❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding free-range egg production standards, specifically concerning the Australian Egg Corporation Limited's (AECL) proposed definition and stocking densities. The Minister assures that existing legislation is sufficient to address welfare and environmental concerns.
AnsweredQoN 5600Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister's response to my question on notice No. 5267 that 'the State Government supports compliance with the code as the basis for good management of free range birds for egg production', and I ask —
(1) Will the Minister oppose the move by the Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL) to institute a legally binding definition of 'free range' in relation to laying hens to include outside access from five weeks after the start of laying, that is, at 25 to 26 weeks of age, given that this is clearly contrary to the Code?
(2) I refer to the Minister's response to item (1) of my question on notice No. 5219, and ask what steps the Minister will take to ensure that hens 'are regularly rotated into fresh range areas and close management is undertaken which provides some continuing fodder cover' where stocking densities for free range laying hens exceed the 1,500 per hectare recommended by the Code?
(1) Will the Minister oppose the move by the Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL) to institute a legally binding definition of 'free range' in relation to laying hens to include outside access from five weeks after the start of laying, that is, at 25 to 26 weeks of age, given that this is clearly contrary to the Code?
(2) I refer to the Minister's response to item (1) of my question on notice No. 5219, and ask what steps the Minister will take to ensure that hens 'are regularly rotated into fresh range areas and close management is undertaken which provides some continuing fodder cover' where stocking densities for free range laying hens exceed the 1,500 per hectare recommended by the Code?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
34 days
(1) The Australian Egg Corporation Limited's proposed national Quality Assurance Program will be voluntary. It will not institute a legally binding definition of the term 'free range' as the Hon Member's question states. The Minister supports nationally consistent industry standards.
(2) The
Animal Welfare Act 2002
is satisfactory for regulatory authorities to respond if bird welfare is compromised
and
the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
provides sufficient powers for regulatory authorities to respond if the environment is degraded.
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(2) The
Animal Welfare Act 2002
is satisfactory for regulatory authorities to respond if bird welfare is compromised
and
the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
provides sufficient powers for regulatory authorities to respond if the environment is degraded.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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