22 July 2001

Green MP Sue Kedgley is calling on the New Zealand Pork Industry Board not to back down on its commitment for a complete phase out of the cruel sow crate in New Zealand.

Ms Kedgley said the Pork Industry Board had committed itself to a complete ban on the dry sow stall by 2012 at a meeting on 15 February 2001, as a result of negotiations between the Board, the SPCA and the Green Party.

"I am alarmed that the Board is considering back-tracking on that undertaking at its AGM tomorrow and seeking to allow pig farmers to use their sow crates for 4-6 weeks automatically," Ms Kedgley said.

"It would be short-sighted and foolhardy for the Board to renege on this undertaking. All the progress that has been made in negotiations on this issue over the past year would be lost. The Board would find itself once again at war with animal welfare groups and consumers over the issue," she said.

"A major campaign against the industry by animal welfare groups and consumers would severely damage the reputation of the New Zealand pork industry, and would inevitably affect pork sales in New Zealand."

Ms Kedgley said that the Green party would be part of that campaign, and would continue to pressure the Government to ensure a complete phase out of the sow crate.

"All of this could be averted if the Board kept its agreement to phase out the sow crate which is one of the cruellest farming practices in New Zealand," she said.

"Consumers are appalled when they realise the unbelievable cruelty of the sow crate. I predict that a campaign against the Pork Industry Board, if it refuses to completely phase out the sow crate, will turn into one of the biggest consumer campaigns against an industry that has ever been launched", Ms Kedgley said.

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