{"id":"a-2001-83","name":"Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001","slug":"eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"83 of 2001","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":23469,"registerId":"act-a-2001-83-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nA2001-83\nRepublication No 5\nEffective: 26 August 2019\nRepublication date: 26 August 2019\nLast amendment made by A2019-2\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 (including any amendment\nmade under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on\n26 August 2019. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this\nrepublished law to 26 August 2019.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication includes amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nContents\nPage\n1 Name of Act 2\n3 Dictionary 2\n4 Notes 2\n5 What are the egg labelling requirements? 2\n6 Labelling of packaged eggs for sale 3\n7 Cage eggs—retail display 3\n7A Barn eggs—retail display 4\n7B Free-range eggs—retail display 5\n8 Regulation-making power 6\nDictionary 7\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 9\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n2 Abbreviation key 9\n3 Legislation history 10\n4 Amendment history 11\n5 Earlier republications 12\n\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nAn Act about the labelling and sale of hen eggs, and for other purposes\n\nSection 1\npage 2 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001.\n3 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain words and\nexpressions used in this Act, and includes references (signpost\ndefinitions) to other words and expressions defined elsewhere in this Act.\nFor example, the signpost definition ‘egg labelling requirements—see\nsection 5 (What are the egg labelling requirements?).’ means that the\nexpression ‘egg labelling requirements’ is defined in that section.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to\nthe entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act,\nprovides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see\nLegislation Act 2001, s 155 and s 156 (1)).\n4 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\nNote See Legislation Act 2001, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of\nnotes.\n5 What are the egg labelling requirements?\n(1) For this Act, a reference to the egg labelling requirements means\nconspicuously displaying on the packaging for the eggs—\n(a) a statement that the eggs are—\n(i) free-range eggs; or\n(ii) barn eggs; or\n(iii) cage eggs; or\n(iv) aviary eggs; and\n(b) if the eggs are free-range eggs—the stocking density for the hens\nthat laid the eggs.\n\nSection 6\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) A labelling requirement under subsection (1) is conspicuously\ndisplayed if the requirement is in standard type of at least 6mm high.\n6 Labelling of packaged eggs for sale\nA person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) sells packaged hen eggs; and\n(b) the eggs are not labelled in accordance with the egg labelling\nrequirements.\nMaximum penalty: 50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or\nboth.\n7 Cage eggs—retail display\n(1) A person who displays cage eggs for retail sale commits an offence if\nthe display is not in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).\nMaximum penalty: 50 penalty units.\n(2) For subsection (1)—\n(a) the display must have a sign containing the following statement:\n‘THESE ARE CAGE EGGS. Birds are continuously\nhoused in cages within a shed.’; and\n(b) the sign must be placed prominently so that it can be seen and\nread easily by a person at or near the display; and\n(c) the statement on the sign must be printed in—\n(i) a colour that contrasts with the background colour of the\nsign; and\n(ii) Arial bold typeface in a size not less than 50 point.\n(3) If the person displays cage system eggs and other hen eggs for retail\ndisplay, the display of cage system eggs must—\n(a) be separate from the display of the other eggs; and\n\nSection 7A\npage 4 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) have a red marking on the edge of the shelf so that the marking\ncan be seen easily by a person at or near the display of cage\nsystem eggs.\n(4) For subsection (1), it does not matter whether the eggs were produced\nin, or imported into, the ACT.\n(5) Subsection (3) (b) does not apply if the total length of shelf on which\nhen eggs of any kind are displayed for sale is less than 2m.\nExample\nA retailer displays cage eggs, barn eggs and free-range eggs for sale on shelves that\nare stacked above one another, each kind of eggs on a different shelf. The display\nof each kind of egg takes up 1m of shelf length. The total length of shelf on which\neggs are displayed is 3m. Subsection (3) (b) applies to the retailer.\n7A Barn eggs—retail display\n(1) A person who displays barn eggs for retail sale commits an offence if\nthe display is not in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).\nMaximum penalty: 50 penalty units.\n(2) For subsection (1)—\n(a) the display must have a sign containing the following statement:\n‘THESE ARE BARN EGGS. Birds in barn systems are\nfree to roam within a shed which may have more than 1\nlevel. The floor may be based on litter and/or other\nmaterial such as slats or wire mesh.’; and\n(b) the sign must be placed prominently so that it can be seen and\nread easily by a person at or near the display; and\n(c) the statement on the sign must be printed in—\n(i) a colour that contrasts with the background colour of the\nsign; and\n(ii) Arial bold typeface in a size not less than 50 point.