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Australia: Federal Court rules ACCC claims of egg cartel ‘not proven’

By  |  February 10, 2016

The Federal Court has dismissed allegations a national egg industry lobby group tried to set up a cartel in 2012 to limit egg supply and boost prices.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission claimed the Australian Egg Corporation Limited, three directors and two egg companies tried to enter into an agreement or understanding to limit egg production.

A primary concern of the ACCC was a series of meetings held by the egg industry in 2012 todiscuss an oversupply of eggs, and the impact it might have on prices.

The court was also told of a 2012 ABC Rural story in which AECL managing director James Kellaway discussed a surplus of eggs, suggesting some 400 to 500 birds may have to be culled in order to maintain producer profits.

Full content: ABC News

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