Caged egg rule change delayed in Victoria due to spread of bird flu

The Victorian government has postponed the enactment of stricter poultry rules by a year due to the spread of bird flu H5N1. These regulations were set to commence this year as part of a national plan to phase out conventional caged eggs by 2036. The Victorian Farmers Federation is advocating for the government to reconsider the phasing out of cage eggs.

The government introduced new poultry welfare standards in April, with cage egg production rules planned to be implemented by mid-2027. However, the government has decided to push back the changes until the middle of 2027 to give producers more time to prepare amid the bird flu outbreak. Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle explained that the 12-month delay allows producers to concentrate on preventing the disease while developing new welfare standards.

The Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president, Brian Ahmed, welcomed the postponement but criticized the lack of input from farmers in creating the new regulations. He emphasized that the government's stance on eliminating cages is ideological, not based on input from those affected. The delay provides farmers and the government with additional time to discuss the matter.

The government maintains its commitment to phasing out conventional unfurnished cages by 2036, emphasizing that the delay does not affect this goal. The decision to delay does not come into effect until after the state election in November. Victoria has reported nearly 200 H5 bird flu cases since the first confirmed instance in July.

In August, poultry producers in southern Victoria were mandated to house their birds indoors, and this lockdown has been extended multiple times until mid-October.