October 20, 2022

 

Plan to phase out caged hens in Australia by 2036 causing confusion

 

 

There is confusion among Australian egg farmers, supermarkets, and state governments over the implementation to phase out battery hens and caged eggs by 2023, ABC News reported.

 

While proponents of animal welfare have criticised the 15-year phase-out as being too slow, the industry contends that it is not enough time, and some have warned that the change will result in severe egg shortages.

 

According to the new standards, conventional battery cages, which are typically 50 centimetres square in size, will be phased out in Australia by 2036.

 

In order to encourage layer hens to behave more naturally, nesting areas must be added to all new chicken cages beginning this year. Layer hens must also have access to perches or platforms and a scratching area.

 

The manager of Glenview Poultry Farm, Darren Letton, said that the exact details of the phase-out were unclear.

 

Even though the reform won't happen for another ten years, Letton said that some supermarkets were already refusing to accept his caged eggs.

 

Woolworths and Coles, two major supermarkets in Australia, said all of their eggs will be free of cages by 2025.

 

Dion Andary, managing director of Days Eggs, said that there was no support or transition plan for farmers who wanted to switch to free-range farming.

 

In order to keep up with the trend, he said that farming families would have to scramble to find the money to essentially demolish their existing homes and construct new ones at their own expense.

 

Andary said farmers would find it extremely challenging to survive as the cost of egg production inputs is already skyrocketing.

 

Melinda Hashimoto, CEO of Egg Farmers Australia, said state and federal governments should think about exit packages to support farmers financially.

 

Given that farmers borrow millions of dollars from banks to invest in cage eggs, she claimed that the rules prevent them from being able to settle their current debts.

 

It is ten years too soon and could put many small-scale family egg farmers out of business, according to Mrs. Hashimoto.

 

There are worries within the egg industry that the complete switch to free range will not keep up with consumer demand given the evidence of egg producers already declining.

 

Australian consumers may soon pay more for the typical trolley good, farmers said.

 

A recent study by Australian Eggs found that 36% of eggs sold in supermarkets there were caged eggs, which the industry claims demonstrates a significant market for the less expensive product.

 

Hashimoto said Australian families would have fewer options, a shortage of eggs, and higher egg prices without caged eggs. 

 

Rowan Ramsey, a South Australian politician, said that completely banning caged hens posed risks as a possible bird flu infection in free range cooks could wipe out flocks.

 

Claie Scriven, South Australia's Minister for Primary Industries, said despite efforts to create a national policy that is consistent, supermarkets are insistent on transitioning ahead of the national agreement.

 

The phase-out will be determined by each state, even though the federal government proposed the new standards for the welfare of poultry.

 

The agriculture ministers will get together again early the following year to finalise those standards, Scriven said.

 

-      ABC News