Battery cages for layer hens will be phased out in Australia – but not for another 14 years at the earliest, according to new Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry.

Under the new guidelines, egg producers should provide all caged hens with 750sqcm of useable space per bird if kept in a cage of two or more birds and up to 1sqm of space if caged alone. In addition, all layer hens should have access to perch platforms and a waterproof verandah along with scratch and nest areas.

Meat chicken breeders should provide birds with “environmental enrichment” and ensure minimum light intensity is maintained. This includes periods of darkness, ventilation, and temperature parameters for all species, according to the guidelines.

However Egg Farmers of Australia – the national representative body for Australian egg farmers – released a statement stating it was “dissatisfied” with the new guidelines as they failed to allow the “option” of continuing with conventional egg production for another 24 years.

“The document says conventional cage farming must cease with a timeline suggested as early as 2031 and at the latest by 2036,” said Melinda Hashimoto, CEO of the organisation.

“It’s 10 years too early and could drive many family egg farmers to the wall. This is because bank loans can spread over 30 years for existing cages and equipment. Farmers now don’t have time to pay off that debt before they must dump their cages.”

The organisation said conventional cages contribute nearly 50 per cent of all egg production in the country.

On the contrary, animal rights organisations have welcomed the announcement dubbing it a “historic move”.

Richard Mussell, CEO of RSPCA Australia, said: “This is a win for animal advocates and for the community, who have been calling for an end to these barren, wire cages for over 40 years.

“The timeframe is a lot longer than we would like it to be, especially as the standard-setting process itself has dragged on for nearly seven years. However, securing an end date is a big win for animal welfare and will eventually be a huge improvement to the lives of the millions of Australian layer hens currently confined to barren battery cages.”

Mussell described 14 years as an “exceptionally long” phase-out time frame, especially when the science and evidence-based decision is so long overdue.

“Regardless, putting an end date in place for battery cages will give producers certainty so the relatively fewer remaining cage-egg producers can join the many cage-free farmers who we congratulate for already having made the shift, and transition to cage-free systems as soon as possible.”

He insisted that states and territories can implement a phase-out ahead of schedule instead of waiting until 2036.

“While this move can’t come soon enough, once implemented, it will bring Australia into line with over 75 per cent of OECD countries who have already moved to phase out battery cages.”

The Independent Poultry Welfare Panel commissioned by all agriculture ministers in 2019, carried out an extensive review of poultry standards consulting with stakeholders, community members and animal welfare groups to update the above guidelines.

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