Egg producers are being urged to stamp eggs on the farm in a move to improve supply chain traceability.

The amendments to the Lion code, which will apply to caged egg producers from 31 December this year and free-range producers from 31 December 2010, were agreed at a board meeting last week.

Code subscribers will be obliged to stamp the 'producer establishment code', which contains information about production method, country of origin and farm ID, before the eggs leave the farm.

Some packers and producers already do this voluntarily.