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.