A choice might be made this week to deliver ahead the nationwide phasing out of cage eggs to 2036, 10 years forward of schedule.
Agriculture ministers will meet on Thursday to debate the way forward for the nation’s egg trade, sparking fears the proposed transfer might result in skyrocketing costs and widespread shortages.
Both federal and state ministers are anticipated to endorse an up to date model of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry, which at the moment recommends a phasing out of cage eggs by 2046.
Some producers are involved cartons might go for $15 a pop, main trade advocacy teams to query the timing of the choice amid the continuing value of dwelling disaster.
Such a rise was seen in New Zealand the place an early phasing out course of led to widespread egg shortages in addition to a pointy improve in costs, with half a dozen eggs reportedly promoting for $7 in some areas.
Advocacy teams are involved many households already doing it powerful with rising grocery payments will battle to entry the usually-affordable protein supply.
Animal rights activists have lengthy known as for the modifications.
Earlier this 12 months, Glenys Oogjes of Animal Australia instructed the Guardian that Australia was greater than a decade behind comparable nations in enhancing hen welfare.
“Europe phased them out in 2012 and that’s about when New Zealand started their phase-out,” she mentioned.
“So we’re not just 10 years behind.
“We are at least 20 if not 30 years behind in regard to the science and the ethics.”
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie instructed Today on Tuesday morning phasing out caged eggs would get rid of an “affordable option for so many families”.
“At the end of the day, not everyone can put scotch fillet on the table for their family to give them the level of protein they need and eggs are a great source that are also affordable,” she mentioned.
“As long as the standards we have for caged hens are great and they are world class at the moment.”
The Victorian Government mentioned on Tuesday that it “supports a nationally consistent approach towards the regulation of poultry welfare standards”.
“Animal welfare remains a priority and we will consider feedback from farmers and the industry to form the final national standards and guidelines,” a spokesperson mentioned.
Egg farmers have expressed their issues that an earlier deadline wouldn’t permit sufficient time to ascertain and repay the infrastructure required.
LPC Poultry managing director Brett Langfield instructed Today {that a} authorities choice to maneuver ahead the deadline would go away egg farmers “high and dry”.
“We’re going back to the government on a regular basis trying to explain to them the disruption that will occur, but also the investment that needs to occur in our industry over the next 10 years if we were to make that work,” Mr Langfield mentioned.
“We need to be able to supply this low-cost (high)-value protein source to consumers and we’re concerned that if we get rushed into this process, the consumers will be hurt the most.”
According to Australian Eggs, cage eggs at the moment make up 31 per cent of gross sales nationally.
Free vary eggs are the preferred, constituting 56 per cent of gross sales, whereas barn-laid and specialty eggs make up 10 and two per cent respectively.
The egg trade not-for-profit mentioned cage free and barn-laid eggs are the identical factor — hens reside completely inside an indoor house whereas free vary hens entry an outside vary through the day.
Cage egg farming, which started 50 years in the past, confines hens completely to cages.
While environment friendly, the follow doesn’t permit hens to roam or partake in pure behaviours reminiscent of nesting, dust-bathing and perching.
Major retailers Coles and Woolworths have each already pledged to section out caged eggs of their shops by 2025.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
