Egg producers call for more steps to be taken against avian flu as Coles implements buying restriction.

Egg farmers are expressing concern and calling for urgent action from Agriculture Victoria to address the spread of bird flu within the poultry industry. There is growing worry about a potential nationwide shortage of eggs as a result of this outbreak.

This comes after Coles, one of the largest supermarket chains in Australia, announced a limit on the number of egg cartons that customers can purchase in all states except Western Australia. The reason for this restriction is due to shortages caused by the bird flu disrupting their supply chain. Coles stated that they hope this limit of two cartons per customer per transaction will help ensure there are enough eggs for as many customers as possible.

Currently, Coles is the only national supermarket to implement a buying limit, with Woolworths stating they have no immediate plans to do the same. Wes Humpage, a free-range egg producer in Victoria, acknowledges that the supply of eggs was already tight in Australia before the bird flu outbreak. He describes the situation as having "sent shockwaves" through the industry.

Humpage is urging Agriculture Victoria to take a more proactive approach in containing the spread of the avian influenza. He notes that the outbreak has already led to the euthanization of nearly one million chickens across five farms. While some farms in the restricted area have tested negative for the virus, Humpage emphasizes the importance of working together to strengthen biosecurity measures to prevent further infections.

He hopes that Agriculture Victoria will shift to a more proactive approach in collaborating with farmers and the industry to protect unaffected farms. This, in turn, would help bolster egg supply and ensure consumers have access to eggs.

The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of bird flu has been found on four farms in western Victoria, while the H7N9 strain has been detected on a fifth farm. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has reassured consumers that there is no cause for concern about a national egg shortage. He explains that Australia has approximately 21 million egg-laying hens, and only four percent of those, equivalent to one million hens, have been affected by the current outbreak. Watt stated in an interview with ABC News this morning.

Overall, egg farmers and the government are working together to address the spread of bird flu and ensure a steady supply of eggs for consumers. While there are challenges and concerns, efforts are being made to protect farms and maintain egg availability.

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