3 August 2018

SAFE is applauding BP for being the first petrol and retail outlet in New Zealand to jump on board with the international cage-free egg movement. Being quick off the mark, whole cage eggs are already off the shelves across all 98 stores nationwide.

BP in Poland adopted similar cage-free egg policy earlier this year, making BP in New Zealand the second territory in the world to embrace the trend within the global petrol brand.

After working with SAFE on this policy, Adrian McClellan, GM Retail & Assets says, “Responsible sourcing is extremely important to us at BP, and I’m proud to confirm that our customers can now purchase cage-free eggs at BP Connect stores across New Zealand.”

Earlier this year, retail outlets FreshChoice and SuperValue, owned by Countdown, also confirmed cage-free policy, following moves from Foodstuffs and Progressive. This brought all major New Zealand supermarket chains together, united against the cruelty of cage-eggs. By 2027 at the latest, there will be no cage eggs left on any supermarket shelves.

“We’re looking at the end of an antiquated industry; caging hens is archaic and outdated. Public acceptance has ended on this shameful treatment of hens. As so many brands are choosing to move towards being cage-free, it’s now a matter of who is left behind supporting this cruelty,” says Jennifer Dutton, SAFE’s Corporate Campaigner.

By law, conventional battery cages in New Zealand have to be removed by egg producers by 2022. However, the egg industry was set to replace these cages with equally cruel colony cages. Hens are crammed into wire cages with a space only about the size of a magazine to live their entire lives. Both battery and colony cages prevent hens from exercising many of their natural behaviours, including fully stretching their wings and dust bathing.

NZ’s Animal Welfare Act states that farmed animals must be able to express their natural behavior.

“Colony cages were always a con,” says Ms Dutton. “They go against the spirit of the law and the public isn’t having it. Businesses are following through with their responsibility to help end the cage age.”

The phasing out of cages is part of a global revolution by animal advocacy groups around the world including members of the Open Wing Alliance, of which SAFE is a partner organisation.

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