Are the eggs you buy really ‘free range’? From 26 April 2018, you will be able to tell as all egg producers will be required to state on their carton labels the maximum outdoor stocking density if packaging ‘free range’ eggs. This means that on the label, you will see the number of hens per hectare that have access to an outdoor range on any day during the laying cycle. Also egg producers will not be allowed to refer to their eggs as ‘free range’ unless the eggs are laid by hens that:

(a) had meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range during daylight hours during the laying cycle;
(b) were able to roam and forage on the outdoor range; and
(c) were subject to a maximum stocking density of 10,000 hens or less per hectare.

These requirements apply to all packaging of free range eggs. There are also display requirements for retailers where eggs are sold without packaging to ensure consumers can reasonably distinguish ‘free range eggs’ from other eggs.

Consumers will be in a better position to assess which eggs are truly free range and make purchasing decisions accordingly. This is an ‘improved’ way to treat a lady!

If you are looking for assistance in securing your intellectual property rights overseas, please contact:

Michelle Dowdle
Special Counsel
Sladen Legal
T +61 3 9611 0114| M +61 408 674 256
Level 5, 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3008, Victoria, Australia
E: mdowdle@sladen.com.au