RSPCA Re-Brand Farming Welfare Certification Scheme

The ACCC is currently holding consultations for RSPCA Australia’s newly lodged certified trade marks (CTMs). From the ACCC:

The marks are intended to indicate that products marked with the RSPCA certified CTMs have been produced under the RSPCA Certified Scheme. According to RSPCA Australia, the RSPCA Certified Scheme is:

“a farm animal welfare certification scheme that was created to improve farm animal welfare in Australia, whilst also providing guidance and a trustworthy choice for consumers who want to purchase higher welfare products.”

The RSPCA Certified Scheme was formerly known as the RSPCA Accreditation Scheme and the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme: https://rspcaapproved.org.au/ RSPCA is effectively rebranding its scheme with new marks and moving from trade marks to certification trade marks.

RSPCA Australia grants the right to use the RSCPA certified CTMs on products produced in accordance with the RSPCA certified operating rules. The operating rules refer to specific RSPCA standards that entities must comply with to use the mark.

RSPCA Australia claim their standards:

  • focus on the welfare of animals farmed for food and offer improved welfare above that of conventional farming systems and the minimum that is required by law.
  • consider farming in the Australian environment and the opportunities to improve animal welfare within the commercial realities of farm animal production on farm, during transport and at slaughter.

There are 6 standards referred to in the operating rules:

  • RSPCA Australia Layer Hens Standard
  • RSPCA Australia Pigs Standard
  • RSPCA Australia Meat Chickens Standard
  • RSPCA Australia Turkeys Standard
  • RSPCA Australia Farmed Atlantic Salmon Standard
  • RSPCA Australia Dairy Calves Standard

The standards are part of the existing RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme which began in 1996. The transition to the new RSPCA certified scheme will not change the standards, other than being rebadged with the RSCPA certified marks.

Under the RSPCA certified scheme, Licensees will be permitted to display the following marks on RSPCA certified products:

A stylised chicken, fish and pig in blue on a white background, bordered in blue (left). ‘RSPCA Certified Welfare Standards’ written in white text on blue background (right).
Blue stylised animals and text on a borderless white background. The top third has a chicken (left) and fish (right), the middle third has a pig, and the bottom third has the text ‘RSPCA Certified’.
Top half: blue stylised animals (chicken, fish and pig) on a white background with a blue border. Bottom half: white text on blue background reads ‘RSPCA Certified Welfare Standards’.

Public consultation on CTM Rules

The ACCC is consulting with potentially interested parties on the CTM Rules, prior to making an initial assessment.

Submissions are requested by Friday 13 December 2024.

Submissions should be emailed to CTMs@accc.gov.au with the subject “CTMs RSPCA Australia – submission”.

Submissions will be placed on the ACCC’s public CTM Register, subject to any request for exclusion due to confidentiality. Please indicate clearly in your submission whether you are willing for the ACCC to make it publicly available by placing it on our CTM Register, or are requesting that part or all of it be excluded (with brief reasons for any exclusion request).