Egg farmers will be allowed to continue using the battery hen system, says Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton.
Mr Sutton today released two new codes of animal welfare for controversial species, farmed pigs and layer hens, which contain few concessions to a vocal lobby of animal welfare activists.
He said egg farmers could continue putting their hens in battery cages. Caged hens produce 92 per cent of the country's eggs.
"The science on layer hen systems is unclear," Mr Sutton said in a statement.
"(The) National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee have made it clear that, reluctantly, they feel they cannot recommend abolition of cage systems until they can be confident that this would result in improved welfare for hens," he said.
The new codes for pigs and layer hens come into force on January 1, and cover all types of pig production (indoor and outdoor) and all types of egg production (caged, barn, and free range).
The pig and layer hen codes are the last of the six previous codes carried over from the previous animal welfare legislation.
Mr Sutton said the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) would review all scientific literature on battery hens in five years, and then make a decision on whether or not conventional cages should continue.
Also, an economic analysis was being carried out to find determine independently whether it would be economically viable to get the industry to increase cage sizes more quickly.
"If this review indicates the need for change, I will be discussing it with the industry and NAWAC, and could amend the code."
Mr Sutton said the layer hen code was a difficult one for NAWAC to decide: "Farming chickens is not easy, whatever system you use. They require intensive care."
In pig farming, where the main area of controversy has been the use of sow stalls, changes in the pig welfare code include:
• A reduction in the use of dry sow stalls over 10 years. By the start of 2015, maximum permitted confinement will be four weeks after mating.
• A phase-out of stalls for boars by the start of 2010.
• A reduction of maximum confinement in farrowing crates for six weeks.
• A prohibition on the tethering of pigs.
Mr Sutton said a minimum body condition score for all pigs was also being introduced, along with compulsory space requirements for growing pigs, set using a formula which allows for good welfare and also good production.
From next year, the castration of piglets over the age of seven days must be done by a veterinarian.
He said Cabinet had directed NAWAC to undertake further consideration of an alternative, practical path towards earlier reduction in the use of dry-sow stalls and to report back by the end of June next year.
Mr Sutton said the major issue in the layer hen code was the space requirements for caged layers.
Changes required by the new code include that:
• All new cages built after the issue of the code must provide a minimum of 550 sq cm/bird.
• All cages existing when the code is issued must provide a minimum of 450 sq cm/bird, and by 1 January 2008, all existing cages must provide a minimum of 500 sq.cm/bird.
• By 1 January 2014 all cages must provide 550 sq cm/bird.
In addition, forced moulting will only be permitted if replacement birds are not available, and food and water may only be withheld for a maximum of 24 hours.
Beak trimming, where carried out, can only be carried out within 10 days after hatching except where there are outbreaks of cannibalism. Beak trimming can only be carried out by trained operators.
Egg farmers must have daily inspections to remove sick, injured or dead birds.
The code also sets new minimum light levels and ammonia levels for housed birds, new minimum space requirements for the housing of barn and free range birds, and new minimum standards for outdoor areas for free-range birds.
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