Antibiotics Policy

Bartter Enterprises and all of its farmers, subscribe to the antibiotics policy of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation. Key points from this policy are outlined below, with the full policy available for viewing at www.chicken.org.au/antibiotics.

The Australian chicken meat industry’s main goal is to produce healthy food.

The industry has management practices in place that aim to minimise the development of antibiotic resistance in flocks and humans, and reduce exposure to antibiotic residues.

The use of antibiotics in meat chickens is limited to two important functions. First, antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections in unwell birds. Second, they are also used to prevent well birds from becoming infected with bacteria or disease in the first instance.

ACMF Industry Code

    * Only antibiotics approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for use in meat chickens are to be used.
    * Good veterinary practice, withholding periods, designed to ensure that there is no residue left in the meat at the time of slaughter, and all other conditions stipulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority must be observed at all times.
    * Antibiotics are not to be used to promote or enhance the bird's growth.
    * Where unavoidable, antibiotics used in human medicine may be used, but only for targeted therapeutic treatment.