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Approved Farming Scheme

The RSPCA has developed animal welfare standards for the care of layer hens, pigs, meat chickens and turkeys. The standards ensure that animals in these farming systems are provided with an environment that meets their behavioural and physiological needs.

Egg producers, pig, meat chicken and turkey farmers whose farms meet the RSPCA's standards can apply to join the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme. Once the farm has been approved, eggs, pork, chicken and turkey products from these farms are stamped and sold with the RSPCA Approved Farming logo. Companies marketing eggs, pork, chicken or turkey products supplied by approved producers participate in the Scheme as Licensees.

For information about how to join the Scheme;

Download a Producers Brochure, call 02 6282 8300 or email approvedfarming@rspca.org.au for application documents.

View the Operations Manual which details the operations of the Scheme for Producers and Licensees (this document is the same for layer hens, pigs, meat chickens and turkeys).

Layer hens 

RSPCA Approved free-range and barn-housed layer hens have more space than those raised in conventional systems. They can perch, dustbathe, scratch and forage, and lay their eggs in a nest. Eligible egg producers will be approved if they are able to meet the high standards of welfare required and allow regular inspections to ensure that these conditions are maintained.

• Use our Humane Food finder to locate your nearest stockist of RSPCA Approved eggs.
• View our layer hens standards here.
• For more about the RSPCA's work to improve the treatment of layer hens, read about our Choose Wisely campaign.

Pigs

Pigs reared on RSPCA Approved farms live in a well-managed outdoor system, within enhanced indoor environments that cater for all their behavioural and physiological needs, or a combination of both. You would not see sow stalls or farrowing crates on an RSPCA Approved pig farm. All pigs are reared, handled and transported with consideration and care and then slaughtered humanely.

• Use our Humane Food finder to locate your nearest stockist of RSPCA Approved pork.
• View our pigs standards here.
• For more about the RSPCA's work to improve the treatment of pigs visit our pig farming campaign page.

Meat chickens

The RSPCA meat chicken standards ensure good welfare for meat chickens by focussing on the housing conditions that affect bird welfare and also by providing birds with straw bales to peck and perch on, a longer dark period so they can rest properly, and sufficient space to move freely.

• Use our Humane Food finder to locate your nearest stockist of RSPCA Approved chicken.
• View our meat chicken standards here.
• For more about the RSPCA's work to improve the treatment of meat chickens visit our meat chicken campaign page.

Turkeys 

Turkeys are the latest addition to the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme. The standards provide for an environment that meets the turkey's needs through the provision of good housing conditions, appropriate stocking densities, and environmental enrichment.

• Use our Humane Food finder to locate your nearest stockist of RSPCA Approved turkey (we aim to have RSPCA Approved turkey on supermarket shelves soon).
• View our turkeys standards here.

 

RSPCA Paw of Approval

The RSPCA Paw of Approval is only found on products that have come from animals that are part of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme. If you see the paw on a carton of eggs or a packet of pork or chicken, you can be assured of a high standard of animal welfare on the farms that have produced this food for you.

 

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