Battery hens to be outlawed by 2036 under new national proposal

The draft standards were written by an independent panel, which has recommended traditional battery cages be phased out between 2032 and 2036.

But the plan has already been criticised by animal welfare groups for being too slow to end the use of cages, while the industry wanted a longer phase-out lasting until 2046.

Internationally, Australia has been an outlier on chicken welfare, with 30 of the 36 nations of the OECD either having phased out battery cages or in the process of getting rid of them.

RSPCA senior policy officer Jed Goodfellow said they'd been outlawed in Europe since 2012, and New Zealand would finish their use next year.

"Australia really is lagging behind at the moment so it is pleasing to see we're seeing some progress finally," he said.

"It is impossible to meet the welfare needs of hens inside these cage systems."

The RSPCA would like to see the phase-out of existing cages, which would have been installed in about 2008, happen faster.

"We would like to see the transition timeline shortened considerably. Ten to 15 years is far too long," Mr Goodfellow said.

"We can produce safe, affordable, nutritious eggs without confining animals to small, barren cages."

Caged hen eggs losing favour with consumers

While caged hen eggs have lost popularity on supermarket shelves, their decline from the commercial cooking sector has been slower.

Just over half the eggs sold at the grocery shops are free-range, but the commercial sector uses a higher proportion of eggs from caged hens.

A long list of Australian manufacturers including Arnotts, McDonald's and Messina already use free-range eggs in their products.

But smaller producers such as bakeries and restaurants may have to put up their prices if they are forced to switch to free-range eggs, which are generally more expensive.

While the recommendations are expected to be met with resistance from some farmers, others say they are well overdue.

A Victorian government review of scientific literature found caged hens had five times more bone fractures than hens in other systems.

The new standards were only tabled after Greens senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi forced the government to release details of the new standards in a special motion in the Senate.

The government denied it was forced and said it did not oppose the motion to table the documents.

"This process has been going on in some form or another since 2013 so there has been plenty of time for the industry to change their practices. It's really time for some action," Dr Faruqi said.

"Countries around the world have already ended or phased out cages.

"I'm certainly not convinced the industry needs up to 15 years to transition away from battery cages, it can and it should happen faster.

"We know the vast majority of people have been really concerned about hens being kept in such cruel and inhumane conditions."

Story By | Amy Bainbridge and Alison Branley