coop Naturafarm Free Range Eggs 53g+ 10 Pieces Instructions

: June 3, 2024
: coop

coop Naturafarm Free Range Eggs 53g+ 10 Pieces

coop Naturafarm Free Range Eggs 53g+ 10 Pieces product

Guideline classification| Guideline sub-category| Product area| Classification number
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Own-label brands| Brand management / Labels / Quality seals| Food| 020.01.015
Responsible for Guideline| Function
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MC 11 Dairy products/Eggs| Category Manager

Aim of the Guideline

This Guideline defines specific standards that Coop requires of business partners in terms of the Coop Naturafarm Eggs brand.

Scope

This Guideline applies to all business partners who supply Coop’s own-label food brands to the Coop retail channels, Coop Restaurant, Building & Hobby, coop.ch, Coop Pronto and Coop department stores.

General requirements

Principles for contract-based production

Intermediaries involved in the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme may only conclude contracts with Coop Naturafarm Eggs producers who keep laying hens for egg production exclusively in accordance with this Guideline. This regulation applies to all production sites which fall within the producer’s area of responsibility and/or have business associations with the producer.
Only farms located in Switzerland may participate in the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme. If the farms are not located in Switzerland, the eggs may not be marketed in the Coop Naturafarm channel.
Producers must prove to the inspection body in accordance with Section 8.1.1.A that they satisfy the requirements for ecological certification (ÖLN) pursuant to the latest version of the Federal Ordinance on Direct Payments in Agriculture (DPO; SR 910.13).
Producers must prove that they registered the animal category “laying hens” in accordance with the latest applicable version of the Federal Ordinance on Direct Agricultural Payments (DPO; SR 910.13) for the animal welfare contributions towards particularly animal-friendly stabling (PAS) and regular outdoor exercise for livestock (ROEL).
As a recognized contact, the Consortium of Coop Naturafarm Producers (EGN) represents producers’ interests in their dealings with Coop and with the intermediary.
GN membership is recommended to all producers.
Intermediaries may also conclude contracts under the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme with producers who do not fulfil certain formal requirements for the receipt of direct payments from the Confederation. The conclusion of such contracts must be agreed with Coop and the inspection body. Producers concerned must prove to the inspection body in accordance with Section 8.1.1.A that they satisfy the requirements for ecological certification pursuant to the DPO, monitored by cantonal inspection bodies.
Producers in the Naturafarm Eggs programme regularly attend professional development events for egg producers and the Naturafarm egg producer meetings.

Production requirements

The use of genetic engineering techniques is prohibited at all stages of production. Such techniques may not be used either in the breeding process or in the reproduction of livestock. In accordance with the Ordinance on the Production and Marketing of Feedstuffs (Animal Feed Ordinance, FeedO; SR 916.307), feed must not contain any notifiable genetically modified constituents.
Only laying hens hatched in Switzerland are permitted for the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme. Hatching and chick production takes place at domestic breeding establishments or hatcheries. The import of fertilized eggs and day-old chicks for the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme is not permitted. In written consultation with Coop, in exceptional cases and for experimental purposes (e.g. breed improvement) or in case of supply bottlenecks, the production partner may import the necessary hatching eggs or chicks.
The birds must be kept in groups. Weak, sick or injured birds must be housed in their own pen or culled.
All parts of the barn and outdoor area, as well as the feeding and drinking equipment, must be kept clean.
The birds must have access to fresh drinking water at all times.
The birds must always have access to appropriate materials as a source of physical and mental stimulation.
The latest conditions of each intermediary apply to the delivery and quality of the Coop Naturafarm eggs.
The eggs are collected 2-3 times a week by the intermediary.

