A battery egg ban in 13 years is far too soon, say farmers. Animal welfare advocates say it’s long overdue

Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter

Join the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the community

Last week, a meeting of Australian agriculture ministers agreed to phase out the production of battery eggs by 2036, in accordance with the new national animal welfare standards and guidelines for poultry.

The industry and its supporters were in uproar, saying that they needed more time to adjust to avoid financial penalties for farmers and consumers. Animal welfare advocates, meanwhile, said the timeline is too long. The market share of cage eggs on supermarket shelves has fallen from 70% in 2009 to just over 30% in 2023. Up to 70% of the transition has already taken place, animal advocates say.

Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter