On April 19, 2024, an amendment to Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 was published through Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1141. This amendment includes, among other things, an adjustment to the identification mark.
“[…] Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 contains provisions for the application of an identification mark on products of animal origin. Section I, part B, of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 refers to the European Community instead of the European Union. The abbreviations of the identification mark referring to the European Union must therefore replace the references to the European Community. […]”
Recital 1 of Regulation 2024/1141.
This means that recognized food companies will need to adjust the identification mark, the so-called EG number, on their products in the near future. In the identification mark, EG will be replaced by EU. For example, NL 1234 EG becomes NL 1234 EU.
| The text in Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 before the amendment: | The text in Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 after the amendment: |
|---|---|
| When the mark is applied in an establishment located in the Community, it must be oval and contain the abbreviation CE, EB, EC, EF, EG, EK, EO, EY, ES, EÜ, EK, EZ or WE. | When the mark is applied in an establishment located in the Union, it must be oval and contain the abbreviation of the European Union (EU) in one of the official languages of the Union, as follows: EC, EU, EL, UE, EE, AE, ES, EÚ. |
| Permitted abbreviations: CE, EB, EC, EF, EG, EK, EO, EY, ES, EÜ, EK, EZ or WE | Permitted abbreviations: EC, EU, EL, UE, EE, AE, ES, EÚ |
Within the EU
- The identification mark for products of animal origin may contain EG until December 31, 2028.
- Products with the identification mark containing EG applied before December 31, 2028, may continue to be marketed after that date.
Export
- The principle is that the identification mark applied to the product corresponds to what is stated on the certificate.
- E-CertNL has been adjusted to this as of October 5, 2025. When applying for a certificate, the company can indicate per order line which identification mark is used: NL 1234 EG or NL 1234 EU.
Please ensure that the chosen identification mark on the certificate corresponds to the identification mark on the batch. For products or companies where no addition of EG or EU in the identification mark is applicable, one can choose no EU or EG mention (only sector Veterinary General) or a Foreign Recognition. - Export registrations: in several third countries, food companies are registered with their full identification mark (including EG). The industry organizations and NVWA are working to get these registrations adjusted in a timely manner by sending new lists that omit the suffix EG. It is up to the third countries to adopt these offered lists.
For third countries that only use the recognition number (for example, 1234) of companies as the export registration number, nothing changes.
The above gives companies the opportunity to determine when they will switch to the new identification marks during the transition period.
