December 27, 2012

Australia egg body to withdraw application for trademark certification

The Australian Egg Corporation (AECL) has notified local trademark administrators that it will withdraw its present application for a certification trademark covering an enhanced quality assurance programme for the country's egg industry.

Last month, it was reported on how AECL's quality initiative had been developed over a number of years and had involved extensive consultation with scientists, egg producers, regulators and the broader community.

According to the corporation, its programme was aimed at "ensuring minimum egg production standards are attained on-farm in hen health, food safety, farm quarantine and biosecurity, environmental stewardship, egg labelling and hen welfare for cage, barn-laid and free range egg production."

However, in response to concerns from some members of the community regarding three of the 171 minimum standards in the proposed programme, some of its structural elements and other observations, AECL has decided to withdraw the application.

Earlier this month, AECL responded to New Zealand's decision to outlaw battery hen cages, suggesting that Australia would be a forerunner of the policy if there was any truth behind the reasons for the ban.

AECL also suggested that the net effect for consumers in New Zealand will be that the average price of eggs will increase.