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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Hens moved indoors but free-range label still allowed

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Australia's consumer watchdog is pausing enforcement of free-range egg labeling due to bird flu concerns.
  • Farmers are allowed to keep hens indoors for protection while still using the 'free-range' label.
  • The decision aims to balance consumer trust with the need for biosecurity measures during the rising threat of H5 bird flu.

Australia's consumer watchdog has extended its pause on enforcing free-range egg labeling standards, allowing farmers to keep hens indoors to protect them from H5 bird flu, as advised by state governments. Typically, eggs can only be labeled 'free-range' if hens have outdoor access and stocking densities do not exceed 10,000 per hectare.

If they've got their birds housed, there's an obligation to communicate that, particularly to retailers, but also more widely, to the consumers.

— Mick KeoghACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh stresses the need for clear communication to consumers about hens being housed indoors.

As bird flu cases increase, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is permitting producers to house chickens indoors while still using free-range cartons. ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, "If they've got their birds housed, there's an obligation to communicate that, particularly to retailers, but also more widely, to the consumers."

The spread in wild bird populations is continuing to grow … that suggests to us that the threat or the risk for domestic poultry, in particular, is growing.

— Mick KeoghKeogh explains the increasing risk of bird flu transmission to domestic poultry.

While H5 bird flu has not yet spread to poultry or the agriculture industry in Australia, the risk is growing due to its spread in wild bird populations. The ACCC initially confirmed in early July that it would not take enforcement action for breaches of free-range labeling standards when voluntary housing measures began. This pause is expected to continue for now, as Keogh noted, "We don't see the situation has changed; in fact, if anything, [it] has become more urgent."

We don't see the situation has changed; in fact, if anything, [it] has become more urgent.

— Mick KeoghKeogh assesses the urgency of the bird flu situation regarding free-range labeling enforcement.

Some farmers, like Zac Jeffries of Providore Farm in Victoria, express concern about misleading labeling. Jeffries, whose farm does not currently have an indoor option for his birds, stated, "I definitely don't like the idea that someone can be marketing their eggs as free range when they're not actually living like that." He advocates for temporary labels, such as stickers, to inform consumers about birds being housed indoors due to government orders or outbreaks. Jeffries believes larger farms should adapt their packaging rather than continuing to market eggs as free-range when birds are confined for extended periods.

I definitely don't like the idea that someone can be marketing their eggs as free range when they're not actually living like that.

— Zac JeffriesEgg farmer Zac Jeffries expresses concern over the potential for misleading free-range egg labeling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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