The Pork Industry Board's threat of legal action which has
delayed the release of a new code of welfare for pigs is
disappointing, Agriculture Minister David Carter said today.
Mr Carter said a draft code was due to be released within
days by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
(NAWAC) and it was frustrating that the board threatened
legal action unless it was involved in further consultation.
He agreed that NAWAC should protect itself from litigation,
but bother parties needed to work out a way to release a
draft code urgently.
Mr Carter asked for the review after the pork industry came
under the spotlight after the animal rights organisation Open
Rescue escorting comedian Mike King around a Horowhenua
intensive pig farm belonging to former New Zealand Pork
Industry Board chairman Colin Kay.
King, a long-standing front man for a campaign advertising
pork, said some pigs were unable to move and obviously in
distress, chewing at the cage bars and frothing at the mouth.
However a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry investigator
found animal welfare laws were not broken at the well managed
piggery.
Mr Carter said at the time animal welfare concerns mattered
and affected sales.
The current code was written and under it he amount of time a
sow can be kept in a dry sow stall will be reduced to four
weeks after mating from 2015 and Mr Carter has indicated he
believes this is too far away.