Animal husbandry requirements

General requirements

Barn

The barn must offer adequate opportunities to take cover and seek solitude, in the form of different levels and perches. In any event, enough resting places must be available in the third dimension so that the entire flock can rest in this area overnight. All levels and perches must be easily accessible to the birds, with appropriate gaps and approach angles or, if necessary, ramps to assist with ascending.
The birds must have access at all times to the whole barn, with the exception of chicks, for no more than 28 days after being introduced to the barn.
The barn system may not comprise more than 4 levels, with a maximum height of 2.8 metres from ground level. The top accessible area counts as the highest point. A level is each accessible area that counts as a usable area, including the barn floor, but not including perches or perch and feeding levels. This requirement applies to new farms joining the programme and for the installation of new aviaries at existing CNf egg farms.
The distance between the outermost perch in an aviary and the barn wall should be at least 1.5 m. If this distance is not met, ramps must be provided on all levels as an aid to climbing and descending from the perches.
A “usable area” in this sense is an area which satisfies the requirements for rest areas or mesh areas and that have a clearance of at least 50 cm and a width of at least 30 cm (unless the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) system permit allows less). The floor must not have an incline of more than 12%. Levels must be arranged in such a way that excrement cannot accumulate in the animal area.
The total length of the perches must be such that all birds can sit on them at the same time, allowing at least 14 cm per laying hen and a minimum of 11 cm per pullet.
Perches above the bedding material or nest approach perches and perches with >5 cm width are not counted as perches. Perches must be provided at various heights. Some of the perches must be at least 50 cm above the floor. Perches must be made from non-slip material and be designed not to be damaging to the balls of the feet.
The grippable surface area of the perches must be at least 3 cm; integrated perches on the aviary level must have a height of at least 2 cm. Perches covered with mesh are not counted.
For laying hens, the horizontal distance between two perches on one level must be at least 30 cm, the distance from the wall (or other boundaries) at least 15 cm, and the vertical distance at least 50 cm (unless a smaller distance is allowed in the FSVO system permit).
For pullets, perches on one level must have a horizontal distance between them of at least 25 cm and of at least 10 cm from the wall (or other boundaries). The vertical distance must be at least 50 cm (unless a smaller distance is allowed in the FSVO system permit).
The birds’ exercise area in the barn must be illuminated with at least 15 lux daylight. In barn areas in which the strength of daylight is greatly reduced by barn fixtures or distance from windows, but is at least 5 lux, the light intensity of 15 lux must be achieved by providing artificial light. In rest and retreat areas including nests, light of less than 5 lux is permitted. A temporary reduction in illumination level as an emergency measure against feather pecking is also permitted in consultation with the inspection body. Such measures must be documented in the treatment log, indicating the time and duration.
When carrying out lighting programmes, the light phase may be reduced, but no more than one dark phase may be implemented in 24 hours. The light phase may not be artificially extended to more than 16 hours per day. A twilight phase of 15 to 30 minutes is recommended.
High-frequency light sources with a frequency of at least 2,000 Hz (e.g. high-frequency fluorescent tubes) must be used for the artificial lighting.
The scratching area in the barn is at least 20% of the area accessible to the birds and is completely covered with plenty of straw. Elevated scratching areas (e.g. scratching crates) are not permitted. The straw must be mostly dry and loose, so that the birds are able to peck, scratch and take dust baths. For bedding, only appropriate materials may be used that do not pose a health threat to the birds and are not environmentally harmful or harmful to food quality (e.g. wood shavings, loose straw, chopped straw, etc.). Bedding materials that pose a particular health threat to birds include newspaper and materials that generate an exceptionally large amount of dust. Chinese silver grass is prohibited due to mycotoxin problems. Peat in particular is regarded as ecologically harmful.
The maximum number of birds per farm is limited to 12,000 birds. The maximum flock size for pullets is 12,000 birds and for laying hens 6,000 birds.
The current version of the Swiss Animal Protection Ordinance (AniPO; SR 455.1) serves as the basis for calculating occupancy, taking account of the requirements of this Guideline. The maximum numbers may be exceeded by no more than 2% when birds are introduced to a barn, and by a maximum of 4% for pullets. This is only possible if the maximum flock size in accordance with Section 4.1.1 O is the limiting factor. All requirements (space, trough length, perch length, etc.) must be met for all housed birds.
Good air quality must be guaranteed in the barn. The ammonia concentration may not exceed an average of 20 ppm.

Outdoor area
The facility must have an outdoor area (bad weather outdoor area, outdoor area, covered outdoor area).

