10.07.2013

Australia

The processors and suppliers of Steggles branded chicken products, Baiada Poultry and Bartter Enterprises, engaged in false, misleading and deceptive conduct by claiming its chickens were free to roam in barns when this was not the case, the Federal Court found on Monday.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which initiated proceeding against the companies in September 2011, claimed that Steggles' statistics indicated consistent stocking densities of between 17.4 and 19.6 chickens per square meter.

Under Australian consumer law corporations face a maximum $1.1 million fine for each corporate breach.