ARTICLE · 09 DECEMBER 2015

What does free range really mean? ACCC continues to shed light

DibbsBarker

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Credence claims are still very much on the ACCC's radar, so food producers must be careful when labelling or advertising.

AustraliaConsumer Protection

Sophie Barrow (Formerly With DibbsBarker)

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Focus:	'Free range' product claims
Services:	Competition & Consumer Law
Industry Focus:	Agribusiness

What's in a claim?

If the claim in question is 'free range', the answer is not always a straightforward one.

The ACCC has recently taken action against yet another egg supplier, as well as several supermarket brands supplying pork products, for marketing their products as 'free range'. It is clear that so-called 'credence claims' are still very much on the ACCC's radar. The Commonwealth Government has also weighed in on the issue, having released and sought submissions on a Consultation Paper on Free Range Egg Labelling.

Food producers must carefully consider labelling or advertising products as organic, free range, or with other specific qualities and proceed with caution before making 'free range' or similar claims about their products.

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