March 28, 2008

Australia to use free-range eggs exclusively starting from May 2009
 

Australia's ACT government has decided to use free-range eggs exclusively from May 2009 onwards, pushing battery eggs out of use.

ACT Health, ACT public schools and the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) are the largest egg users. However, CIT has already switched to free-range eggs from battery eggs, according to chief minister Jon Stanhope, who added that government agencies would soon make the switch as well.

ACT government agencies have contractual agreements that extends to May 2009, which makes an immediate switch impossible, said Stanhope. The ACT government will begin to stop the use of battery eggs in ACT public schools this year, he said.

"ACT Procurement Solutions will also ensure that all future food contracts with ACT government agencies include free-range eggs in food requests," said Stanhope.