The outdoor area is a fully covered area which is open along the length of one longitudinal side or is bounded by wire or plastic mesh and, if necessary, is fitted with a windbreak. If the external boundary also comprises a base (e.g. concrete wall), this must not be more than 50 cm in height on average. The open side must be at least 1.5 m tall. The specifications on minimum base height and on the minimum height of the open side apply to newly built barns and upgraded structures in the outdoor area as of 1 January 2019.
The whole area must be fully covered with bedding and structured with suitable facilities such as straw bales, heating, perches etc. to enable the third dimension to be used. For every 100 birds, a perch length of 1 m must be available for laying hens or 0.5 m for pullets. Drinking equipment must be functional throughout the growing season, but as a minimum between 1 May and 30 September. Opportunities for dust bathing must be guaranteed at all times. Only appropriate materials may be used as bedding (see Section 4.1.1 N).
The width of the openings from the barn to the outdoor area and from the outdoor area to the field is at least 1.5 m per 1,000 birds. The openings are each at least 0.7 m wide and must be spread out evenly.

Specific requirements for the rearing of pullets

General principles
The rearing of Coop Naturafarm pullets must ensure that the birds are optimally prepared for their later life as laying hens at the Coop Naturafarm farm. In particular, the pullets must learn natural behaviours in which they can engage later on in the layer barn. This is intended to prevent the subsequent development of behavioural issues. The resilience and natural immunity of the pullets must also be developed and consolidated during rearing.

The rearing organisation notifies the inspection body one month in advance of the housing of hens for the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme. The rehousing of the chickens during rearing (period between initial housing and delivery to the laying hen farm) is not permitted.
New barns and structural adjustments must be notified to the inspection body in good time before the hens are housed so that, if necessary, the inspection body can carry out an additional inspection.

Barn

The housing system must correspond to the system subsequently used in the layer barn. In particular, the same feeding and drinking equipment must be used if possible.
The light phase may not be artificially extended to more than 16 hours per day. By way of exception, in the first three days of the chicks’ life the light phase may be increased to 24 hours.
Facilities for keeping the chicks together for water, feed and warmth (e.g. rings) may only
be used during the first four weeks.
During the first four weeks, suitable bedding material for young chicks is provided. The volume of bedding material must be sufficient without covering the feeding and drinking facilities.

Outdoor area

The minimum area is 0.032 m2 per animal. The outdoor area may be kept closed until the chicks are 42 days old. Once the chicks are 43 days old, the outdoor area must be permanently accessible throughout the day, as a minimum between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Access may be restricted after the chicks are 43 days old for the following reasons:
- In the event of illness, high wind, lying snow or when a light programme is being implemented
- From 6 weeks of age: In temperatures below 16°C
- From 10 – 15 weeks of age: In temperatures below 10°C
If access to the outdoor area is not open, the producer has a duty to review during the day whether there are still grounds for the restriction. If there are not, access to the outdoor area must be opened.
Any restriction of access to the outdoor area must be documented promptly in the record of free-range periods, stating the reasons.

Specific requirements for the husbandry of laying hens

Origin of the pullets
The pullets are from breeding farms that satisfy the conditions under Section 4.2 and are inspected by the inspection body.
Outdoor area

The minimum size of the outdoor area is 0.05 m2 per animal.
For laying hens, the outdoor area must be permanently accessible all day. The minimum opening hours from 10 a.m. to at least 5 p.m. must be observed.
Access to the outdoor area may be restricted under the following conditions:
- For a maximum of 7 days after the chicks are first housed
- In very high winds
- If the outdoor temperature is below -5°C
- For injured and sick birds
- To instigate moulting
If access to the outdoor area is not open, the producer has a duty to review during the day whether there are still grounds for the restriction. If there are not, access to the outdoor area must be opened.
Any restriction of access to the outdoor area must be documented promptly in the record of free-range periods, stating the reasons.

Field
The field constitutes key added value in the Naturafarm label programme. The programme aims to ensure that the animals can go outside every day and have access to the field as much as possible.

