Poultry farming

Legislation for poultry farmers

If you're a poultry farmer, you must comply with the following legislation, to help ensure you produce safe and suitable food:

Animal Products Act 1999

Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997

Animal Products Regulations 2021

Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing [PDF, 2.6 MB]

Find out more

Managing Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial chicken flocks

Key requirements for poultry farmers

As a poultry producer, you must:

• only use approved medicines on your birds
• make sure the feed you use meets the requirements of the ACVM Act
• meet the requirements under the Animal Products Act 1999 including the Animal Product Regulations 2021 and Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing
• comply with animal welfare requirements
• operate under a Whole Flock Health Scheme (WFHS) and record how you manage the health of your birds.

Find out more about Whole Flock Health Schemes

As a chicken producer, you must additionally:

• have a registered risk management programme no later than 1 November 2023
• meet the requirements of the Animal Products Act 1999 including the Animal Product Regulations 2021 and Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing.

Requirements of the Animal Products Act 1999

Under the Animal Products Act 1999, the Animal Product Regulations 2021 sets the substantive requirements that apply to poultry producers.

Animal Products Regulations 2021

The Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing (the Notice) is made under the Animal Products Act and sets out the actions you must take to ensure your is safe for people to eat.

It includes the requirement to operating under a whole flock health scheme and supplying animals to processors with a supplier declaration.

Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing [PDF, 2.6 MB]

Risk management programmes for chicken producers

All chicken producers must be operating under a registered risk management programme (RMP) no later than 1 November 2023. Note that those who farm with 100 chickens or fewer, and who sell chickens or fertile eggs direct to consumer, do not fit the definition of chicken producer and, therefore, are not required to register an RMP.

For more information on managing the risk of Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial chicken flocks and the obligations on chicken producers, refer to Managing Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial chicken flocks.

You can base your RMP on either:

• a template RMP/code of practice, or
• you can write your own, using the RMP manual as a guide.

Risk management programme manual [PDF, 2.1 MB]

Risk Management Programme (RMP) Template for Production of Broiler and Layer Chicken Breeders (Rearing and Production), Day-old Chicks (Hatchery) and Broiler Production [PDF, 2.6 MB]

Our FAQ document will help you understand the new requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Chicken Producers Operating Under Risk Management Programmes (RMPs) [PDF, 331 KB]

If you supply birds as part of a contract to a company, we recommend you talk to the company about Risk Management Programmes.

For chicken producers who produce rearer laying chickens, layer chickens, and chicken eggs (as well as eggs from other species), refer to Risk management programmes for egg production and processing

Find out more about risk management programmes

Until 1 November 2023 you must list with MPI unless you register or are operating under an RMP early.

For listing requirements, refer to Managing Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial chicken flocks

Vaccinations and medicines

You must ensure any veterinary medicines you use – such as vaccines, antibiotics, anticoccidials, and anthelmintics – comply with the ACVM Act.

The Act controls the agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines used with animals and plants. It's a companion measure to other pieces of legislation, including the Animal Products Act.

Under the ACVM Act:

• you must comply with conditions of registration for the use of each product – read the labels carefully and follow their directions for use
• if the product is a restricted veterinary medicine, you must be authorised by a vet to use the product and follow the vet's instructions.

You should report any adverse event to the product registrant – see the product labels for contact details.

Agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines (ACVM)

Poultry feed

Poultry feed is classed as an agricultural compound under the ACVM Act, and all agricultural compounds must be authorised.

This feed is normally authorised without registration, but you must still:

• comply with the minimum manufacturing requirements, following a documented system
• ensure your poultry feed is fit for purpose
• not misrepresent your product as anything other than an animal nutritional product.

For full conditions for exemption, see Schedule 4 of the ACVM regulations:

Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2001

Find out more about poultry feed:

Pet food, animal feed, and nutritional supplements

The Animal Product Notice: Production, Supply and Processing is made under the Animal Products Act and sets out the actions you must take to ensure your poultry is safe for people to eat.

Biosecurity manual

The Biosecurity manual for NZ meat chicken growers is jointly published by MPI and the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand (PIANZ). It sets out recommended minimum standards for chicken meat production to ensure that birds are healthy and safe to eat and can also be used as a guide by growers of other poultry types. 

The manual covers aspects of broiler production including shed construction, shed entry, water supply, vermin and wild bird control, harvest and cleanout, and visitor restrictions.

Read the manual to find out the recommended minimum standards for poultry production.

Biosecurity manual for NZ meat chicken growers – PIANZ

Animal welfare

MPI administers animal welfare requirements. Fully housed poultry must be kept, caught, and transported according to the Code of Welfare for meat chickens.

Code of Welfare: Meat Chickens [PDF, 364 KB]

Learn about the general requirements for transporting animals.

Code of Welfare: Transport within New Zealand [PDF, 585 KB] 

Who to contact

If you have questions about poultry farming, email info@mpi.govt.nz