Australia-Free Range poultry.

AUSTRALIA-FREE RANGE POULTRY..

A free-range chook might not always be wandering a grassy, shaded paddock a Senate Inquiry has been told today.

The term "free range" entices many shoppers but RSPCA representatives told Senators late this afternoon that some of these chickens may not even venture outside.

RSPCA chief executive Heather Neil highlighted the need for clear definitions and auditing of labelling terms such as "organic", "caged" and "free range".

"Consumers need a baseline," Ms Neil told the meat marketing inquiry.

The federal government’s Model Code for Poultry defines free range as a chook being able to access the outdoors for eight hours a day.

She said the word "access" meant the chicken might never venture outside and added that the word "outdoors" was not defined, meaning it could be an area not shaded and without grass.