It could soon be easier to identify free-range eggs.
The federal government is inviting feedback from producers and retailers on a national standard for egg labelling, including defining free-range, what must be disclosed to shoppers and the possibility of using premium categories.
A cost-benefit analysis will be prepared before state and territory ministers meet in February 2016, Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer said in a statement on Monday.
Consumer group CHOICE said it was great the federal government gave a "cluck about free-range eggs".
Spokesman Matt Levey said it was easy for customers to be mislead under the current regulations.
"The result is that consumers lose, as do producers of genuine free-range eggs," Mr Levey said.
A CHOICE investigation in June estimated that a minimum of 213 million eggs sold in Australia last year under the free range label failed to meet consumers' expectations.
"It's estimated Australians could be paying between $21-$43 million per year for eggs that aren't the real deal," he said.
Egg Farmers Australia spokesman John Coward said it is important that consumers have confidence in the labelling and production system in the supply of free-range eggs.
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