To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions at the Council of Ministers meeting on 25–26 June on eggs and poultrymeat labelling rules; and whether any agreement was reached on the stamping of eggs.

The Agriculture Council on 25–26 June adopted as A points (a) a regulation on marketing standards for eggs which will replace Council Regulation 2772/75 and (b) a regulation which will introduce marketing standards for poultrymeat. Both regulations include labelling requirements.The new regulation on marketing standards for eggs permits, but does not require, one or more of a specified range of marks to be stamped on grade A eggs subject, in some cases, to further provisions to be set out in Commission regulations.