Each laying hen has at least 2.5 m2 of field space.
50% of the field space currently available must be covered with herbage and grass.
To preserve and care for the field, access to parts of the field may be temporarily barred. However, an area of 1.25 m2 per animal must be accessible at all times.
The field must be planted with bushes or trees that afford shade and protection or have appropriate fixtures that guarantee the even distribution of the birds over the entire area of the field. From 1 January 2023, at least 50% of the sources of shade and cover must comprise natural vegetation (trees, bushes etc.). The maximum distance between the barn opening and protective elements and between individual protective elements is 20 m. As a minimum guideline, the opportunities to take cover in the accessible area of the field must provide vertical shade over an area of 20 m2 per 1,000 birds.
In principle, the animals have permanent access to the field between the following times:
Access to the field may be restricted for the birds’ protection, but only when at least one of the following events occurs:
- After initial housing for a maximum of 7 days
- In the event of starting problems such as insufficient feed intake, incidence of illness, apathetic or nervous animal behaviour, access to the field may be restricted until the end of 23 weeks of age at the maximum.
- Very high wind, lying snow
- During and shortly after heavy rainfall
- If the outdoor temperature is below -5°C
- In the case of sick and injured birds
- To instigate moulting, restricted access for a maximum of 21 days
- During the dormancy period (maximum 1 November to 30 April) if, as an alternative, an uncovered outdoor exercise area in accordance with Section 4.3.4 is provided.
Any restriction of access to the field and any temporary blocking-off to preserve and maintain the field must be promptly documented in the record of free-range periods, stating the reasons.

Uncovered exercise yard

The requirements for an uncovered exercise yard only apply if the producer restricts access to the field during the dormancy period. The requirements do not apply to producers who allow their birds into the field during the dormancy period.
The exercise yard is an uncovered, outdoor area covered with enough material for the birds to engage in scratching behaviour. Materials that enable and encourage scratching and pecking behaviour and do not present a health hazard to the birds must be used (e.g. wood chips, pebbles, grit or sand). Pebbles may be no larger than 30 mm on average. Wood chips from treated wood are prohibited.
The minimum size of the exercise yard is 43 m2 per 1,000 birds or 0.043 m2 per animal. The
exercise yard area may be counted towards the total field area.
If the exercise yard has to be opened, it must be accessible as a minimum during the times in accordance with
Section 4.3.3 E, subject to the exceptions listed in Section 4.3.3 F.

Animal feed and feeding

Feeding should guarantee the birds’ harmonious development as well as good health and laying performance. The birds must regularly receive sufficient amounts of suitable feed and water. The composition of the feed should be designed to minimize contamination of the ground and waterways from animal excrement and should conform to the latest environmental research.
Feeds may only be procured from feed manufacturers who produce feed in accordance with the Coop Animal Feed Guideline, declare the feed as Naturafarm-compliant on the label and delivery note, and implement an effective quality assurance system in line with an officially approved guideline for good practice in the manufacturing of animal feed. The producer must obtain from its feed supplier a signed confirmation of this and file the document in the Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder.
The animals must be fed in accordance with their needs. Minerals and vitamins may only be
administered in line with requirements.
The feed declaration must be checked on the delivery note or individual feed sack label for each feed delivery. If the “CNf” label is missing, the feed must be returned immediately and must not be fed to the animals. All delivery notes must be filed in the producer’s folder.
In the barn and in the outdoor area, wheat or corn grains must be scattered daily for the
laying hens. When rearing pullets, this applies from 7 weeks of age.
Wheat or corn grains from the producer’s own farm can be used for scattering. If they are bought in, the absence of GMOs must be ensured. For this purpose, the appropriate analysis certificates must be requested from the supplier, confirming compliance with GMO declaration limits.
For self-mixers, the following requirements apply:
- self-mixers are responsible for ensuring that all feed components used meet the requirements of Coop’s Animal Feed Guideline.
- In particular, they are obliged to prevent unintentional contamination with genetically modified feedstuffs by implementing the necessary quality assurance measures.
- If soya is used in the feed, this must be certified Europe soya. This must be declared on the delivery container (feed sack, etc.) and on the delivery note and invoice. The producer must check for correct declaration on delivery and must reject the goods if they do not comply or the declaration is missing.
- The freedom from GMOs of individual constituents must also be proved. The relevant analysis certificates must be requested from the supplier to confirm compliance with GMO declaration limits in the case of any potential GMO-susceptible raw materials (e.g. imported corn and wheat constituents).
- The manufacturing of the feed must be documented in the Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder. The composition, any additives and the respective dosage must be clearly noted. This also applies to the farm’s own processed feed.

