STATEMENT: 17 JULY 2018
Egg Farmers of Australia (EFA) has welcomed the release by Animal Health Australia of all major submissions to the poultry animal welfare standards and guidelines public consultation process which was finalised in February this year.
EFA CEO Mr John Dunn highlighted that the number of submissions demonstrated that animal welfare in the poultry industry is an issue that the community cares deeply about.
"EFA members have heard and will respond. Action must be taken and industry is committed to leading that action.
"That’s why EFA will support a regulated cap on the construction of conventional cage egg farms until we can demonstrate the public supports this production system.
"We’re also going to double-down on being more open, more transparent and more accountable to community concerns. We produce 16 million eggs every day for Australians and it’s important that we are farming with the support of the community.
"Some of the listening was hard. There’s a lot of genuine concern and a lot of misconceptions out there.
"Our response during the consultation and going forward is to open our farms, engage on important welfare issues and be relentless in always improving our animal welfare practices.
"Commitment to openness and transparency is a commitment from EFA members who are proud of their role as champions of continual improvement in welfare, we’ve always maintained this commitment and that’s why we support making standards and guidelines law.
"We urge all governments to partner with the industry as we deliver a model for welfare that is sustainable, ongoing and supported by the vast majority of the community," added John Dunn ---
