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About our guidance
This guidance has effect when a government housing order is made in response to an Avian Influenza outbreak.
It only applies to free range poultry egg and meat producers affected by a government housing order.
The ACCC will continue to monitor and may amend this guidance if circumstances change.
Avian influenza outbreak and housing orders
The Free Range Egg Labelling Information Standard, states that free range chicken egg producers may stop their hens from accessing an outdoor range. This may be for a time that is ‘not unreasonable’ and can include:
- when chickens are being medicated or otherwise cared for
- in exceptional circumstances that pose a significant risk to the hens’ health or safety.
An Avian Influenza outbreak is considered an exceptional circumstance under the information standard.
However, this information standard does not apply to free range poultry meat or free range eggs not produced by hens, such as duck and quail eggs.
To provide certainty to producers, the ACCC’s guidance extends to all free range poultry eggs and meat. This includes products not covered by the information standard.
No enforcement action on free range representations when affected by a housing order
The ACCC will not take enforcement action in relation to free range claims on labels or packaging made by free range producers who are affected by a housing order during an Avian Influenza outbreak for a period of up to 90 days, while the housing order is in place.
Alternative labelling
During an Avian Influenza outbreak, housing orders may be in place for an extended time.
Producers should be prepared with alternative labelling and consumer information if affected by a housing order for a time beyond 90 days. The alternative labels and information should make it clear that the eggs or meat were produced from housed poultry.