Implementing Poultry Welfare Standards

The Poultry Welfare Standards are one of a suite of Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines that aims to harmonise national animal welfare legislation, providing clarity and consistency for industry, consumers and trading partners.

The national standards and guidelines were finalised by an independent panel after extensive community and stakeholder consultation, as well as a cost benefit analysis. As part of their development, biosecurity, food security and impacts to consumers were all considered. In July 2023, Agriculture Ministers from around Australia, including Victoria, endorsed the Poultry Welfare Standards.

The Poultry Welfare Standards, and Victoria’s poultry regulations once introduced, apply to everyone responsible for the care and management of poultry. This includes commercial producers, backyard poultry owners and poultry fanciers. The Poultry Welfare Standards do not cover the transport and slaughter of poultry, as these are covered under separate standards and guidelines.

The Poultry Welfare Standards apply to all poultry species. ‘Poultry’ are defined as the bird types reared or bred in captivity and include:

• chickens
• ducks
• emus
• geese
• guinea fowl
• ostriches
• partridges
• pheasants
• pigeons
• quail
• turkeys.

Timeline

1. In 2023, Australia’s agriculture ministers endorsed the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry.
2. From 2023 to 2025, the Victorian Government conducted consultation with the Victorian poultry industry to inform how the standards will be implemented in Victoria.
3. In 2023, the Victorian Government committed to implementing the Poultry Welfare Standards into legislation.
4. In 2025, regulations are being drafted for Victoria’s legislation. From mid-2025, Agriculture Victoria will provide guidance about new regulations for poultry producers, owners and industry.
5. From early 2026, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016 will be replaced with new poultry regulations, mandating welfare standards for all poultry species. Poultry producers and owners must comply with the new regulations once they are legislated.

The Victorian Government will continue to work with producers and industry on how best to implement changes, including new space allowance and furnishing requirements for cages. More information, including educational resources, will be provided to support producers to prepare for changes.

Other Australian state and territory governments will implement the Poultry Welfare Standards under their respective animal welfare Act or regulations. The intention is for jurisdictions to implement the standards as soon as possible; however, amending legislation can take time.

The POCTA (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016 sets out the legal requirements for keeping and housing of chickens.

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Land Transport of Livestock include legal requirements for the transport of poultry.

The Victorian and Australian Model Codes of Practice, provide guidance for all poultry species, these include:

• Victorian Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry
• Victorian Code of Practice for the Husbandry of Captive Emus
• Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Farming of Ostriches

Further information on other legal requirements for poultry is available on the Poultry welfare webpage.