Animal health and handling

The health of the animals should be guaranteed, promoted and maintained through optimal housing conditions and professional animal care. Sickness/disease should be avoided as far as possible. Sick birds must receive professional treatment. Veterinary medicines should be used on a limited basis and under the guidance of the farm vet.

Veterinary treatment

Every producer must designate a vet as a farm vet. The name and address of the farm vet must be documented in the producer’s folder.
The farm vet is responsible for advising the producer on matters relating to animal health, helping to optimize housing conditions in order to prevent sickness/disease, and ensuring the correct administration of veterinary medicines on the farm. All information on the health of the birds must be made available to the vet.
All animal treatments using veterinary medicines, feed-based medicines and routine treatments such as vaccinations and worming shall be under the supervision of the farm vet. The relevant veterinary prescriptions and delivery notes must be filed with the inventory list.
The birds may only be administered medicines which are registered with Swiss medic for use on poultry or are temporarily licensed by special permit and have been prescribed by the farm vet.
Only veterinary medicines and medicated premixes obtained from the farm vet may be used.
All treatments using medication must be fully documented and updated in the treatment log in the Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder. Only the “agridea” treatment log is permitted as the treatment log.
All veterinary medicines and medicated premixes kept on the farm for the treatment of pullets and laying hens must be recorded on an inventory list as soon as they have been acquired. The “agridea” inventory list may be used as the inventory list and must be filed in the producer’s folder.
Pullets may receive the vaccinations customary in Switzerland while being reared.
Coccidiostats may only be administered in exceptional cases, by agreement with the farm
vet. They may only be used up to 10 weeks of age.
All medication for the treatment of pullets and laying hens must be stored in the same place on the farm (cupboard or fridge). The medication must be kept cool, dry, clean and protected from sunlight. Medication which has expired or which can no longer be used must be returned to the farm vet for disposal.
Following the use of prescription-only substances or substances subject to approval, the statutory withdrawal periods must be strictly observed. The withdrawal period must be recorded in writing by the farm vet. The use of such substances must be reported to the intermediary and the inspection body without delay.

Animal treatments and interventions

The prophylactic clipping (debeaking/trimming) of beaks is prohibited. In the event of acute pecking problems, the situation must be assessed by the farm vet and the inspection body. If the measures taken to combat the causes prove ineffective, to protect the birds the tips of the beaks of the flocks whose behaviour cannot be corrected may be lightly trimmed by an expert. The decision to take such a measure is made by the farm vet in consultation with the inspection body. Following repeated beak trimming at the same farm, the causes must be analysed in consultation with the inspection body and the farm vet and measures taken to help prevent further beak trimming (e.g. adjustments to the barn, the choice of breed, the feed etc.).
The use of chicken eyeglasses for rearing and on laying hens is prohibited.

Salmonella inspection and hygiene

Pullets must be demonstrably free from notifiable salmonella.
If there are signs of salmonella, no pullets may be supplied to Coop Naturafarm Eggs producers until the suspected case has been ruled out.
The eggs must be free from all germs relevant under food safety law. The requirements of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles (SR 817.02; FUAO) must be met. The eggs may not be washed and dirty eggs must be rejected. The eggs must be kept cool at a maximum 18°C prior to transport. A thermometer must be placed in the storage area for this purpose.
Laying hen farms must be in possession of all records of examinations (including rearing) each time hens are introduced to the barn. These records are filed in the Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder and must be kept for at least 3 years.
The findings of the examinations are submitted to the inspection body without delay.
The inspection body and intermediary must be informed immediately of positive findings. The directives of the latest Epizootic Diseases Ordinance (SR 916.401; EzDO) apply.
If inspections are carried out by the cantons, the directives of the relevant cantonal veterinary office apply.
The following regulation applies as the minimum requirement for examination and inspection of laying hens:

