[Greens-Media] Free-Range Eggs Changes a Call to Action

[Franks, Office]

The news that Queensland has announced changes to its free-range egg legislation is a backwards step for animal welfare and a call to action for South Australia to legislate to ensure adequate animal welfare standards and consumer certainty, says Greens Animal Welfare and Consumer Affairs spokesperson Tammy Franks.

Ms Franks currently has the Food (Labelling of Free-range Eggs) Amendment Bill before the Legislative Council. Liberal Member for Finniss, Michael Pengilly, has an identical Bill currently before the Lower House.

"The news that Queensland has modified its regulations is a clear sign that we need to legislate here in South Australia to ensure appropriate animal welfare standards apply for free range hens," Ms Franks said.

"Genuine free-range egg producers in South Australia who are doing the right thing are facing unfair competition from producers who have up to 20,000 birds per hectare, yet are still using the free-range label. Whilst this is currently legal, it is clear that it is a breach of what consumers want and expect when they buy eggs labelled free range.

"Anyone who's ever tried to buy true free-range knows how difficult it is to cut through all the misleading marketing.  Consumers are happy to pay a premium price with the expectation that their eggs have been ethically produced to high animal welfare standards.

"The Government needs to legislate now to bring certainty for consumers on free-range eggs.

"On the national scale the Minister Gago needs to work with her counterparts interstate to fast track the review of the national Poultry Code that will lead to a nationally agreed stocking densities for free range hens.

"The State Government's current proposal to introduce a voluntary industry code is simply inadequate and will not guarantee higher animal welfare standards that consumers want and expect, nor will it satisfactorily protect genuine SA free range producers" she concluded.

Ms Franks will be bringing her bill to a vote in the Upper House on September 11.


To arrange further comment contact  Lauren Zwaans on 0457 549 938

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