Barn eggs produced on properties in Golden Plains Shire are legally allowed to be sold as free range even though the hens are permanently locked in sheds. Following a second outbreak of Avian Influenza on properties near Lethbridge, Agriculture Victoria has ordered producers in the area to prevent hens from leaving sheds even if the eggs are labelled as ‘free range’ The forced lockdown is for 30 days. The ACCC has advised that it will not take action under consumer law for mislabelling eggs as free range even though the hens are confined to sheds. But it says that labelling should show a change in production methods.
This demonstrates the stupidity of politicians in allowing an intensive standard for free range production.. Disease outbreaks are inevitable on intensive farms wth tens of thousands of hens. It's time to revert to the maximum1500 hens per hectare outdoor density allowed in the Model Code.
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