Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

Commission charges "free range" egg farmer

Media Release

Issued 30 August 2018


Commission charges "free range" egg farmer

The Commerce Commission has laid eight charges against Xue (Frank) Chen, the owner of a West Auckland free range egg farm which trades under the name Gold Chick Poultry Farm.

Mr Chen faces four charges of obtaining by deception under the Crimes Act 1961, and four charges, in the alternative, of making misleading representations under the Fair Trading Act 1986.

While Mr Chen produced and sold some free range eggs at his company’s farm, the Commission alleges that between September 2015 and October 2017, Mr Chen sold millions of caged eggs as free range, by arranging for caged eggs to be purchased and packaged into egg cartons labelled “free range”.

The Commission alleges that falsely labelled free range eggs were sold to retail and wholesale customers who believed that they were receiving free range eggs and were paying higher prices than for caged eggs.

As the matter is before the Court, the Commission will make no further comment at this time.

Background
Gold Chick Poultry Farm is the trading name for Black Water Trading Limited, of which Mr Chen is the sole shareholder and director.

Charges in the alternative
The Fair Trading Act charges are in the alternative, meaning that Mr Chen can be convicted on only one set of charges and not both, so will face a maximum of four convictions.

"Free range" and other similar claims
It is important traders can back up claims they make that consumers cannot themselves verify, such as "free range", "organic", or "Made in NZ".

The Commission has issued this guidance and video about false, misleading or unsubstantiated claims.


ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
GenPro: General Practices Begin Issuing Clause 14 Notices

GenPro has been copied into a rising number of Clause 14 notices issued since the NZNO lodged its Primary Practice Pay Equity Claim against General Practice employers in December 2023.More

SPADA: Screen Industry Unites For Streaming Platform Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections

In an unprecedented international collaboration, representatives of screen producing organisations from around the world have released a joint statement.More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.