Animal Welfare Regulatory Proposals

Animal Welfare Regulatory Proposals

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) welcomes the initiation of consultation by the Ministry of Primary Industries on the proposed animal welfare regulations for care & conduct and surgical & painful procedures.

New Zealand’s reputation as a country with strong outcome focused animal welfare frameworks is important to New Zealand dairy companies, and to the dairy industry as a whole.

Based on an initial review, the proposals appear to represent a positive move to reinforce New Zealand’s animal welfare system, which is already recognised as world leading by the global animal welfare charity World Animal Protection. The proposed regulations would provide further clarity of minimum standards expectations, and enable MPI’s compliance team to use a greater range of tools to enforce compliance.

The dairy industry Strategy for Sustainable Dairy Farming sets a target for 100% compliance with New Zealand animal welfare standards, and individual dairy companies have reinforced expectations of compliance in their farmer supply contracts.

Dairy farmers are supported to achieve good animal welfare outcomes through the work of DairyNZ in developing, and promoting, industry best practice guidance.

ENDS

© Scoop Media