\n\nSection 7B\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) If the person displays barn eggs and other hen eggs for retail display,\nthe display of barn eggs must be separate from the display of the other\neggs so that a person at or near the display can easily identify the eggs\nto which the sign mentioned in subsection (2) relates.\n(4) For subsection (1), it does not matter whether the eggs were produced\nin, or imported into, the ACT.\n7B Free-range eggs—retail display\n(1) A person who displays free-range eggs for retail sale commits an\noffence if the display is not in accordance with subsections (2)\nand (3).\nMaximum penalty: 50 penalty units.\n(2) For subsection (1)—\n(a) the display must have a sign containing the following statement:\n‘THESE ARE FREE-RANGE EGGS. The ACT\nGovernment supports a free-range stocking density of\n1 500 hens or less per hectare.’; and\n(b) the sign must be placed prominently so that it can be seen and\nread easily by a person at or near the display; and\n(c) the statement on the sign must be printed in—\n(i) a colour that contrasts with the background colour of the\nsign; and\n(ii) Arial bold typeface in a size not less than 50 point.\n(3) If the person displays free-range eggs and other hen eggs for retail\ndisplay, the display of free-range eggs must be separate from the\ndisplay of the other eggs so that a person at or near the display can\neasily identify the eggs to which the sign mentioned in subsection (2)\nrelates.\n\nSection 8\npage 6 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(4) For subsection (1), it does not matter whether the eggs were produced\nin, or imported into, the ACT.\n8 Regulation-making power\nThe Executive may make regulations for this Act.\nNote Regulations must be notified, and presented to the Legislative Assembly,\nunder the Legislation Act 2001.\n\nDictionary\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 3)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to\nthis Act.\nNote 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1 defines the following terms:\n• Executive\n• may (see s 146)\n• must (see s 146)\n• person (see s 60)\n• Territory law.\naviary eggs means eggs laid by hens kept in conditions stated in the\nregulation.\nbarn eggs means eggs laid by hens kept in conditions stated in the\nregulation.\ncage eggs means eggs laid by hens kept in conditions stated in the\nregulation.\negg labelling requirements—see section 5 (What are the egg\nlabelling requirements?).\nfree-range eggs means eggs laid by hens kept in conditions stated in\nthe regulation.\nhen means a domestic fowl (Gallus gallus).\npackaging, for hen eggs, includes any container or wrapper in or by\nwhich eggs are completely or partly enclosed, contained or packed.\nsell, for hen eggs, includes—\n(a) barter, offer or attempt to sell; or\n(b) receive for sale; or\n(c) have in possession for sale; or\n(d) display for sale; or\n\nDictionary\npage 8 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(e) cause or permit to be sold or offered for sale; or\n(f) send, forward or deliver for sale; or\n(g) dispose of by any method for valuable consideration; or\n(h) dispose of to an agent for sale on consignment; or\n(i) sell for the purpose of resale.\nstocking density, for hens, means the maximum number of hens per\nhectare that have access to an outdoor range on any day during the\nlaying cycle.\n\nEndnotes\nAbout the endnotes 1\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\n3 Legislation history\npage 10 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 A2001-83\nnotified 10 September 2001 (Gaz 2001 No S66)\ns 1, s 2 commenced 10 September 2001 (IA s 10B)\ns 9 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 (1))\nremainder commenced 10 March 2002 (s 2 (2) and LA s 79)\nas amended by\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2002 A2002-30 pt 3.20\nnotified LR 16 September 2002\ns 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 19 May 1997 (LA s 75 (2))\npt 3.20 commenced 17 September 2002\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2007 (No 3) A2007-39 sch 3 pt 3.11\nnotified LR 6 December 2007\ns 1, s 2 commenced 6 December 2007 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 3 pt 3.11 commenced 27 December 2007 (s 2)\nEggs (Cage Systems) Legislation Amendment Act 2009 A2009-31\nnotified LR 24 September 2009\ns 1, s 2 commenced 24 September 2009 (LA s 75 (1))\nremainder commenced 1 January 2010 (s 2)\nConsumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2019 A2019-2 pt 2\nnotified LR 26 February 2019\ns 1, s 2 commenced 26 February 2019 (LA s 75 (1))\ns 7 commenced 26 August 2019 (s 2 (1))\npt 2 remainder commenced 26 August 2019 (s 2 (2) and LA s 79)\n\nEndnotes\nAmendment history 4\nR5\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n4 Amendment history\nCommencement\ns 2 om LA s 89 (4)\nDictionary\ns 3 am A2019-2 s 5\nWhat are the egg labelling requirements?