Caged egg phase-out not what it’s cracked up to be
The phase-out of caged eggs will be on the menu at a meeting of the nation’s agriculture ministers amid fears that the price of eggs was likely to soar.
There are growing fears that a phasing out of caged eggs may drive up the price. (Image: Advocate)
An independent government review of animal welfare standards has previously recommended a phase-out of ‘cages’ to be complete by 2036 at the latest.
Industry advocates had wanted the deadline to be pushed back to 2046.
Egg Farmers of Australia has previously warned that the 2036 phase-out would lead to higher egg prices and compensation claims from farmers.
With the standards set to be discussed at a meeting of agricultural ministers in Perth on Thursday, federal Nationals leader David Littleproud also wants an extension, amid fears of rising egg prices.
“Our egg farmers deserve support, not surprises, from state governments,” said the shadow agriculture spokesperson.
“Farmers have made investment decisions worth millions of dollars, predicated on the current guidelines, believing they had until 2046.”
According to industry figures cages make up 50 per cent of the nation’s total egg production.
Supermarket giant Woolworths has already agreed to phase out caged eggs from all the brands it sells by 2025.
“Our own Woolworths-branded egg cartons have been 100 per cent cage-free since 2015,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.
The review of animal welfare standards has been discussed by the agriculture ministers before, and the states could still go their own way on any phase-out.
Jed Goodfellow from animal welfare group Animals Australia said it’s disappointing that a national code still hadn’t been agreed to.
“The whole process has taken eight long years, it’s quite ridiculous,” Dr Goodfellow told AAP.
“Much of the reason for that is that the industry has fought every step of the way not to agree to a phase-out timeline.”
He urged the ministers to agree to a national time frame, and said a phase-out wouldn’t lead to big price hikes for eggs.
“With the supermarket commitments to phase out the use of caged eggs in their own supply chains by 2025 it’s very likely that the industry is going to be free of the battery cage system well before the 2036 timeline.”
The NSW, Victorian and Queensland agriculture ministers were all approached for comment, as was Egg Farmers of Australia.
Also on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting is a half-billion-dollar funding shortfall needed to combat the spread of the highly invasive fire ant, as well as climate.
