What this class covers
ANZSIC class 0172 specifically covers Australian businesses engaged in poultry farming operations where the primary purpose is egg production or the hatching of chicks from egg-laying breeds. This classification applies to commercial operations that maintain flocks of poultry specifically bred for egg production, rather than meat production. The industry includes both large-scale commercial egg farms and smaller specialty operations focusing on free-range or organic egg production.
Typical businesses in this class include commercial layer farms producing eggs for supermarkets and wholesale markets, breeding operations that supply layer hens to egg producers, and specialized hatcheries that focus exclusively on egg-laying breed chicks. The classification also covers operations that may process eggs on-site for sale, provided the primary activity remains poultry farming for egg production. This code is used by various Australian government agencies for statistical reporting, tax classification, and industry monitoring purposes.
Primary activities in plain English
- Operating commercial egg farms where poultry are raised specifically for egg production
- Farming layer hens and other egg-producing poultry breeds for commercial egg sales
- Running hatcheries that specialize in breeding and hatching chicks from egg-laying poultry breeds
- Producing and selling eggs for human consumption through various distribution channels
- Maintaining breeding stock specifically for improving egg-producing poultry varieties
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class specifically excludes poultry farming operations focused on meat production. Businesses that raise poultry (including game birds) primarily for meat production, or that hatch meat breed chicks for raising as meat birds, should use class 0171 Poultry Farming (Meat). This distinction is important as meat and egg production represent different agricultural specializations with separate industry classifications.
Related classifications include ANZSIC group 017 Poultry Farming, which encompasses both egg and meat production, and division A Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing for broader agricultural context. The classification maps to international standards including ISIC Rev.4 code 0146p (Raising of poultry) and corresponds to Business Industry Code 1720 for Australian taxation purposes.
Practical guidance
When registering your business with the Australian Business Register, you'll need to select the appropriate Business Industry Code (BIC), with 1720 being the corresponding code for this ANZSIC classification. This classification affects your tax obligations, including eligibility for certain agricultural concessions and the way you report business income.
For workers' compensation insurance, this classification determines your premium rate category under the relevant state or territory scheme. Egg production operations may qualify for specific agricultural grants, subsidies, or disaster relief programs, where correct classification is essential for eligibility assessment. The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses this classification for industry data collection, helping to inform government policy and market analysis for the poultry sector.
Businesses should regularly review their classification, especially if they diversify operations between egg and meat production, as mixed operations may require different classification approaches based on primary income sources.