that of reception ; () OJ No L 173, 6. 7. 1990, p. 5. () OJ No L 282, 1. 11. 1975, p. 49. () OJ No L 128, 11. 5. 1989, p. 29. Whereas the deliberate cumulation of the various time limits, to the detriment of egg freshness, must be prevented in the case where a packing centre delivers - ungraded eggs to another packing centre ; Whereas only undertakings whose premises and technical equipment are suited to the scale of their operations, which therefore permit the proper handling of the eggs, should be authorized to collect, or to grade eggs by quality and weight ; Whereas, for the avoidance of confusion and in order to facilitate identification of consignments of eggs for the purposes of the enforcement of this Regulation, each packing centre should be allotted a distinguishing regis- tration number based on a uniform coding system ; Whereas, in order to ensure that the consumer is supplied with good quality produce, criteria of a high standard should be fixed for each quality grade; Whereas quality characteristics for fresh eggs, also known as Grade ‘A’ eggs, should be defined so as to be limited to eggs of the highest quality ; whereas certain eggs may be considered to be ‘extra fresh’ in so far as especially strin- gent arrangements apply to their collection and further distribution ; Whereas eggs of ordinary quality, the characteristics of which do not allow their inclusion in the grade ‘fresh eggs’ must be described as ‘second quality eggs’ and graded as such; whereas eggs which have undergone a process of cleaning, dipping refrigeration or preservation should, as a general rule, be put in that grade; Whereas a third quality grade should be established for eggs which do not meet the requirements of the higher grades but are still suitable for human consumption ; Whereas in practice these eggs are largely intended for direct delivery to the food industry, including food industry. undertakings approved in accordance with Council Directive 89/437/EEC of 20 June 1989 on hygiene and health problems affecting the production and placing on the market of egg products (*), as amended by Directive 89/662/EEC (), and on condition that packs () OJ No L 212, 22. 7. 1989, p. 87. () OJ No L 395, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13.