Lion Code of Practice

The Lion Code is applied at each point in the egg production chain. Results of the Lion Quality Code in the UK has been a reduction in human salmonellosis and an increase in shell egg consumption.

Chain of egg production

Breeding Flocks

  • All breeding flocks and hatcheries have to be Lion approved.
  • All major hatcheries in the UK are registered with the Lion Scheme.
  • All breeding flocks are tested weekly for Salmonella. Flocks positive for S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium are slaughtered.
  • Feed has to be heat or acid-treated.
  • Parent birds are Salmonella-free. They are not vaccinated against Salmonella.

Rearing farms

  • Registered rearing farms are Lion-approved.
  • A passport accompanies chicks from the hatchery to the rearing farm.
  • Effective on-farm hygiene measures. Emphasis is placed on the cleaning and disinfection process between flocks.
  • Effective rodent control.
  • All pullets are vaccinated against Salmonella Enteritidis on the rearing farm. By 1999 the Lion Flock was fully vaccinated.

Laying farms

  • Registered laying farms, Lion-approved.
  • Passport accompanies pullets from rearing farms.
  • Effective on-farm hygiene measures. Emphasis is placed on the cleaning and disinfection process between flocks.
  • Effective rodent control.

Feed

  • All Lion feed mills must be approved.
  • All feed must be produced according to the UFAS Code of Practice.
  • No mammalian or avian products can be used.
  • No growth promoters can be used.

Transport of eggs from the farm

The Lion Code covers:

  • Temperature control.
  • The use of standardized Keyes tray colours.
  • Written proof of identity. This ensures traceability of the eggs.

Packing centres

  • Written HACCP controls.
  • Cleaning schedules that have to be signed off when completed.
  • Full traceability. Able to know which flock produced the eggs.
  • Effective crack and blood detection on eggs.
  • Lion product exclusivity. If a packing centre is in the Lion scheme, all eggs going into the centre are of Lion quality.

Best before dates

  • Best before dates are stamped on the box and on each eggshell along with the Lion logo.
  • The best-before date is 21 days from packing.

Auditing

All Lion-approved facilities are audited at two levels:

  • A six monthly self-audit.
  • An independent audit.

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