[Greens-Media] SA Laid Free Range Code a Step Forward to Crack Egg Shams

[Franks, Office]

June 17, 2013

MEDIA RELEASE:   SA Laid Free Range Code a Step Forward to Crack Egg Shams

Greens' Animal Welfare spokeperson Tammy Franks MLC today welcomed the release of a discussion paper into a proposed South Australian Laid Free Range Code for Egg production.

"If adopted, this SA Laid Code for free range eggs will be a positive step forward for consumers, producers and the welfare of the birds too," said Ms Franks.

"The Greens are long-time advocates for improving animal welfare standards and if implemented, this code will ensure that these standards will rise, whilst consumers will get certainty and local producers will benefit from a distinct market advantage as the producers of eggs of the highest standards in the market.

"Australian consumers are increasingly demanding and expecting higher animal welfare standards in their food production and are voting with their wallets. Free range eggs meanwhile are commanding an ever increasing market share and premium price for producers.

"Unfortunately unethical and unscrupulous producers have in the past sought to take advantage of such consumer goodwill.

"The introduction of this Industry code under the Fair Trading Act 1987 will provide some legislative teeth to penalise those that would try to rip off consumers.

"This proposed code is in line with best practices in animal welfare - the maximum density of 1,500 birds per hectare ensuring that birds will not have to be de-beaked and will have the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviours, outdoors as nature intended.

"Whilst not going as far as our Tasmanian colleagues who have moved to ban battery hens altogether, the requirements for egg producers to adhere to a set of mandatory conditions to gain accreditation will lead to win-win-win outcomes in SA and is supported by the Greens," Ms Franks concluded.

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