Free-range systems outdoors
Free-range systems outdoors involve housing in multi- or single-storey systems for free-range hens. In addition, the hens have access to the outdoors all year round. The hens move freely in large pens indoors with litter on the floor. The hens sand bathe on the floor and have access to perches at different heights and nest boxes to lay their eggs in. There is a difference between a single- and multi-storey system. Multi-storey systems have several shelves (floors), and the hens can choose at what height above the floor they want to be at different times. The hens often move throughout the system but seek higher ground when it is time for the night's rest.
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| Download | Description | |||
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| Production form - free-range system outdoors | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information The production forms of free-range systems outdoors give hens an opportunity to move freely in large pens indoors with litter on the floor. In addition, the hens have access to the outdoors all year round. Criterion text Whole eggs and egg products must have been produced by laying hens with access to nest boxes, sand baths and perches, in addition to being able to move freely in the pen and having access to the outdoors all year round. | ||||
| More sustainably produced soy in animal feed | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information The cultivation of soy can entail large environmental risks due to the high use of pesticides, soil erosion, along with the risk for land use change and deforestation in species-rich forest and grassland areas. Contracting organisations can specify requirements that improve the prerequisites for a transition to a more sustainable production of soy. Criterion text Animal-based foods shall come from animals where the soy1, if included in the feed, is produced in such a way that, at a minimum, it covers the following:
It is adequate that the documentation of the traceability of the soy can be shown through a segregated supply chain (Identity Preserved or Segregated), or through the principle of mass balance, or through the principle for credits (Credits/Book and Claim). | ||||
| Information about the origin of the raw material - egg and milk | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability in the food chain are important in order to be able to check sustainability parameters in the supply chain. By requiring that information about the origin of the raw-material is to be available and controllable, the procuring organization assures that traceability in the food chain is possible. Criterion text For products made from eggs and/or milk, information must be provided about the country of origin of the raw material, and it must be available to check when a tender is submitted. This information must also be made available or provided on request throughout the term of the contract.The information must include:
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| Antibiotics | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information A high use of antibiotics risks increasing antibiotic resistance. Bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics constitute a growing international public health problem. The development of resistance is associated with the overuse of antibiotics and it is therefore important that antibiotics are not used for preventive purposes in livestock production. Criterion text Antibiotics must only be used when prescribed by a veterinarian and when doing so is medically justified. Documented routines for antibiotics use must exist at production level and be available on request. | ||||
| Health reporting system | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Healthy animals are an important aspect of animal welfare. Moreover, it is an important aspect for climate impact as healthy animals also produce more efficiently. A low mortality rate in production is a significant indicator. Criterion text Eggs must come from a producer that works in accordance with a health reporting system with health parameters for animal welfare. Parameters are to be monitored in a systematic way, causes must be analysed, deviations must be documented and result in appropriate action in consultation with a veterinarian or production advisor to remedy the problems. The health reporting system must at least include the following:
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| No synthetic colouring in feed | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Synthetic colouring, e.g. canthaxanthin (so-called R-phrases), used in feed for laying hens give the egg a brightly coloured yolk but do not improve the quality of the feed for the animal. Synthetic colouring can increase the risk of developing allergies in children. Criterion text Egg products must come from laying hens that have not received feed containing synthetic colouring. | ||||
| No beak trimming - chickens, turkeys and hens | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Beak trimming involves changing part of the beak to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. Feather pecking and cannibalism occur to a lesser extent in a good stable environment in which stress is alleviated. Hence not permitting beak trimming is a relevant animal welfare criterion. Criterion text Chicken and hen raw material shall come from animals whose beaks have not been changed during rearing by means of beak trimming, for example. This also applies to the parental generation. Turkey raw material shall come from animals whose beaks have not been changed during rearing by means of beak trimming, for example. | ||||
| Responsible use of antibiotics - Chickens, turkeys and hens | Core | Special contract terms | ||
Criterion information Requiring responsible use of antibiotics can help ensure that antibiotics are only used when necessary for animal health. High use of antibiotics in the production of animal products is associated with increased development of resistance to antibiotics, posing a threat to global public health. High antibiotic use also presents a challenge in terms of sustainability. Criterion text The supplier undertakes to deliver, from the start of the contract, only raw material from chickens, turkeys and hens produced in such a manner that antibiotics, as defined in Regulation 2019/6/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, are not used to promote growth or routinely prevent disease. Antibiotics shall only be used on veterinary prescription for sick animals or for animals in groups where disease has broken out, after clinical disease has been diagnosed in part of the group. There shall be documentation for raw material from chickens, turkeys and hens throughout the contract period showing the total number of medical treatments, the reason for treatment and the preparations used. Documentation per flock1 will be sufficient. Third and fourth generation cephalosporins may only be used when microbiological and resistance testing shows that there is no effective alternative. Coccidiostats as feed additives are not deemed to be antibiotics in this criterion. | ||||
Free-range systems outdoors involve housing in multi- or single-storey systems for free-range hens. In addition, the hens have access to the outdoors all year round. The hens move freely in large pens indoors with litter on the floor. The hens sand bathe on the floor and have access to perches at different heights and nest boxes to lay their eggs in. There is a difference between a single- and multi-storey system. Multi-storey systems have several shelves (floors), and the hens can choose at what height above the floor they want to be at different times. The hens often move throughout the system but seek higher ground when it is time for the night's rest.
As this housing system is adapted to countries with a much milder climate, it is a form of production that still exists to a very limited extent in Sweden with its cold winters.
Whole eggs and compound products with an egg content exceeding 20%.
- Whole fresh shell eggs, e.g., eggs in cartons sized S, M, L and XL.
- Cooked peeled eggs, e.g., vacuum-packed.
- Liquid egg products, e.g., egg yolk, egg white, whole eggs and scrambled eggs.
- Semi-finished products, e.g., pancakes.
- Egg powder
Note that the availability of eggs from this type of production is very limited and requirements on outdoor rearing must be preceded by thorough market research.