Sandy has continued advocacy with the Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries for a quicker transition of the banning of battery caged eggs. As mentioned in our February 2023 Noosa 360 update, the Independent Poultry Welfare Panel completed its work developing a new Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry and these standards would replace existing voluntary model codes of conduct and would ban battery caged eggs, with the current full implementation being from 2032 to 2036 depending on the cage systems and profile being used by individual farmers. Our latest information request was for Queensland’s cage profile and how this will impact the phase out timing. In response the Minister provided below:
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) does not have detailed information on the age of cage systems currently in use in Queensland. However, some producers may choose to retire conventional cages before they are required to, due to market and welfare driven choices by consumers. Therefore, the age profile of cages in 2024 may not accurately predict the timing of the phase out of cage systems during 2032-36.
DAF is working with its counterparts in other States and Territories to ensure a coordinated approach to legislating the phase-out of conventional cages.
We encourage residents who would like to see a quicker transition to directly advocate by email to the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries via agriculture@ministerial.qld.gov.au.
Please cc us in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.
Further information
For our previous Noosa 360 updates about poultry welfare standards, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=poultry+welfare