{"id":"sl-2019-21","name":"Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019","slug":"eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"21 of 2019","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":173351,"registerId":"act-sl-2019-21-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nEggs (Labelling and Sale)\nRegulation 2019\nSL2019-21\nmade under the\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nRepublication No 1\nEffective: 26 August 2019\nRepublication date: 26 August 2019\nRegulation not amended\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) Regulation 2019, made under the Eggs\n(Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 (including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001,\npart 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 26 August 2019. It also includes any commencement,\nrepeal or expiry affecting this republished law.\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 amendments\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 does not include 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\nR1\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\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)\nRegulation 2019\nmade under the\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\nContents\nPage\n1 Name of regulation 2\n2 Dictionary 2\n3 Notes 2\n4 Aviary eggs—Act, dict, def aviary eggs 2\n5 Barn eggs—Act, dict, def barn eggs 3\n6 Cage eggs—Act, dict, def cage eggs 3\n7 Free-range eggs—Act, dict, def free-range eggs 3\n8 Disapplication of Legislation Act, s 47 (6) 4\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR1\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary 5\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 6\n2 Abbreviation key 6\n3 Legislation history 7\n\nR1\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\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)\nRegulation 2019\nmade under the\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001\n\nSection 1\npage 2 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR1\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n1 Name of regulation\nThis regulation is the Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019.\n2 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this regulation is part of this regulation.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in\nthis regulation.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary applies to the entire regulation unless the\ndefinition, or another provision of the regulation provides otherwise or\nthe contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and\ns 156 (1)).\n3 Notes\nA note included in this regulation is explanatory and is not part of this\nregulation.\nNote See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.\n4 Aviary eggs—Act, dict, def aviary eggs\nThe following conditions are prescribed for keeping hens that lay\naviary eggs:\n(a) the hens are kept in a shed;\n(b) the hens have the freedom and capacity to socialise, to move\nfreely within the shed, to stretch, perch, nest, dust bathe, flap\nwings and fly;\n(c) the hens have adequate perching facilities and nests available to\nbirds on a number of levels within the shed to accommodate the\nneeds of all hens;\n(d) half the housing is kept under litter;\n\nSection 5\nR1\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(e) the stocking level and other requirements for deep litter systems\nunder the code with the allowance of a number of additional\nlevels of nesting and perching space are complied with.\n5 Barn eggs—Act, dict, def barn eggs\nThe following conditions are prescribed for keeping hens that lay\nbarn eggs:\n(a) the hens are kept in a shed;\n(b) the hens have the freedom and capacity to socialise, to move\nfreely within the shed, to stretch, perch, nest, dust bathe, flap\nwings and fly;\n(c) the hens have adequate perching facilities and nests available to\nbirds within the shed to accommodate the needs of all hens;\n(d) half the housing is kept under litter;\n(e) the stocking level and other requirements for deep litter systems\non a single level under the code are complied with.\n6 Cage eggs—Act, dict, def cage eggs\nThe following conditions are prescribed for keeping hens that lay\ncage eggs:\n(a) the hens are kept in cages;\n(b) the hens do not have access to litter, perch or nest; and\n(c) the stocking level and other requirements for cage systems under\nthe code are complied with.\n7 Free-range eggs—Act, dict, def free-range eggs\n(1) The following conditions are prescribed for keeping hens that lay\nfree-range eggs:\n(a) the hens have meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range\nduring daylight hours during the laying cycle; and\n\nSection 8\npage 4 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR1\n26/08/19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) the hens have the ability to roam and forage on the outdoor\nrange; and\n(c) a stocking density of 10 000 hens or less is complied with.\n(2) However, the requirements under subsection (1) do not apply if hens\nare prevented from accessing an outdoor range for 1 or more of the\nfollowing reasons:\n(a) the hens are undergoing nest box training;\n(b) risk to the health or safety of the hens caused by weather\nconditions;\n(c) exposure to predators;\n(d) the hens are being given medical treatment;\n(e) exceptional circumstances posing significant risk to the health\nor safety of the hens.\n(3) For subsection (2), the total period of time for which access to the\noutdoor range is prevented must not be unreasonable.\n8 Disapplication of Legislation Act, s 47 (6)\nThe Legislation Act, section 47 (6) does not apply to the code.