Applies to
- Commercial layer farms in EU
- Non-EU layer operations exporting shell eggs or egg products to EU
Key requirements
- ▸Conventional (barren) cages prohibited since 2012
- ▸Enriched cages: minimum 750 cm²/hen usable area, nest, perch, litter and claw-shortening device
- ▸Alternative systems: perches, litter, nests, maximum stocking rules
- ▸Feed and water access requirements per hen
- ▸Inspection, record-keeping and registration under egg-marketing rules
How buyers cite this in procurement
Layer-house EPC specifications for EU-market operations must select equipment (enriched cage / aviary / floor systems) compliant with the directive and with off-taker cage-free commitments.
Frequently asked
Are enriched cages equivalent to cage-free?
No. Enriched cages are permitted under 1999/74/EC but many retailers and food-service buyers now require cage-free (aviary, barn, free-range or organic).
Related references
For commercial farm feed buyers
Buying feed that must meet Council Directive 1999/74/EC for a commercial farm
Farm buyers cite Council Directive 1999/74/EC in the RFQ so every supplier quotes against the same requirement. FeedMatch structures that requirement and returns comparable offers from suppliers able to document compliance.
- Best for
- Commercial farms, integrators, distributors and feed buyers sourcing feed that must meet Council Directive 1999/74/EC and related feed, additives or nutrition supply on a recurring commercial scale — not pet food, hobby farms or backyard quantities.
- Animal species covered
- Broilers and layers, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, tilapia, salmon and shrimp, plus sheep and goats on request.
- Typical feed buyer needs
- A written specification, verified suppliers who can hold that specification, comparable pricing on the same delivery terms, documented quality (CoA, certifications) and a supply schedule that matches production.
- Bulk feed and recurring supply
- Most requests are bulk or big-bag volumes on monthly or quarterly contracts. Volume per delivery, storage capacity on farm and contract length change price more than the headline per-tonne quote.
- Feed additives and premix
- Premix, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, toxin binders and other additives can be quoted alongside compound feed or ingredients so one supplier comparison covers the whole ration.
- What affects feed cost
- Raw-material origin and specification, inclusion rates, freight and Incoterms, packaging, order volume, payment terms, currency and certification requirements. Landed cost, not ex-works price, decides the winner.
- RFQ checklist
- Species and production stage, tonnes per month, target specification, delivery port or farm location, packaging, required certifications, first delivery date and contract duration.
- Supplier matching process
- You define the requirement, FeedMatch structures the RFQ, sends it to relevant qualified suppliers, and returns comparable offers side by side so you can negotiate on equal terms.
- Buyer is not charged
- Farm buyers are not charged to submit a requirement, receive matched suppliers or compare quotes.
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.