01.04.2016

A clear, legal definition of "free range eggs". Australia's consumer affairs ministers will adopt a legally binding standard with a definition that states free range eggs must come from hens that have meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range, with a stocking density of up to 10,000 birds per hectare.
The standard will be legally enforceable under Australian consumer law from next year.
The announcement is a loss for consumer and animal welfare advocates who support the voluntary Model Code of Practice, published by the CSIRO, which sets the limit at 1500 hens per hectare, unless the hens are regularly rotated. NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello said the new national information standard, to be enforced under the Australian Consumer Law, will force egg producers to declare the outdoor stocking density on packaging, whether 1500, 5000 or 10,000 hens per hectare.