KANGAROO Island's three free-range egg producers are pushing for tougher regulations to protect hens and new labelling to ensure consumers know what they are buying.

Farmers Graham and Kathy Barrett, of Katham Springs Bio-Dynamic Free Range Eggs, refuse to "de-beak" their birds, and want to create a unique logo and support a regional brand.

The Barretts keep just 150 birds per hectare, and support a proposed new state code for a maximum of 1500 layer hens per hectare.

This compares to a recent code proposed by the Australian Egg Corporation to allow up to 20,000 birds per hectare which was rejected by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The Barretts said Kangaroo Island egg producers want to go one step further to ensure there is no "de-beaking", and hope regional branding will protect the three free-range egg businesses on the island.

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Originally published as Egg farmers seek tougher laws