A decision to phase out caged eggs has been left to the states and territories after a meeting of agricultural ministers on July 13.
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Ministers endorsed the new Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry which recommends a 2032-2036 phase out timeframe for battery cages.
Federal minister for agriculture Murray Watt said the new national agreement was good for both consumers and industry.
"We know that the market is already shifting with most of the retailers, and most big manufacturing companies that use eggs already moving towards more humane methods of raising hens and getting the types of eggs that they need," he said.
But he said the timeframe was up to states and territories to implement.
New standards left to states
Egg Farmers of Australia CEO Melinda Hashimoto said farmers had mixed reactions.
"Our free range and barn laid sectors have the green light to expand, but cage egg producers are in limbo with no clear picture about their future in Australia's egg supply chain," she said
"That's because the ministers voted to end cage eggs, but left the phase out time to each state to decide. This could be good news or bad news for producers - depending on how long the states allow cage eggs to continue to be sold.
"Consequently, we need clarity from states so that farmers can plan for their future."
Australian Alliance for Animals director of policy Jed Goodfellow said the decision lacked the firm commitment sought by advocates.
"After eight long years of debate and deliberation, it's quite a disappointing outcome because the decision really doesn't provide a lot of certainty for the Australian community nor the the egg industry," he said.
"The standards outline a very clear phased out timeline of 2032 to 2036 but the announcement by the ministers is that it will be left to each individual state to determine their own timelines.
"So it doesn't provide that certainty that all stakeholders were seeking."
Price concerns
The egg industry had requested a 2046 phase out deadline and Ms Hashimoto said she hoped that many states would now wait until to 2046 to cease cage production.
She warned that an earlier end to cage eggs would lead to higher egg prices and challenges for farmers.
"If there is any plan to have a phase out prior to 2046 we would expect that they would provide structural adjustment or exit packages," she said.
"Certainly we believe that price of eggs will rise."
In New Zealand egg prices jumped dramatically after a decision was made to stop caged eggs by 2025.
Major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths pledged to remove caged eggs from their stores by 2025 as free range continues to be the most popular egg category at Australian supermarkets.
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To be classified as a free range egg farm, the hens must have meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range during daylight hours.
