british lion mark
The British Lion mark on egg shells and egg boxes means that the eggs have been produced to the highest standards of food safety.
The Lion Quality Code of Practice was launched in 1998 and includes compulsory vaccination against Salmonella Enteritidis of all pullets destined for Lion egg-producing laying flocks, independent auditing, full traceability of hens, eggs and feed and a "best-before" date stamped on the shell and pack, as well as on-farm stamping of eggs and packing station hygiene controls.
The Lion Quality mark, which is a registered trademark, can only be used by subscribers to the British Egg Industry Council on eggs which have been produced in accordance with UK and EU law and the Lion Quality Code of Practice.
More than 85% of UK eggs are now produced to Lion Quality standards.
British Lion Code of Practice
The Lion mark was re-introduced on egg boxes in November 1998 to denote eggs produced to a stringent new Code of Practice incorporating the latest research and advice on Salmonella and eggs from scientists and vets. Latest controls in the Lion Code of Practice, which are additional to current legislation, include:
- All hens producing Lion Quality eggs must have been vaccinated against Salmonella Enteritidis.
- A registration and 'passport' system ensures complete traceability of Lion Quality eggs, hens and feed.
- There are increased hygiene controls and Salmonella testing right through the production system.
- The Lion Code of Practice includes stringent feed controls, including production of feed to Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) standards and a ban on the yolk colourant canthaxanthin and the coccidiostat lasalocid in laying birds.
- A best-before date and Lion logo must be printed on the shell of Lion Quality eggs as well as on the egg box.
- The Lion Code of Practice also incorporates higher standards of animal welfare than required by law.
- The Lion Quality mark is a registered trademark and can only be used by BEIC subscribers on egg shells and egg boxes which have been produced in accordance with the Lion Code of Practice and UK and EU law.
- The Lion Code of Practice is monitored by an independent agency in accordance with the EN 45011 standard. Farms and packing stations are regularly audited including unannounced audits.
- All British Lion eggs must be stamped on farm with the farm code and production method
For further information on the Lion Quality mark please download the file below:
pdf document - Acrobat reader required.