The registration requirement will apply to owners of 50 or more poultry – domestic chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, quail, pigeons, pheasants and partridges – and owners of 10 more emus and/or ostriches.
The change to the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Identification and Movement of Stock and Apiaries) Regulations 2013 will come into effect from 1 April 2022.
Abattoir operators that process poultry, emu or ostriches must also register as a non-farming property owner.
People who own less than 50 poultry and less than 10 emus or ostriches but sell these birds, their eggs or meat for human consumption are also encouraged to register to support notification and tracing in relation to biosecurity and food safety.
Owners of poultry, emus and ostriches who are not already registered with DPIRD as an owner of other livestock can register for free from 1 April until 30 September 2022 to assist with the transition to the new requirements.
Once registered, owners and abattoirs will be issued a Property Identification Code (PIC) for the location at which the animals are kept.
Registrations are valid for three years, before renewal is required.
DPIRD manager of product integrity Brad McCormick said the new regulations had been introduced to improve traceability in the event of a biosecurity incident.
“The new regulations will ensure poultry, emu and ostrich owners can be contacted rapidly if there is a disease outbreak, food safety incident or detection of a residue that may affect human health or poultry welfare,” Dr McCormick said.
“This is crucial for controlling, eradicating or managing a disease such as avian influenza – to which all poultry, emus and ostriches are susceptible – as quickly as possible to protect businesses and the biosecurity status of WA’s poultry industry.”
People who have already registered as an owner of stock do not have to re-register, however, if poultry, emus or ostriches are kept on a different property to where other livestock are kept, this property needs to be added to their registration.
This addition is free of charge and can be done by completing an update form.
Existing registered owners are encouraged to update their details if they have poultry, emus and ostriches, either via an update form or when registration is renewed.
To register, update details and get information on the new regulations visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-movement-ID
Picture caption: Owners of 50 or more poultry or 10 or more emus/ostriches, as well as poultry abattoirs are required to register with DPIRD from 1 April 2022, under new biosecurity regulations.
