The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is inviting poultry owners and community members to provide feedback on a proposal to enhance the traceability of poultry in the State.
The proposal will require owners of poultry and poultry abattoirs to register with the DPIRD and obtain a Property Identification Code (PIC) for each property on which they keep birds.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer at the Department, Peter Gray said effective livestock traceability systems were essential to the State’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks, to manage food safety and to support continuing access to markets.
“WA already requires owners of livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, to register and obtain a PIC for where their animals are kept,” Dr Gray said.
“Mandatory registration of owners of poultry will allow the DPIRD to identify and maintain a formal register of properties where birds are kept.”
He said this information would assist in protecting the sector from serious diseases such as avian influenza, food safety and biosecurity risks, and ensured the DPIRD was able to quickly communicate information to stakeholders.
“This proposal will also harmonise our traceability arrangements for the WA poultry sector with other Australian jurisdictions,” Dr Gray said.
He said the proposed requirement had been designed so that it would not impact backyard chicken owners or hobby owners.
“The proposal applies to owners of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, quail, pheasants, partridges, emus, ostriches, domesticated pigeons (such as those kept for racing, breeding, exhibition or competition) and poultry abattoirs,” Dr Gray said.
“However, mandatory registration will only apply to owners who have 50 or more poultry, or 10 or more emus/ostriches, and to all owners who sell bird meat or eggs.”
The consultation period will run until 1 October with an 11-page consultation paper available at this PS News link.
