The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme is Australia’s leading independent accreditation scheme dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals. Every brand and producer taking part meets the RSPCA’s detailed animal welfare standards
When your products carry the RSPCA Approved logo, you’re showing consumers that animal welfare is important to you. If you’re a producer marketing your own products or a brand owner interested in sourcing humanely farmed ingredients, we’d love to hear from you
Producers
We’re proud to be working with farmers around the country to improve animal welfare. RSPCA standards cater for a variety of production systems and are achievable for different sized producers
Brand owners
With more consumers seeking ethically farmed food, now is the perfect time for brands to start sourcing humanely raised products. If you’d like to join the humane food movement, please get in touch
RSPCA Standards
RSPCA standards focus on providing good housing conditions for farm animals (whether indoor, outdoor or in combination systems). All eligible farms are assessed against these standards and trained RSPCA Assessors visit the farms regularly
Meat chickens
Chickens on RSPCA Approved farms are encouraged to be active. They enjoy good lighting, perches, dry litter floor covering and enough space to move. Our standards allow for indoor and outdoor systems that meet the needs of the birds
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Meat Chickens
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Operations Manual
Note: Exemptions to specific standards on particular sites may be granted on rare occasions, but only where the RSPCA can see that animal welfare is not compromised.
Pigs
Pigs on RSPCA Approved farms have the space to move, forage, socialise and explore. While our standards for pigs allow for indoor and outdoor systems that meet their needs, sow stalls and traditional farrowing crates are not allowed under the Approved Farming Scheme
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Pigs (November 2018)
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Pigs (August 2011)
- Information Notes – Pigs
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Operations Manual:
Note: Exemptions to specific standards on particular sites may be granted on rare occasions, but only where the RSPCA can see that animal welfare is not compromised.
Layer hens
Hens on RSPCA Approved farms enjoy nests, perches, dry litter floor covering and enough space to move. Our standards allow for indoor and outdoor systems that meet the needs of the birds, however battery cages are not allowed under the Approved Farming Scheme
The RSPCA’s standards for pullets aim to improve the rearing and handling of birds before they reach the farm. While voluntary for now, the standards for pullets represent the RSPCA’s approach to developing standards that cover welfare from birth to slaughter
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Layer Hens
- Information Notes – Layer Hens
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Operations Manual
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Pullets (Layer Hens)
Note: Exemptions to specific standards on particular sites may be granted on rare occasions, but only where the RSPCA can see that animal welfare is not compromised.
Turkeys
Turkeys on RSPCA Approved farms are encouraged to be active. They enjoy good lighting, perches, dry litter floor covering and enough space to move. Our standards allow for indoor and outdoor systems that meet the needs of the birds
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Turkeys
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Operations Manual
Note: Exemptions to specific standards on particular sites may be granted on rare occasions, but only where the RSPCA can see that animal welfare is not compromised.
Salmon
The RSPCA’s standards for farmed Atlantic salmon focus on ensuring good farming practices, fish handling, husbandry and management. For good fish welfare, fish have space to swim normally in oxygen-rich water and can school with other fish, they are handled in a low stress manner and slaughtered humanely
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Farmed Atlantic Salmon
- Information Notes – Farmed Atlantic Salmon
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Operations Manual
Note: Exemptions to specific standards on particular sites may be granted on rare occasions, but only where the RSPCA can see that animal welfare is not compromised.
Dairy Veal Calves
The RSPCA’s standards for dairy veal calves focus on ensuring good farming practices, handling, husbandry and management. Calves on RSPCA Approved farms have space to move, play and socialise. They enjoy a quality and nutritious diet, proper bedding and access to the outdoors from weaning.
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Dairy Veal Calves
- Information Notes – Dairy Veal Calves
- RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards – Operations Manual
Note: Exemptions to specific standards on particular sites may be granted on rare occasions, but only where the RSPCA can see that animal welfare is not compromised.
INTERESTED IN joining the Scheme?
email approvedfarming@rspca.org.au or call 02 6282 8300 today
