ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the Canberra Institute of Technology had already switched to using free-range and barn-laid eggs earlier this month with ACT Public Schools and ACT Health to follow suit.

The transition comes after the ACT Government announced it would phase out battery hens in September last year after pressure from ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey and animal rights groups such as the RSPCA.

Although ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope stopped short of an outright ban on battery farming, the Government promised to stop buying battery-farmed eggs for its agencies, which include hospitals, schools and canteens.

It also offered the ACT's only egg producer, Pace Farms, $1million to replace its battery hen farm at Belconnen with a barn farm.

The ACT Greens this week criticised the time taken to begin the phasing out, but Mr Stanhope said contractual agreements to May 2009 had slowed the process.

"The ACT Government will begin phasing out the use of battery eggs in ACT public schools during this year," he said.

"ACT Procurement Solutions will also ensure that all future food contracts with ACT Government agencies include free-range eggs in requests."

The chief minister was scheduled to meet with Pace Farms again in another two weeks and would also discuss a national approach to phasing out the use of battery eggs with fellow agricultural ministers at a future Primary Industries Ministerial Council Meeting.

With the RSPCA using Easter to renew calls to end battery hen farms, Mr Stanhope also used the occasion to urge Canberrans to make the switch when buying eggs.

"During Easter there is an emphasis on eggs the chocolate variety but the production of eggs and the welfare of our chickens is a serious matter," he said.

"The ACT Government is committed to leading the way in phasing out the use of battery eggs in the ACT.

"We hope that all Canberrans can follow the Government's example and choose to buy free range or barn-laid eggs when buying their eggs."