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The Victorian government has delayed new poultry welfare regulations that were set to phase out conventional caged egg production by 12 months due to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, pushing back implementation from mid-2023 to mid-2027. The delay comes despite a national agreement to ban cage eggs by 2036 and aims to give producers more time to prepare for disease control measures while developing new welfare standards. Farmers argue they were not adequately consulted on the regulations and intend to fight against changes that could eliminate cage systems.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Victorian government has delayed by 12 months the implementation of stricter regulations aimed at improving poultry welfare standards and phasing out conventional laying cages, originally set for this year. This decision comes due to the current H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Australia. Originally announced in April with plans to ban caged eggs by 2036, the tougher rules were supposed to be enforced by mid-2024 but are now delayed until mid-2027. Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle stated that producers need more time to prepare for these regulations amid the bird flu outbreak, which has led to a lockdown in southern and coastal regions with flocks of 50 or more birds being required to be confined. The Victorian Farmers Federation argues that the government should reconsider phasing out cage eggs entirely.
Written for “Bird Flu Delays Egg Rule Change” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
The Victorian government has delayed the introduction of tougher poultry regulations by 12 months because of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak.
asserted
government → delay → outbreak
The rules were supposed to come into force this year as part of a national agreement to phase out caged eggs by 2036.
asserted
rules → suppose → 2036
The Victorian Farmers Federation wants the government to reconsider phasing out cage eggs.
asserted
government → want → eggs
The Victorian government has delayed the imposition of stricter regulations on egg and poultry production because of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak.
asserted
government → delay → outbreak
In April the government announced it would legislate new poultry welfare standards as part of a plan to ban conventional laying cages by 2036.
asserted
it → announce → 2036
Tougher rules for new cages were set to be implemented by the middle of this year, but this week the government said the changes would be pushed back until the middle of 2027.
asserted
changes → set → 2027
Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle said the 12-month delay would allow producers "more time to prepare for new poultry welfare regulations" amid the bird flu outbreak.
asserted
delay → say → outbreak
“With H5 bird flu in Australia, poultry producers need to be able immediately focus on preparing for the disease,” she said.
asserted
she → need → disease
Farmers 'never consulted' on changes
asserted
Farmers → consult → changes
Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president and caged egg producer Brian Ahmed welcomed the move.
asserted
Ahmed → welcome → move
"We've had no input into these new regulations," he said.
asserted
he → have → regulations
"There's a lot of stuff in those documents that farmers have never been consulted with and have never agreed to."
The regulations were designed to align with national welfare standards agreed to in 2023.
asserted
regulations → be → 2023
Mr Ahmed said the delay gave farmers and the government more time to debate the issue.
asserted
delay → say → issue
"We're not going to get rid of a farming system that we believe is positive for our birds and our animals," Mr Ahmed said.
asserted
Ahmed → go → birds
"[The government] had an ideological view that we need to get rid of cages and that's all they've stuck to."
asserted
they → have → cages
The government said the decision to delay did not affect its commitment to phase out conventional unfurnished cages by 2036.
asserted
decision → say → 2036
“These changes are about ensuring farmers, industry and government can focus on preventing H5 bird flu from entering the sector while developing new animal welfare standards that protect the wellbeing of poultry,” Ms Settle said.
asserted
Settle → ensure → poultry
The delay also means the changes will not come into effect until after the state election in November.
asserted
changes → mean → November
"As farmers, we're going to dig our heels in and if we have to fight this, we will," Mr Ahmed said.
asserted
Ahmed → go → this
Southern poultry housing order extended
Victoria has recorded nearly 200 H5 bird flu events since the first confirmed case in Portland in July.
asserted
Victoria → extend → July
In early August, poultry producers in southern Victoria were ordered to house their birds inside.
asserted
producers → order → birds
The lockdown has been extended several times and is now in place until the middle of October.
Poultry producers in southern and coastal Victorian regions with flocks of 50 or more are required to confine their birds to prevent contact with wild animals.
asserted
producers → extend → animals
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gives producers 90 days to change their free range labelling, after a lockdown is announced.
asserted
lockdown → give → labelling
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