State and federal ministers have agreed to adopt a recommendation by the NSW Government to develop an enforceable national information standard on egg labelling.
The agreement was made during a meeting of State, Territory and Federal Ministers on Friday to consider a national code for free range eggs.
NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello says the draft standard will be created by the end of this year.
Dominello said: “This is a significant win for consumers and producers and I thank my counterparts for demonstrating leadership on what has been a difficult issue.”
Consumer advocacy group Choice recently reported that consumers pay nearly double the amount for free range eggs compared to caged, yet 213 million ‘free range' eggs sold in Australia last year failed to meet consumers’ expectations of the free range claim.
Choice has led a sustained campaign to “end the “free range” farce” and says it will continue to work with governments, regulators, industry and consumers to help inform the national standard.
“This is a massive win for consumers and a significant step towards stopping the free range rip-off,” says Choice director of campaigns & communications Matt Levey.
“We congratulate ministers on this decision and we particularly appreciate the leadership shown by the Hon. Victor Dominello, MP, NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, who has strongly advocated for a standard."
