FREPA FREE RANGE TRANSPORT & PROCESSING STANDARDS
THESE STANDARDS WERE FORMED TO CREATE A
NON-STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BIRDS.
1. All processors must be able to demonstrate compliance with the relevant food safety standards applicable in each State for the slaughter and processing of poultry for human consumption.
2. Processors will only process poultry which is labelled as Free Range which has been sourced from FREPA accredited growers.
3. Where the processor has supplied day old chicks to a grower, the processor shall be responsible to ensure that the grower standards are not violated and in particular, stocking density and use of veterinary products are not violated.
4. All processors must maintain sufficient records to demonstrate FULL traceability from the hatchery to the grower to the processor to the customer or storage for all product labelled as Free Range.
This may be achieved by :-
A. Processing at the beginning of a shift;
B. Processing after an appropriate break from conventional chickens to ensure segregation is achieved throughout the processing line and on the packing floor;
OR
C. Another method with Validation / Verification records to demonstrate compliance with segregation requirements.
5. Housing, equipment, ventilation, temperature and health practices must be in accordance with the Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry as available in each State.
6. Slaughtering must comply with the current Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Livestock and Poultry and Slaughtering Establishments [Abattoirs, Slaughterhouses and Knackeries], as published in each State.
7. All birds are to be transported in accordance with the Land Transport Code, relevant to each State, and on a vehicle separately from conventional poultry to maintain segregation of Free Range. Documents accompanying the load should clearly indicate the Source Farm, Shed, Bird Numbers, Pick up Date and designate the poultry as Free Range.
8. All processors must comply with appropriate sections of the Chicken Meat Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice as they apply to transport and processing of poultry.
9. The Board may, at its discretion, allow a processor to deviate from the above standards, for an agreed time period, in the interest of research which is supervised by a reputable scientific organisation and reported to the Board at agreed dates.
10. An audit to these Standards will be conducted at the processors premises by a FREPA designated auditor on an annual basis.
Standards available for download here..