Eggs sold in Taiwan to be stamped with traceability code from 2022

Eggs sold in Taiwan will be required to carry a traceability code on their shell beginning next year, enabling consumers to more easily identify the source of the eggs and how the hens producing the eggs are farmed.

This new measure will apply to all washed eggs sold by convenience stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, wholesale retailers and e-commerce platforms, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said in a statement Thursday.

Each egg will be stamped with a two-line traceability code denoting the housing system where the egg was laid, its packaging date and where it was farmed, according to the COA.

From Jan. 1, 2022, consumers will be able to choose between organic (O), free range (F) or barn (B) eggs where hens are allowed to move around more freely.

Conventional cage and enriched cage systems will be identified by the letters C and E, respectively.

A dedicated website has been established so that consumers can learn where the eggs they purchase originated and how the hens are farmed, the agricultural council said.

On Wednesday, Premier Su Tseng-chang (???) said Taiwan has promoted the widespread adoption of traceability for agricultural produce in recent years.

Citing an example, Su said the daily output of domestically-produced eggs currently stands at around 24 million, with the production date of each one clearly indicated.

This is not the case in every country, he said, and as such, being able to do so is an achievement Taiwan can be proud of as it also protects the health of consumers, he added.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel