**Australia**: Significant egg shortages continue to affect supermarkets, attributable to avian influenza outbreaks and a shift towards cage-free production. With the majority of affected farms restocked, challenges remain due to high seasonal demand and infrastructural investments needed for a successful transition.
Australian consumers are currently facing significant shortages of eggs in supermarkets, a situation that has persisted for over six months following outbreaks of avian influenza last year. The supply crisis has left shelves in some locations noticeably bare, prompting questions regarding the factors contributing to these shortages and whether relief is on the horizon.
The shortages can be traced back to a series of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks reported in mid-2024. The virus, particularly strains of H7 HPAI, was identified across 16 locations in south-eastern Australia, including eight sites in Victoria, six in New South Wales, and two in the Australian Capital Territory. Of the affected sites, 11 were commercial poultry farms. Australia adheres to a strict zero-tolerance policy concerning HPAI, leading to the euthanasia of all birds on an infected farm to contain the spread. Federal government estimates indicate that approximately 1.8 million birds were culled last year, causing a substantial decrease in egg production.
Melinda Hashimoto, Chief Executive of the Egg Farmers of Australia (EFA), noted that while the majority of affected farms have now restocked, the ongoing shortages can still be attributed to the initial impacts of the avian influenza outbreak, among other factors. Despite the challenges, the EFA expressed optimism about a gradual return to normalcy in supply levels. However, Hashimoto refrained from further commentary, indicating that the peak body wished to avoid dampening sentiment with negative news.
Compounding the supply issues, the EFA has also highlighted high seasonal demand for eggs, particularly during festive periods, as a strain on availability. Another significant factor is the transition away from cage egg production, which has been driven by new animal welfare standards that Australia has committed to implement by 2036. With major retailers Coles and Woolworths pledging to phase out cage eggs by 2025, the shift necessitates significant investments in infrastructure, affecting overall supply in the interim.
Coles has already achieved a cage-free status for its own-brand shell eggs nationwide, while Woolworths has adopted a similar approach, vowing to ensure all vendor-branded whole shell eggs are cage-free by the end of 2025. However, the transition has resulted in ongoing supply constraints.
In response to the challenges presented by the egg shortage, both Woolworths and Coles have implemented purchasing limits on egg cartons in various states, with Woolworths maintaining a limit of two packs per customer across all regions except Western Australia. According to a spokesperson for Woolworths, while the supply situation is “stable,” rebuilding Australia’s laying hen population after the HPAI outbreaks will take time. Coles has echoed similar sentiments, expressing a commitment to working closely with suppliers and industry bodies in navigating the long-term implications of the avian influenza outbreaks.
The discount supermarket Aldi has seen a slight decrease in egg availability but has not enforced any purchase limits. The EFA continues to monitor the situation as the industry works through the transitional challenges brought on by both the disease outbreaks and the shift in egg production practices prompted by changes in consumer demand and welfare considerations.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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