Our work National accreditation scheme..

RSPCA Accredited eggs

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About RSPCA National Accreditation Schemes

The RSPCA believes that farm animals must be treated in a way that meets their physical, physiological and psychological needs.

Farm animals must not only be provided with appropriate food, shelter and veterinary care, they must have the freedom to express normal behaviours and be kept in an environment that avoids suffering (see The Five Freedoms). 

The RSPCA therefore opposes many common practices in farming and animal husbandry because it believes that such practices do not meet the animals’ needs. These include, for example, the keeping of hens in battery cages, the use of sow stalls and tethering for pigs, and hot iron branding of livestock. 

Whilst the RSPCA has policies opposing such practices, sadly these practices are not illegal. 

To help bring about improvements in conditions for farm animals, the RSPCA runs public campaigns and lobbies government and industry for changes to legislation. 

For example the RSPCA, together with other animal welfare organisations and industry groups, is currently involved in the Federal Government’s review of the Code of Practice for pig husbandry. Through this process we hope to achieve better welfare standards for pigs.However in the absence of legislation banning practices that the RSPCA finds unacceptable, we believe it is vital that consumers are made aware of such practices and that they are provided with welfare-friendly alternatives. 

Creating a demand for welfare-friendly products will provide an incentive for producers to adopt humane farming practices.
With the aim of improving the welfare of animals in farming systems, the RSPCA has embarked on accreditation schemes. 

The first of these schemes is the accreditation of humanely produced eggs. 

The RSPCA has developed a set of standards for egg producers that ensure a high standard of welfare for hens and gives a tick of approval to eggs which are produced according to these standards. 

The hens that produce RSPCA barn-laid eggs are not kept in battery cages - they have litter in which to ‘dust bathe’ and adequate space to flap their wings, stretch and socialize. They also have nests in which to lay their eggs, and ample perch space. Any egg producer can apply for accreditation for their farm. This will be granted if they are able to meet the high standards of welfare required and allow regular inspections to ensure that these conditions are maintained. 

Eggs from an accredited farm are sold with the RSPCA logo so the consumer can be assured that the hens are kept according to these high welfare standards.

Another area under consideration for accreditation is that of pork production.

The RSPCA has recently developed standards for more humane pork production. 

Under these standards a pig farm will be considered for accreditation if all pigs are kept either in well-managed extensive outdoor systems or within enhanced indoor environments that cater for their behavioural and physical needs. Sows, boars, and piglets reared for slaughter must receive considerate handling and, transportation and humane slaughter practices must be observed. 

Practices such as sow stalls and nose-ringing are not permitted.

Currently only one pork producer has been granted RSPCA accreditation, although during 2004 the scheme will be extended to other producers who are able to meet and maintain the welfare standards.

Accredited egg and pork producers pay a royalty to the RSPCA. All royalties from accreditation are used to pay specialist officers who carry out regular inspections of the accredited properties, to fund the development of certification standards and to fund ongoing campaigns aimed at improving the welfare of farm animals.