Approved Farming Scheme
The RSPCA has developed animal welfare standards for the care of layer hens, pigs and meat chickens. The standards ensure that animals in these farming systems are provided with an environment that meets their behavioural and physiological needs.
Egg producers, pig and meat chicken 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 and chicken products from these farms are stamped and sold with the RSPCA Approved Farming logo. Companies marketing eggs, pork or chicken products supplied by approved producers can also participate in the Scheme.
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 hen 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 pig standards here.
- For more about the RSPCA's work to improve the treatment of pigs visit our pig farming campaign page.
Meat chickens
Meat chickens are the latest addition to the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme. The 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 (we aim to have RSPCA Approved chicken on supermarket shelves soon).
- 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.
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.
What can you do to help?
The good news is that your buying habits can help improve the lives of farm animals in Australia.
Vote with your wallet
- Don't buy eggs that have been produced in battery cages. Instead, choose eggs that have been produced in a barn-laid or free range system, such as RSPCA Approved eggs.
- Don't buy pork or chicken products that have been produced using intensive farming systems. Instead, look for products that are certified (bred) free range or approved by the RSPCA.
- If animal-welfare friendly products are not available, talk to your butcher or supermarket manager. Tell them you would prefer to buy products that do not come from cruel farming systems and encourage them to consider stocking and promoting products that are humanely produced.
- Eat at RSPCA Choose Wisely restaurants. Choose Wisely restaurants have committed to serve cage-free eggs as much as they can in their businesses. If your local hangout isn't involved why not encourage them to join!
Give farm animals a voice
Write to Federal Minister, Tony Burke, your State or Territory Primary Industry / Agriculture Minister, your local MP and to local newspapers. Encourage them to support humane, animal-welfare friendly farming systems.
Subscribe to RSPCA eNews
By subscribing to the RSPCA eNews mailing list, we can keep you updated on issues affecting farm animals.