Bird flu: Free-range eggs labelling exemption in Golden Plains Shire

Egg producers who have been forced to house their birds indoors in Golden Plains Shire for at least a month due to the recent bird flu outbreak will not be punished for continuing to label their eggs free-range.

Egg producers who will house their birds indoors for the next month can still label their eggs free-range. Picture: File

FREE-range egg producers in Golden Plains Shire who are forced to house their birds inside for a month due to an avian influenza outbreak will not be punished for continuing to label their eggs free-range.

Two farms near Lethbridge have now tested positive for the highly contagious H7N7 avian influenza virus and last Thursday, the Victorian Government ordered all free-range poultry in the shire to be housed indoors for a minimum of 30 days.

Australia’s consumer watchdog said it considered the disease outbreak to be an “exceptional circumstance”.

“The ACCC will not initiate enforcement action in relation to free-range claims during this period for those free-range egg producers who are required to house poultry under the Victorian Government’s order,” an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission spokesman said.

“We do, however, encourage affected egg producers to adjust their labelling to let consumers know of the temporary changes to their production system, if they are in a position to do so.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the ACCC expects all other producers not affected by the order to continue to comply with the Information Standard.”

The disease was detected at the first farm on July 31, where more than 40,000 birds have now been culled.

Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said the number of birds to be culled on the second farm was still being calculated, but the company, Farm Pride Foods, told the ASX this morning the approximate number of hens lost, including cage, free-range and barn, was 340,000.

“Agriculture Victoria staff are working with the property owners of the second property to determine what actions are required to prevent further spread,” Dr Cooke said.

“Agriculture Victoria is conducting surveillance throughout the Restricted and Control areas, which has included contacting over 300 property owners since the detection.

“Samples are being taken and submitted for laboratory testing daily from large producers in the Restricted Area.”

The Control Area is the entire Golden Plains Shire and the Restricted Area is a smaller area around the infected properties.

Any cases of unexplained bird deaths in Victoria should be reported to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said the virus was not a risk to the public as it rarely affected humans and there were no food safety issues identified.