[QUOTE]NON-BATTERY eggs will be used in all ACT Government Agencies from May next year.

ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the Canberra Institute of Technology had already switched to using free-range and barn-laid eggs earlier this month with ACT Public Schools and ACT Health to follow suit.

The transition comes after the ACT Government announced it would phase out battery hens in September last year after pressure from ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey and animal rights groups such as the RSPCA.

Although ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope stopped short of an outright ban on battery farming, the Government promised to stop buying battery-farmed eggs for its agencies, which include hospitals, schools and canteens.[/QUOTE]~Canberra Times~

excellent, we are seeing this across europe as well right now in the UK many large chains have sworn off renewing battery hen contracts so by 2010 most will have ceased retailing battery eggs or chickens, many are considering doing the same with other meats and animal products and many have already foresworn foie gras.

Lets hope the trend continues and spreads.

richardt:

[QUOTE]What are battery eggs?[/QUOTE][QUOTE]In agriculture, battery cages (called laying cages in the United States) are a confinement system used primarily for egg-laying hens. The cages have generated controversy among advocates for animal welfare and animal rights.[/QUOTE]~Wikipedia~