March 26, 2024

 

Caged egg farmers consider legal action as Victoria, Australia, seeks to end caged production

 

 

Caged egg farmers in Victoria, Australia, are preparing for a legal case against the Victorian government if their industry is shut down.

 

Victoria last year joined other Australian states in committing to the phase-out of caged egg production by 2036, but standards are yet to be created and there is no detail on when a phase-out would begin or what compensation would be paid.

 

Egg producer Brian Ahmed said a group of producers was preparing for a class action if the changes meant they could not farm anymore.

 

"The caged egg farmers have engaged our lawyers and we're looking at what our rights are and what we can do," he said. "We've got family businesses, employ a lot of people, we've been doing it for 60 years or more."

 

Data from Australian Eggs shows annual egg consumption jumped 19% in the seven years to the 2022–23 financial year, with Australians consuming on average 263 eggs each a year.

 

Free-range eggs made up 56.5% of retail sales.

 

"The market should determine how we produce eggs, not governments. People have the right to choose what they want to buy and eat," Ahmed added. He highlighted that the group of 15 egg producers ran about 1.5 million layer hens, and their farm infrastructure might be unable to be altered to suit the new proposed poultry standards.

 

"We're concerned about the standards and guidelines with the recommendation to phase out cages," he said. "We've invested millions of dollars in environmental systems and improved welfare, and now there's discussion about phasing these systems out.

 

"We've got businesses situated in metropolitan areas and we've got a growing market for our product."

 

The lack of clarity from the Victorian government had halted further investment in the industry, according to Ahmed.

 

He also said farmers were promised further consultation that has yet to happen.

 

"If this continues for a longer period of time, egg supply will get shorter and shorter because we don't know how to invest our money," he said.

- ABC News