Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Doreen Egg Aust Pty Ltd has paid $39,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued two infringement notices for alleged false or misleading claims that its eggs were free-range.
The ACCC alleges, and Doreen Egg admits, that Doreen Egg sold eggs labelled as ‘free range’ despite the hens not having access to an outdoor range, as required under Free Range Egg Labelling Information Standard.
More than 8,600 cartons of the mislabelled eggs were sold in May and June 2025 through two wholesalers, 30 small retailers and direct farm-gate sales.
The ACCC also alleges, and Doreen Egg admits, that the company sold eggs in cartons displaying the Australian Eggs Ltd logo, suggesting the business had sponsorship or approval from the organisation when it did not.
“Consumers often seek out and pay a premium for free-range eggs, so they need to be confident the eggs meet the legal definition of being ‘free range’,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
“Egg producers must ensure their farming practices match what their labels tell consumers.”
“The ACCC will continue to monitor the market to ensure free-range claims are truthful and accurate, and will take action where necessary,” Mr Keogh said.
In a court enforceable undertaking given to the ACCC, Doreen Egg admitted it engaged in conduct likely to contravene the Australian Consumer Law.
To prevent future mislabelling, Doreen Egg has also committed to:
- inform consumers about its misrepresentations
- independently review its compliance processes
- update packaging and traceability systems
- conduct further staff training.
In November 2024, the ACCC published guidance stating it will not take enforcement action for up to 90 days if a government-mandated housing order requires free-range poultry producers to keep chickens indoors during an avian influenza outbreak.
“Our guidance is intended to give producers certainty during a disease outbreak, but it does not change the requirement to comply with the free-range standard when no housing order applies,” Mr Keogh said.
Doreen Egg’s alleged conduct did not occur during a mandated housing order.
Background
Doreen Egg is a small egg producer based in Doreen, Victoria. It operates a four-shed farm and produces caged, cage-free and free-range eggs, which it sells through wholesalers, small retailers (including local Foodworks and IGA), and at the farm gate.
The Free Range Egg Labelling Information Standard 2017 outlines what producers must do to label eggs as ‘free range’.
Egg producers cannot label eggs as ‘free-range’ unless the eggs were laid by hens that:
- had meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range during the daylight hours of the laying cycle
- were able to roam and forage on the outdoor range
- were kept at a stocking density of 10,000 hens or less per hectare, with that outdoor stocking density prominently displayed on the packaging or signage.
By outlining the requirements for ‘free range’ eggs, the standard determines when free range egg claims can properly be made by producers. This standard operates alongside the Australian Consumer Law, which prohibits certain types of false or misleading representations.
Note to editors
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law (or the Free Range Egg Labelling Information Standard).
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.