TASMANIAN government departments have switched to buying cage eggs after it reversed the policy of the previous government.

The Department of Health and Human Services buys more than 500,000 eggs a year, the prison service more than 70,000. Soon after winning government last year, Treasurer Peter Gutwein committed to overturn the “ridiculous” rule to buy non-cage eggs.

“Under Labor, local businesses couldn’t get a look in,” a government spokesman said.

“We said then it wasn’t good enough and that’s why shortly after coming to office we overturned Labor and the Greens’ ridiculous free-range egg regulations, which locked out Tasmanian businesses.”

The Department of Health said Tasmanian Health Organisations north and south and Custodial Youth Justice have contracts for cage eggs with Pure Foods, which provides about 477,000 Tasmanian­-produced eggs a year.

THO-North West had a contract for caged eggs with PFD Food Services, a Tasmanian company that sources its eggs from Queensland.

The Tasmanian Prison Service bought about 6000 dozen eggs a year.

“To ensure value for money and compliance with the buy local policy, the TPS purchases local eggs at the best price it can obtain, which is usually cage eggs,” a spokeswoman said.

“The TPS requests that all eggs supplied are from Tasmanian sources, however, any eggs that we order for which there is an insufficient Tasmanian supply, are supplied from Victorian sources.”

RSPCA Tasmania said the move was disappointing.

“We understand the economic reality the government faces, however it sends a mixed message,” general manager Peter West said.

The former government gave grants to Tasmanian producers to step up their cage-free production.

Greens consumer affairs spokesman Nick McKim said the previous policy showed leadership by encouraging appropriate animal welfare standards.

“By changing the policy, the Liberals have endorsed animal cruelty and a lowest common denominator approach to purchasing policy,” Mr McKim said.