FW: [alqld] URGENT BATTERY HEN CAMPAIGN _ NEXT STEP

March 5, 2001

Cynthia PowerUP [cynthia]Tuesday, 6 March 2001 03:53AL Smart ChatCc: tracee.mcpate; rachjohn; Barry Saunders; Cindy Black; Fay Buettel; Cameron Green; Maureen Collier; Sylvia Cooper; Gayle D'Arcy; Thumpkin; Jan Hammill; Jill Kerr; Joy Verrinder; Rose Kulak; Lynn Mals; P[alqld] URGENT BATTERY HEN CAMPAIGN _ NEXT STEPImportance: HighHi everyone

Animal Liberation Qld continues its battery hen campaign

URGENT!! PLEASE HELP US THIS WEEK - before 8th MarchRepresentatives of AL Qld will meet the Qld Primary Industries Minister on Monday 5th MARCH. We need you to follow up our visit by contacting the Minister by phone, fax or email. Details below.

Brief background to the campaignIn 1999 all the Australian agriculture/primary industries Ministers agreed to implement a NATIONALLY consistent system of truth in labelling of egg cartons whereby the production method is clearly and honestly shown ie. battery cage, barn laid or free range. This matter is to be discussed this coming Friday March 9th by all Ministers at a meeting in New Zealand.The Australian Egg Industry Association has put up a proposal to label eggs from battery hens in the following way: "Cage eggs are laid by hens housed in small, stable social groups in cages protected from the elements, predators and their manure". This is untrue and misleading - they are not in stable social groups, predators account for very little damage in barn and free range systems and battery hens can become so thin they can actually free themselves through the wire cage end up in the manure pit on the floor where they lie awaiting death by starvation. It is also proposed that the lettering be very, very small (perhaps only 6mm high, so very hard to read) and positioned on the carton in a spot the consumer is most unlikely to see when choosing a carton.

HOW YOU CAN HELPIT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE MINISTERS REJECT THE EGG INDUSTRY'S PROPOSAL.Please phone, fax or email the Minister this week to insist that this proposal be rejected as misleading. Insist that the word "battery" be included, as this is how the public understand the production system and that the label be clearly visible on that part of the carton (top or front side) seen by the consumer when looking at the shelves.The Hon. Henry PalaszczukMinister for Primary IndustriesPh 3239 3033Fax 3229 8541dpi

PLEASE DO THIS TODAY. IT WILL TAKE LESS THAN 5 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

Thank youAnimal Liberation Qld