\nNote The code is accessible at www.publish.csiro.au.\n\nDictionary\nR1\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 2)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to\nthis regulation.\nNote 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:\n• daylight\n• prescribed.\nNote 3 Terms used in this regulation have the same meaning that they have in\nthe Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 (see Legislation Act, s 148). For\nexample, the following terms are defined in the Eggs (Labelling and Sale)\nAct 2001, dict:\n• aviary eggs\n• barn eggs\n• cage eggs\n• free range eggs\n• hen\n• must\n• stocking density.\ncode means the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals:\nDomestic Poultry, made by the Animal Welfare Committee of the\nStanding Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management, as in\nforce from time to time.\nNote The code is accessible at www.publish.csiro.au.\n\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\npage 6 Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\nR1\n26/08/19\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\nLegislation history 3\nR1\n26/08/19\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019\nEffective: 26/08/19\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nThis regulation was made as part of the Consumer Protection Legislation\nAmendment Act 2019 (see A2019-2, s 4) and is taken to have been made under the\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 A2001-83 (see A2019-2, s 4 (1)).\nEggs (Labelling and Sale) Regulation 2019 SL2019-21\ntaken to have been notified LR 26 February 2019 (A2019-2 s 4 (2) (a))\ns 1 commenced 26 February 2019 (LA s 75 (1))\nremainder commenced 26 August 2019 (A2019-2 s 4 (2) (b))\n© Australian Capital Territory 2019","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This regulation appears to maintain its original narrow purpose: prescribing the specific housing conditions for different egg production systems to support the labelling requirements in the parent Act. It has not expanded beyond this technical definitional role."},"complexity_factors":["Only 8 substantive sections (plus dictionary and endnotes)","Minimal cross-referencing—primarily links back to the parent Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 for defined terms","Simple conditional structure: basic requirements with one straightforward exception clause for free-range eggs (section 7(2))","Only 1 defined term in the regulation itself ('code'), with other terms inherited from the parent Act","No nested exceptions or complex temporal provisions","Clear, descriptive language using everyday concepts like 'shed', 'outdoor range', and 'perch'"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation prescribes housing and access rules in the ACT for eggs sold as \"aviary,\" \"barn,\" \"cage,\" or \"free‑range,\" so those labels reflect actual hen conditions (e.g., multi‑level aviary, single‑level barn, caged without perches/litter, free‑range with outdoor access and stocking limits). \n\nIt affects egg producers and sellers using these labels and protects consumers from misleading claims by giving legal meaning to carton descriptions."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulation moves from high‑level labelling categories to binding operational standards by prescribing specific housing, stocking and outdoor‑access conditions for each egg label (ss 4–7) and by making the Model Code (as updated) authoritative (Dictionary 'code') and exempting that code from Legislation Act s 47(6) (s 8). This replaces broader statutory labels with detailed, enforceable production rules and links ongoing standards to an external, updateable code."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑reference to an external, living document: the Model Code of Practice ('code') is incorporated 'as in force from time to time' (Dictionary 'code') creating ongoing update risk for regulated parties.","Multiple category‑specific technical conditions: separate, detailed requirements for aviary, barn, cage and free‑range eggs impose different operational standards (ss 4–7).","Free‑range exceptions and reasonableness standard: permitted interruptions to outdoor access include weather, predators, medical treatment and 'exceptional circumstances', with the proviso that total prevented time 'must not be unreasonable' (s 7(2)–(3)), creating interpretive uncertainty.","Reliance on external definitions and other Acts: terms and some rules rely on definitions in the Eggs (Labelling and Sale) Act 2001 and the Legislation Act 2001 (s 2 and Dictionary), requiring cross‑statute interpretation.","Disapplication of a procedural provision: the Legislation Act s 47(6) does not apply to the code (s 8), altering how the code is treated administratively and affecting how parties find or challenge procedural aspects of the code.","Operational compliance costs: mandated housing, stocking and perching/nesting specifications (ss 4–6) create tangible costs and behaviour changes for producers who label eggs under these categories."],"plain_english_summary":"This Regulation sets the precise conditions producers must meet to label eggs in the ACT as aviary, barn, cage or free‑range, and makes the Model Code of Practice the reference for many technical requirements. It affects egg producers and retailers (who must meet housing, stocking and outdoor‑access rules) and regulators (who enforce them), because labelling is tied to specified animal‑housing and access standards and to exceptions for temporary loss of outdoor range access."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019","history":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/eggs-labelling-and-sale-regulation-2019/documents"}}