Time when sample take Sampling by (week of life) farm| Official sampling| Comments/reasons
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Layer barn before pullets are housed| Inspection of empty barn (swabs)| | Voluntary examination: Good manufacturing practice and food safety are ensured by an official examination prior to the slaughter of the preceding flock and the subsequent examination.
Week 24| 2 pairs of boot swabs
Week 39| Test eggs of 0.5% of the birds, min. 20 samples| | Antibody detection, send in for serology
Week 54| Test eggs of 0.5% of the birds, min. 20 samples| | Antibody detection, send in for serology
continuously every 15 weeks (only for flocks that produce for longer than an annual cycle)| 2 pairs of boot swabs and/or Test eggs of 0.5% of the birds, min. 20 samples| | For flocks that produce for longer than an annual cycle, the examinations are continued after the 55th week at 15-week alternating intervals (boots/antibodies).
Week 62-66 (no sooner than 9 weeks before the end of laying season)| | 1 dust sample and 2 pairs of boot swabs| per flock, at least once annually; findings must be available before removal of the flock

Worm inspections

The flocks are examined for worm infestation twice per cycle. If ascarids (roundworms) or capillaries (hair worms) are detected, worming is carried out by agreement with the farm vet. Following worming, the bedding in the barn and outdoor area must be replaced after 5-7 days.
During and after worming, access to the field may be restricted for up to 14 days. The outdoor area must be accessible as usual during this time. Any restriction of access to the field must be documented promptly in the record of free-range periods, stating the reasons.

Animal transport of pullets and laying hens

All documentation required for the transport of animals and delivery papers must be completed and made available prior to transportation.
Preparing the animals for transport and loading them into the vehicle must take place calmly. The birds are captured by people who have been properly instructed and excitement and noise must be avoided.
Capture and loading onto the transport container and the closing of the container must be gentle. Therefore, the birds should be collected from the aviaries with care and carried over as short a distance as possible or, preferably, walk to the transport containers.
Capture should take place during a dark phase or in reduced light. The dimming process should take place slowly, to give the birds the opportunity to perch. The use of blue light can prevent panic while also making capture easier.
The stress caused to the birds by the barn climate must be kept minimal during capture and placing in crates (leave the barn ventilation running, enable fresh air to get in).
Until loading commences, the birds must have constant access to water and, as specified by slaughterhouses, feed should be withdrawn.
The administration of narcotics before loading is prohibited.
After packing, the transport containers with the birds must be loaded onto the transport vehicle as swiftly as possible. The well-sealed transport containers must be lifted carefully and jolts due to rough handling of the containers must be avoided.
The loading time commences when the first animal is placed in the transport container and ends when the last transport container is loaded onto the transport vehicle, and may not exceed 4 hours.
During transportation, the minimum space requirements for the transport of poultry must be observed in accordance with the Animal Protection Ordinance (AniPO; SR 455.1). Under no circumstances may birds be stacked on top of each other in a container.
The transport of pullets and laying hens to the destination farm (in the case of pullets, the laying hen farm, in the case of laying hens, usually the slaughterhouse) takes place immediately after the transport containers are loaded onto the transport vehicle, by the most direct route possible. The maximum total transport time for an animal from the first place of departure to the final destination is 8 hours. Transportation must be gentle without any unnecessary delays.
In hot weather, ventilation must be ensured in the transport vehicle. The birds must be
protected from wet and cold in poor weather conditions.
The transport vehicle must meet all legal requirements for the transportation of animals.
To transport the birds, drivers must have successfully completed or registered for training in accordance with the Ordinance of the Federal Department of the Interior (EDI) on Training in Animal Husbandry and in the Handling of Animals (TSchAV; SR 455.109.1). The driver of the transport vehicle must keep a copy of the relevant certificate of expertise or provisional registration certificate with the vehicle.
The unpacking of the birds at the destination must take place gently. Pullets must be released into the aviary facilities with care.