\ns 5 sub A2019-2 s 6\nLabelling of packaged eggs for sale\ns 6 sub A2019-2 s 6\nCage eggs—retail display\ns 7 sub A2009-31 s 4\nBarn eggs—retail display\ns 7A ins A2009-31 s 4\nFree-range eggs—retail display\ns 7B ins A2009-31 s 4\nam A2019-2 s 7\nAnimal Welfare (Amendment) Act 1997, section 2\ns 9 om LA s 89 (3)\nConditions under which hens are kept\nsch 1 am A2009-31 s 5\nom A2019-2 s 8\nDictionary\ndict am A2002-30 amdt 3.242; A2007-39 amdt 3.34\ndef aviary eggs ins A2019-2 s 9\ndef barn egg ins A2009-31 s 6\nom A2019-2 s 10\ndef barn eggs ins A2019-2 s 11\ndef cage egg ins A2009-31 s 6\nom A2019-2 s 12\ndef cage eggs ins A2019-2 s 13\ndef code om A2019-2 s 14\ndef egg labelling requirements sub A2019-2 s 15\ndef free-range egg ins A2009-31 s 6\nom A2019-2 s 16\ndef free-range eggs ins A2019-2 s 17\ndef stocking density ins A2019-2 s 18\n\nEndnotes\n5 Earlier republications\npage 12 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR5\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications are\nmarked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication\nNo and date\nEffective Last\namendment\nmade by\nRepublication\nfor\nR1\n10 Mar 2002\n10 Mar 2002–\n16 Sept 2002\nnot amended new Act\nR2\n24 Sept 2002\n17 Sept 2002–\n26 Dec 2007\nA2002-30 amendments by\nA2002-30\nR3\n27 Dec 2007\n27 Dec 2007–\n31 Dec 2009\nA2007-39 amendments by\nA2007-39\nR4\n1 Jan 2010\n1 Jan 2010–\n25 Aug 2019\nA2009-31 amendments by\nA2009-31\n© Australian Capital Territory 2019","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 2001 scope. Originally focused on basic egg labelling, the 2009 amendments added mandatory retail display signage requirements for cage, barn and free-range eggs, plus physical separation requirements in stores. The 2019 amendments further expanded scope by adding aviary eggs as a new category, introducing mandatory stocking density disclosure for free-range eggs, and inserting a government policy position (1,500 hens/hectare) into the signage requirements. The Act has evolved from simple packaging labels to comprehensive point-of-sale consumer education and animal welfare advocacy."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute: only 8 operative sections plus dictionary","Minimal cross-referencing: only internal references to dictionary and section 5","Straightforward conditional logic: simple 'if-then' offence structures without nested exceptions","Limited defined terms: 9 specific definitions in the dictionary, mostly simple signpost definitions referring to regulations","Prescriptive but clear technical requirements: specific font (Arial bold), point sizes (50pt), and colours specified rather than left to interpretation","Single layer of exceptions: only one exemption (section 7(5) regarding shelf length under 2m for cage eggs)","No delegated legislative complexity visible: while regulations are mentioned for defining housing conditions, the Act itself contains the operative labelling rules"],"plain_english_summary":"This ACT law requires sellers to label packaged eggs with the hens’ housing system (cage, barn, free‑range, aviary) and to display prominent in‑store signs distinguishing egg types; free‑range packaging must also state stocking density. \n\nIt targets retailers, producers and consumers to curb misleading claims and boost animal‑welfare transparency (endorsing a 1,500 hens/hectare standard) and carries fines and possible imprisonment for breaches."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s scope has been expanded since original enactment: amendments (notably A2009‑31 and A2019‑2) added and refined categories (barn, free‑range, aviary), introduced detailed retail signage rules (wording, typography, shelf separation and red edge), required disclosure of free‑range stocking density on packaging, and delegated definitional detail to regulations. These changes broadened and specified seller and retailer compliance obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple, specific formatting and placement requirements for retail signs (exact wording, contrast, Arial bold, minimum point size) (see ss 7(2), 7A(2), 7B(2)).","Different but parallel rules for packaged labeling and for retail display across several egg categories (free‑range, barn, cage, aviary) (see s 5 and ss 7–7B).","Criminal penalties including fines and possible imprisonment for non‑compliance (see s 6 and ss 7–7B).","Reliance on subordinate regulations to define core terms and conditions under which hens are kept (definitions reference the regulations) (see dict and s 8).","Cross‑jurisdictional applicability: display requirements apply regardless of where eggs were produced or imported (see ss 7(4), 7A(4), 7B(4)).","Operational exceptions and thresholds (eg, shelf‑length exception for red shelf edge requirement) that affect retailer implementation (see s 7(5)).","Amendment history introducing and removing defined terms and provisions, requiring attention to historical and current text for compliance (see endnotes and amendment history)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act requires people who sell hen eggs in the ACT to label packaged eggs and to display clear signs at retail that identify the production system (free‑range, barn, cage, or aviary). For free‑range packaged eggs the label must show the hens’ stocking density. The specified wording, typeface and size rules for signs and packaging are mandatory and breaches attract fines or imprisonment. The Executive may make regulations to define production conditions and other details."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001","history":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001/history","analysis":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-act-2001/documents"}}