Stockfeed regulation and standards

Page last updated: Thursday, 5 August 2021 - 4:59pm

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) regulates standards for livestock feed including labelling so that meat, milk and eggs produced from WA livestock are safe for human consumption. These feed standards safeguard human health and help Australia's livestock industries maintain and increase access to overseas markets. WA’s livestock and livestock product export markets were worth $2 billion in 2015/16.

This webpage outlines what stockfeed may contain, how stockfeed is labelled and what may be fed to ruminant animals and pigs.

Legislation

The requirements for stockfeed in Western Australia are contained in the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Agriculture Standards) Regulations 2013 (the regulations). For a full copy of the regulations visit legislation.wa.gov.au and search for the current version.

The regulations cover the required standards for stockfeed, labelling of stockfeed and feeding restrictions for ruminant animals and pigs.

The regulations apply to feed for all animals except cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rodents, domestic aquarium fish and aviary birds.

Standards for stockfeed

The regulations prescribe standards for the formulation and manufacture of stockfeed.  

For example stockfeed must not contain:

  • certain substances that are prohibited in animal feed, such as certain hormones and antibiotics
  • more than the maximum allowed level of a contaminant, such as lead and mercury
  • a veterinary chemical unless the chemical is registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
  • an additive unless the additive is registered by the APVMA or the APVMA has indicated the additive does not require registration.

For more information refer to the regulations or contact us.

Stockfeed labelling

Stockfeed must be correctly labelled to reduce the risk of livestock being fed unsuitable feed.

Read more on stockfeed labelling.

Feeding restrictions for ruminant animals – the ruminant feed ban

It is illegal to feed any animal material, such as meat meal, to ruminant animals.

These restrictions are in place to minimise the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) occurring in Australia. Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, deer, alpacas and llamas.

Read more on the ruminant feed ban.

Feeding restrictions for pigs – the swill feeding ban

Feeding food scraps (also known as swill) to pigs is illegal in Australia because it could result in the introduction of devastating diseases to pigs and other animals.

Read more on the swill feeding ban.

Contact information

Livestock Biosecurity

Author

Livestock Biosecurity