Qualification of free-range quail's eggs

20.6.2018

Question for written answer E-003382-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Hilde Vautmans (ALDE)

To maintain the viability of their farm, certain farmers are commercialising free-range eggs from quails. In Belgium, this apparently concerned 28 farms in 2017. Unlike for chicken eggs, there is no European legislation that provides for information for consumers with regard to the breeding methods for quail’s eggs.

Consumers however expect clarity on the way these eggs are bred, particularly since it has been established that the term free-range eggs has already been misappropriated with regard to quails. The Belgian Federal Government points out that there is no European legislation for such eggs and that it can therefore not intervene.

1. Does the Commission intend to issue specific regulations for quail’s eggs?

2. Does the Commission have an idea of how big the European market for quail’s eggs is?