- Western Australia the first state in Australia to adopt nationally agreed welfare standards for poultry
- New regulations include immediate ban of new battery cages, with existing cages phased out from 2032
- Cook Government committed to improving animal welfare in WA
The Cook Government is the first state to outlaw battery cages following the introduction of new poultry regulations this week.
The regulations ban battery cages from being installed in Western Australia and require any existing battery cages to be phased from 2032.
Western Australia's new Animal Welfare (Poultry) Regulations 2024 adopt the first stage of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry, endorsed in 2023 at the Agriculture Ministers meeting in Perth.
The regulations also create new animal welfare standards to commence on 1 July 2025, and include improved living conditions for poultry to allow birds to perch, hatch and scratch.
These regulations will apply to both commercial producers and backyard poultry owners.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been liaising with chicken and egg producers and poultry owners to raise awareness about the new national standards and undertook consultation to help develop the WA regulations.
The new regulations will improve animal welfare outcomes for chickens, ducks, and other poultry such as emus, geese, and turkeys.
For details on the new Poultry Regulations visit the WA Legislation website www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/subsif.html .
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"The Cook Government has been a leader in adopting the new poultry standards and guidelines and phasing out battery cages, reflecting community expectations for improved treatment, care and management of all animals.
"The new poultry regulations are designed to be proactive and support better welfare, safety and health outcomes in both commercial and backyard flocks."
