Egg or poultry meat production is covered by a number of State and Commonwealth laws and regulations. All poultry and egg producers, whether backyard or commercial, are required to comply with the laws and regulations relevant to their business regardless of the type of production system (organic, free range, barn, cage).
Local government requirements also cover all poultry including backyard flocks.
Acts and Regulations are available from the State Law Publisher or Australian Government Com Law website.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia (DPIRD) responsibilities
DPIRD has responsibility for livestock biosecurity (disease prevention, disease surveillance and eradication or control), animal welfare, chemical residues and soil and land conservation. DPIRD administers the following Acts and regulations relevant to poultry producers:
- Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (BAM) Act and Regulations
- Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1993
- Animal Welfare Act 2002
- Veterinary Chemical Control and Animal Feeding Stuffs Act 1976
- Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945
Regulation by other government agencies
This summary of regulation covers important areas but is not exhaustive.
Different local government jurisdictions have varying requirements for keeping of production animals. Your local city, shire or town office can provide details.
| Issue
| Statute and Agency |
| Transporting poultry (load size and containment)
| Road Traffic Act 1994 |
| Agricultural and veterinary chemicals
| Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994 (Australian Department of Agriculture Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)) |
| Use, storage, handling and disposal of pesticides
| Health (Pesticides) Regulations 2011 (Department of Health) |
| Storage of fuels, solvents, explosive and dangerous goods
| Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 (Department of Mines and Petroleum) |
| Environment
| Environmental Code of Practice for Poultry Farms in Western Australia (May 2004) (Department of Water WA)
Environmental Management and Cleaner Production Directory for Small and Medium Businesses: A guide to pollution prevention (April 2005) (Swan River Trust)
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Australian Department of Environment)
Environment Protection Act 1986 (Department of Environment Regulation WA) |
| Odour emissions
| Odour Methodology Guideline (2002) (Environmental Protection Authority Department of Environmental Regulation WA) |
| Noise emissions
| Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (Environmental Protection Authority Department of Environmental Regulation WA) |
| NPI substance emissions, i.e. ammonia
| Environmental Protection (NEPMNPI) Regulations 1998 (Environmental Protection Authority Department of Environmental Regulation WA) |
| Licence to take surface water and groundwater
| Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (Department of Water WA) |
| Development in Public Drinking Water Source Areas
| Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage (MWSS & D) Act 1909 or (Department of Water WA) |
| Approval for developments that may affect the Swan - Canning estuary
| Swan River Trust Act 1988 (Swan River Trust) |
| Impact on the values and ecology of land or natural waters
| Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Environmental Protection Authority Department of Environmental Regulation WA) |
| Registration of offensive trades; handling of poultry manure
| Health Act 1911 (as amended) (Department of Health) |
| Sale, supply and use of poultry manure
| Health (Poultry Manure) Regulations 2001 (Department of Health) |
| Safety in the workplace - Worksafe
| Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (Department of Commerce) |
| Food standards
| Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Food Standards Australia and New Zealand) |
| Labelling
| Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) |
| Food hygiene and safety
| Food Act 2008 (Department of Health) |
| Subdivision of land
| Planning and Development Act 2005 (WA Planning Commission, Department of Planning) |
| Land zoning and development approval -
| Planning and Development Act 2005 (your local Shire or Council) |
| Land use planning
| Statement of Planning Policy No. 4.3: Poultry Farms Policy (June 2004) (WA Planning Commission, Department of Planning) |
Useful links for egg producers
Egg producers do not need a licence. The egg industry in WA was deregulated on 2 July 2005. However, commercial producers must comply with egg labelling guidelines and the Food Act 2008 and all other relevant legislation. More information is available from the following websites:
- Australian Egg Corporation
- Poultry Cooperative Research Centre
- Commercial Egg Producers Association WA
- Egg Farmers of Australia
Producers also have a legal obligation to report the presence or suspicion of reportable diseases of poultry, particularly:
Useful links for meat chicken producers
Production and supply of meat chickens to a processor in WA has been deregulated. Advice on chicken meat production can be obtained from a chicken meat processor or:
Producers have a legal obligation to report the presence or suspicion of reportable diseases of poultry, particularly:
Poultry feed and poultry litter must not be fed to ruminants
Poultry feed and poultry litter must not be fed to ruminants (animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer). This is essential to maintain and demonstrate Australia’s freedom from bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) and to protect vital export markets. See the ruminant feed ban webpage for further information.
More information
For industry planning information, contact:
Pat Page, email patrick.page@dpird.wa.gov.au or telephone +61 (0)8 9881 0222
or Jessica Turnbull, email jessica.turnbull@dpird.wa.gov.au or telephone: +61 (0)8 9881 0210
For poultry biosecurity information, contact:
Telephone: +61 (0)8 9368 3342