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Egg corporation under pressure to release free range research
19 July 2010
Pressure is building on the Australian Egg Corporation to release research the organisation used to justify a possible change to free range chicken stocking densities.
The Australian Egg Corporation was considering plans to change the maximum number of chickens per hectare, while still calling the eggs produced "free range".
At the moment, to classify as free range, a maximum of 1,500 chickens per hectare is allowable.
The Australian Egg Corporation was in discussions to raise that to 20,000 chickens per hectare.
The organisation justified the possible change by saying its view was in line with what consumers would tolerate and accept.
It points to its unreleased research, which includes a survey of 5015 consumers.
The RSPCA says it wants to see the research, saying changes to how many birds are allowed per hectare are a welfare issue.
The animal welfare group joins a group of free range egg farmers who are also demanding access.
The Free Range Farmers Association says it was promised the research at a meeting in late June, and the Egg Corporation has done a backflip on a prior agreement.
Spokesman Phil Westwood says the Egg Corporation now tells him the research will be made available to everyone once it's published.
He says that's at odds with his perception regarding the outcome and agreements of the meeting.
Australian Egg Corporation spokeswoman Jacqueline Baptista says there's no fixed date to release the research.
She says when the report is finished, it'll be provided to Australian egg farmers.
Ms Baptista says when the Free Range Farmers Association had a meeting with the Australian Egg Corporation, they were seen as individual egg producers.
She says as egg producers, the members of the Free Range Farmers Association will receive the report when it's released, along with the rest of the industry.
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