Egg Farmer of the Year could have been embarrasing

The Kondinin Group's Egg Farmer of the Year Award could have been embarrasing with the Federal Court finding on the definition of free range and the hefty fine handed out to a NSW egg producer. The ACCC could have just as easily launched action against any of the major egg producers in this countrry who claim that their products are 'free range' - including the Tasmanian business to which ther award was given.

At last a legal definition for 'free range'

The timing of the Federal Court decision against Pirovic Enterprises couldn't have been better. It provides a clear 'free range' definition for the industry to adopt and it will strengthen the resolve of State Ministers for Fair Trading when they next meet in April to approve a production code.
The Australian Egg Corportion's annual meting is in Canberra on November 19 and 20 and  staff from  the NSW Department of Fair Trading have been invited to a consulatative forum
The NSW Department of Fair Trading was tasked by the Ministerial Council of Fair Trading/Consumer Affairs to draft a national information standard on free range eggs and minimum labelling requirements for egg labelling.
The egg industry is also meeting in October to consider ideas for changes to the Model Code of Practice for the welfare of Poultry.  The big boys will have to modify their ideas in the light of the Federal Court decision. A specific legal decision is something we have been fighting for. Without it consumers would continue to be conned - and it's not just the ultra-large corporations. None of the so-called free range accreditation standards is worth the paper it is written on. Consumers need to be aware that they will never find free range eggs in a major supermarket. There are plenty labelled as free range but they are sourced from intensive farms and at best should be called cage-free.

$300,000 fine for 'free range' deception

One of NSW's biggest egg proucers has been fined $300,000 by the Federal court to settle an action brought by the ACCC. The fine to be paid by Pirovic Enterprises is big enough to get big producers in the industry to take egg labelling seriously. Details: https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.accc.gov.au%2Fmedia-release%2Ffederal-court-orders-300000-penalty-after-finding-free-range-egg-claims-to-be-misleading&h=JAQE9LbqwAQF-azXgTSo45zT3Q7CG89uErEHEuHJWoXXwow&enc=AZN-L4J76OOccvlaGHHWDLY8z1HeH5-U23jK3a0r1Ks7G7k-BzWkexYovvfAg6F8KTeAFR4LLMsStMfWzgQ46ywtZzzXngqyEFgZHEim43cFoLvEQ4wDBByuDS00MNaAGU3v4uPq38evaf1pPZYEiNni3_YQDAs-Nh5XEvJLBfv1zg&s=1
One of the interesting side issues in this decision will be to see if the company takes action against the Australian Egg Corporation - because the business complied with all AECL requirements for its Egg Corp Assured programme - and was accredited as a  free range egg producer. Now the scheme has been revealed as a sham - just as all 'free range' accreditation programmes are a con. Pirovic has not been doing anything differently from other major egg producers.

Commercial release of eColi vaccine for poultry

Comment is being sought on the release of a genetically modified poultry vaccine that provides immunity to E.coli infection and disease. Australia's Gene Technology Regulator is currently assessing a license application from the Australian arm of global animal research company Zoetis for a commercial release .
Here are details:

http://ausfoodnews.com.au/2014/09/15/australian-government-invites-comment-on-proposal-to-release-commercial-gm-e-coli-chicken-vaccine.html