Battery hens to be phased out nationwide by 2036: Ag ministers

Australia’s agriculture ministers have agreed to phase out the battery hen industry nationwide by 2036.

Australia’s agriculture ministers have endorsed new animal welfare standards for poultry, which will facilitate the phase-out of conventional caged eggs nationwide by 2036.

However, the final time frame for stopping the battery hen industry in each jurisdiction will remain up to states and territories to implement.

Caged-egg producers had been in limbo after the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry, released last August, recommended a phase-out of conventional hen cages by 2036.

The report recommended that cages be replaced with larger, furnished “colony” cages or free-range operations.

Caged eggs production. Picture: Australian Eggs

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the agreement had been several years in the making, with government policy only now actually catching up to market expectations.

“(It’s) not only good for poultry. It’s good for poultry farmers, it’s good for consumers because we know that the market is already shifting with most of the retailers,” he said.

“And most big manufacturing companies that use eggs already moving towards more humane methods of raising hens and getting the types of eggs that they need.

“We’re actually at a point in Australia where it’s only about 30 per cent of caged eggs – of eggs that are bought in supermarkets are produced using those conventional cages.”

Australia’s leading supermarkets Woolworths and Coles have already promised to end the sale of caged eggs by 2025.

Nationals leader David Littleproud called for an extension to the phase-out and warned consumers would have to pay more for eggs.

“Our egg farmers deserve support, not surprises, from state governments,” he said.

“Farmers have made investment decisions worth millions of dollars, predicated on the current guidelines, believing they had until 2046.

“The unintended consequences will also mean higher egg prices for consumers.”

NSW Farmers also released a statement a short time ago calling on NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to “avoid egg shortages and price hikes” by deferring a phase-out.

A communique reported that the agriculture ministers “noted cost of living and supply concerns” prior to making the decision.

However, Mr Watt said claims of spiralling egg prices “have no credibility”, citing modelling that removing caged eggs from shelves may add only $1.51 a year to the average egg consumers grocery bill.

Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Animal Welfare Dr Carol Sheridan said the endorsement was “an important step” towards harmonising national animal welfare legislation and providing clarity and consistency to industry, consumers and trading partners.

“The poultry standards introduce a range of welfare measures for chickens, ducks, pigeons and emus, including a focus on light, water and ventilation,” Dr Sheridan said.

“The standards also allow for a range of egg production systems, such as larger furnished cages, barns and free range, that producers can choose from to best suit their business.”