Free-range cartons can still be used for eggs laid by hens that have been moved indoors. (ABC Rural: Justine Longmore)<\/p>\n
Free-range egg farmers who move their hens indoors to protect them from H5 bird flu, are allowed to continue to label and sell their eggs as free range.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has extended a pause on enforcement measures for free-range label breaches.<\/p>\n
The ACCC says farmers need to let retailers and consumers know, so signage can be used.<\/p>\n
The consumer watchdog has extended its pause on free-range egg labelling enforcement as some farmers move hens indoors to protect them from H5 bird flu on state government advice.<\/p>\n
Usually eggs can only be labelled as free range if producers meet several requirements for hens, including access to outdoors and stocking densities of no more than 10,000 hens per hectare.<\/p>\n
As bird flu cases continue to rise, the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) is allowing farmers to keep chickens indoors and still use free-range cartons.<\/p>\n
Under law, eggs labelled free range usually have to come from hens able to roam and forage outdoors. (Supplied: Providore Farm)<\/p>\n
But ACCC deputy chair, Mick Keogh, said producers needed to let consumers know what's going on.<\/p>\n
"If they've got their birds housed, there's an obligation to communicate that, particularly to retailers, but also more widely, to the consumers," he said.<\/p>\n
H5 hasn't spread to poultry or the agriculture industry in Australia yet, but Mr Keogh said the risk was increasing.<\/p>\n
"The spread in wild bird populations is continuing to grow \u2026 that suggests to us that the threat or the risk for domestic poultry, in particular, is growing," he said.<\/p>\n
In early July, the ACCC confirmed it would not take enforcement action for breaches of free-range egg labelling standards, as voluntary housing measures started.<\/p>\n
Mr Keogh said that would continue, for now.<\/p>\n
"We don't see the situation has changed; in fact, if anything, [it] has become more urgent."<\/p>\n