Inspection and supervision

Organization and procedure

General principles

As the label owner, Coop shall commission an organization that is independent of both trade and production to inspect the producers and Coop’s contracting parties with regard to compliance with this Guideline. The inspection body commissioned must be accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020.
Every Coop Naturafarm breeding or laying hen farm must undergo an acceptance inspection by the inspection body, and be recognized as a Coop Naturafarm operation by Coop. Acceptance inspections are carried out on newcomers to the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme, and in the event of increases in livestock and structural modifications to existing farms with respect to pullet and laying hen husbandry.
A change of farm manager must be notified to the inspection body. Coop and the inspection body decide on whether an additional inspection is required, and on the extent of this inspection.
As a matter of principle and to ensure that only hens and eggs in accordance with Coop Naturafarm are marketed, the barns are not occupied by animals at the time of the acceptance inspection.
The entire feed reserves of laying hen farms must be Coop Naturafarm-compliant at the time
of the acceptance inspection.
The inspection body and representatives of Coop must be granted access to the entire farm at all times, taking into account preventive measures relating to sanitation and animal health. The provisions of the Epizootic Diseases Ordinance (EzDO, SR 916.401) shall apply in this regard.
If this Guideline cannot be met due to exceptional circumstances, the producer must notify
the inspection body and the intermediary of this immediately.
After each inspection pertaining to the ÖLN, PAS or RAUS programmes for laying hen farms,
the producer must file a copy of the relevant inspection report in the producer’s folder.
Inspections are, in principle, unannounced, and are carried out by the competent inspection body. Costs of necessary follow-up inspections or additional inspections are borne by the farm concerned.

Specific arrangements for pullet rearing farms

Each new rearing flock must be notified to the inspection body, using an existing form, one month before the flock is first transferred to the barn.
Unannounced audits are carried out at pullet farms by the inspection body at least once annually if these are Naturafarm pullet rearing farms.
Any serious shortcoming triggers a follow-up audit of the same flock or an audit of the following Naturafarm flock.

Specific arrangements for laying hen farms

Audits are carried out at laying hen farms by the inspection body at least twice annually.
The audits are generally unannounced.
Each serious deficiency requires a follow-up audit. Repeated minor deficiencies result in additional audits.

Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder

Each producer is obliged to keep a Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder. This is provided by the inspection body.
The Coop Naturafarm producer’s folder must be kept on the producer’s farm. Coop and the inspection body must be allowed to inspect all the documents at any time.
All documentation listed in the index of the producer’s folder must be seamlessly managed and updated for each relevant animal category. These documents must be kept on the farm for a minimum of three years.
Each producer’s folder contains a barn log. When rearing pullets and keeping laying hens, a barn log must be kept for each flock.
The producer must regularly enter the following information in the barn log:
- Date on which the flock was first housed in the barn
- Number of birds and age of the flock (weekly)
- Time spent outdoors (up-to-date, with reasons)
- Losses (daily)
- Health and behavioural issues
- Diseases and treatment methods (medication)
- All deviations from the standards and requirements (e.g. restricted access to runs, measures in connection with feather pecking, etc.) with the corresponding reasons.
- Laying hen farms additionally record laying performance and the eggs delivered as Coop Naturafarm eggs
The barn log is submitted to the inspection body monthly, by the 10th of the following month
at the latest.
When a flock of pullets is sold or placed in a barn, the buyers of the birds must be presented with a copy of the barn log and all the records of veterinary examinations (in particular salmonella tests). These must be filed in the producer’s folder.

Sanctions

Non-compliance with the Coop Naturafarm Eggs guideline on the rearing of pullets and the production of free-range eggs shall result in sanctions for the producer concerned, which are determined by Coop. Depending on the severity of the case, this may involve a contractual penalty, a temporary embargo on supplies of birds and eggs to the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme, an embargo on current activity or exclusion from the Coop Naturafarm Eggs programme (termination of contract).
In order for an embargo on current activity to be cancelled, the intermediary must register the farm for re-admission with Coop once the embargo has expired. Coop will then decide whether and to what extent a repeat acceptance inspection is necessary.
Exclusion of a producer is undertaken in consultation with the intermediary and the inspection body and after the producer has stated his case.
In the case of serious transgressions that harm the image of the Naturafarm label and/or Coop, Coop reserves the right to take legal action.

Adaptations to Guidelines

This Guideline for Coop Naturafarm pullet rearing and for laying hen husbandry and the production of eggs will be adapted to include new research relating to animal-friendly husbandry, production advances in pullet and laying hen husbandry, environmental findings and ongoing developments in the area of food safety. The changes will be made with the involvement of the partners concerned such as the inspection body, intermediary and producers’ representatives and will be notified in writing to producers. A new Guideline will enter into force following an appropriate transitional period.