Requirements for poultry farms
If you are operating a poultry farm in Queensland, you must comply with state and national laws and regulations.
Biosecurity
Once you have 100 or more designated birds, you must register as a biosecurity entity.
When you register, you will be allocated a property identification code (PIC). If you already have a PIC, you will need to update your information with the number of animals kept on the property.
Environment
If your farm qualifies as an environmentally relevant activity (ERA), then you need to hold an environmental authority and other permits to operate.
Development permits and assessment
Contact your local council and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) before:
- purchasing land for a new poultry farm
- diversifying into poultry on your current property
- expanding your current poultry operation.
They will be able to guide you on the suitability of the site for poultry farming and any planning requirements.
Food safety
Poultry farms that produce and supply food for customers (i.e. meat or eggs) must be registered with Safe Food Queensland.
The Food Safety Scheme for Eggs and Egg Products (Egg Scheme) applies to producers, processors or anyone operating under a preferred supplier arrangement for eggs.
The Egg Scheme makes it illegal to supply:
- cracked or dirty eggs
- unpasteurised egg pulp
- eggs and egg products without accreditation.
To reduce the risk of Salmonella in egg production:
- ensure your farm has a biosecurity plan in place
- use the Salmonella risk-assessment toolkit to identify possible risk factors across all aspects of egg production and processing.
Animal welfare
In Queensland, the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (ACPA) places a legal 'duty of care' on people in charge of animals to provide for those animals' needs in an appropriate way. The Act includes birds and their pre-hatched young.
These Australian model codes of practice apply to poultry and are adopted codes under the ACPA:
- poultry welfare code
- land transport of livestock code
- livestock at slaughtering establishments
- Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry.
The codes contain information and guidelines to provide minimum acceptable outcomes of animal welfare for poultry.
All production systems can be accredited under the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme if they:
- meet the eligibility criteria
- operate in accordance with the standards of the scheme.
Free range farms
To be certified as free range, farms must comply with standards set out by Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia (FREPA).
Industry standards
- National Animal Welfare Standard for the Chicken Meat Industry and guidance material.
- Industry best management practice welfare manual
- National Farm Biosecurity Manual for Chicken Growers (PDF, 2.14 MB)
Legislation
- Animal Care and Protection Act 2001
- Biosecurity Act 2014
- Environmental Protection Act 1994
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth)
- Nature Conservation Act 1992
- Vegetation Management Act 1999
- Water Act 2000.
You can also use the legislation search tool from AgriFutures Chicken Meat to see other local, state and national laws that apply.