[Greens-Media] MS: Lynn MacLaren - Greens Bid for Truth in Free-Range Egg Labelling

[Guthrie, Shane]

Media Statement: Greens Bid for Truth in Free-Range Egg Labelling	

Lynn MacLaren MLC
22 October 2012 

A bill to provide certainty for shoppers who want to choose free-range eggs was introduced Tuesday by Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren.

"Under our bill, the term free-range may only be used when an egg is produced under the conditions of the Western Australian Code of Practice for Poultry, with no more than 1500 hens per hectare," said Ms MacLaren, the Greens spokesperson on animal welfare. 

"The Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL) wants to reduce standards for free range, and it's just not going to fly with consumers who want to buy eggs from farms where the hens are allowed free movement. 
	
"The big supermarkets and the AECL will still be able to sell their eggs from more intensive systems, but not call them free-range unless they truly are. 

"Unless this Bill is passed, these industry groups can easily relax standards which would mean that consumers would lose confidence in the free range eggs label.

"To protect the market, and to give consumers certainty that they are not supporting intensive egg production, I have introduced the Free-Range Eggs Labelling Bill. 

"There is increasing demand by consumers for eggs produced in non-cage systems and there is a need to ensure the accuracy of claims that eggs offered for sale are produced in non-cage systems. 

"Free-range eggs have become big business in Western Australia, and this term has been high-jacked by large-scale producers. We need to bring truth back into the egg industry.

"Hens that currently produce so-called free range eggs can be in conditions from 750 hens per hectare up to 20 000 hens per hectare, which is the new standard proposed by the Australian Egg Corporation. Coles is selling eggs labelled free-range but produced by hens in a restricted range of 10 000 per hectare. Woolworths permits even higher numbers. 

"Under the Bill a free-range hen must have daytime access for a minimum of eight hours per day to an outdoor range, protected from predators and the elements. They also must have access to a perch, litter and a nest at night. They must not exceed 1500 hens per hectare.

"The Bill simply protects this system by restricting the label 'free range' to only these systems.

"When a shopper has put a little extra money into purchasing free-range eggs, they should know what they paid for.

"Free-range eggs must be sold under a prominent display with the words 'These eggs are free-range eggs. They are produced by hens in free-range systems that comply with the minimum standards in the Code of Practice for Poultry in Western Australia.'

"Our Bill puts animal welfare back into free-range," concluded Ms MacLaren. 


For comment: 
Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC 
Mobile 0403 721 951

For information: 
Shane Guthrie, Media Liaison Officer 
Mobile 0428 207 007


Shane Guthrie 
Electorate and Research Officer 
Office of Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, Member for South Metropolitan Region
Legislative Council, Parliament of Western Australia
Unit 7, 142 South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
Tel +61 8 9430 7233   Fax +61 8 9430 7207
Shane.Guthrie at mp.wa.gov.au   www.LynnMacLaren.org.au