Jan Davis: TFGA applauds caged hen egg supply decision

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) today applauded the state government’s decision to remove the ban on government agencies buying caged eggs, saying it was a victory for common sense and for Tasmanian producers.

The TFGA questioned the former Labor government’s plan to ban production of caged eggs in Tasmania ahead of national standards when it was announced in 2012.

“In effect, that plan would have handed the Tasmanian egg market over to interstate suppliers because they could still have imported caged eggs here,” TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said today. “The ban was to be on production not consumption.”

This was despite the fact that caged eggs account for the majority of eggs sold, both in Tasmania and also nationally.

As it turned out, the Labor government’s plan to put local producers at such a significant disadvantage was not delivered in full. As an interim step, construction of any new caged egg facilities was prohibited from July this year, but no premature ban was legislated.

“So the new government’s decision to remove the ban on government agencies buying caged eggs makes good sense – particularly if those eggs come from Tasmanian producers,” Ms Davis said.
Jan Davis, TFGA CEO.