A sow in a farrowing crate. (File photo) Photo: Claudius Thiriet / Biosphoto via AFP
MPs deliberating controversial changes to pig welfare rules will have less time to scrutinise new rules.
The Animal Welfare Amendment (Regulations of Management of Pigs) Bill proposed to keep farrow crates, but gave pig farmers 10 years to adapt to slightly tougher restrictions.
The bill passed its first reading in the house with the two-week submission process closing at 5pm Thursday.
Farrowing crates -which were used to prevent a sow crushing her piglets, but were so small a sow cannot turn around -were due to be banned from December 18 under changes brought in by the previous Labour government.
The Primary Production Select Committee had originally planned to report back on the bill in February, but had now brought this forward to November 20.
In a statement, the committee said it had decided "by majority" to shorten the process to prevent a "legislative gap" when current regulations expire on December 18.
After this date the pork industry would have been at risk of prosecution if it used farrowing crates.
The Labour Party and Green Party both voted against shortening the time frame.
Greens animal welfare spokesperson Steve Abel, a committee member, said it was likely the bill would have to be passed under urgency.
"This is totally avoidable. This is an example of a minister who has delayed and delayed and delayed, and now is doing the bidding of the pork industry."
Labour Animal Welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack also had concerns about the truncated process.
"Labour consulted on changes to pig animal welfare rules in 2022 and had put in place a transition process to end the use of farrowing crates in December this year. Instead of supporting the transition process and improved animal welfare for pigs, the Minister has chosen to delay changes to standards for a further 10 years, and then, only make minor improvements to welfare standards.
"Given the significant change in approach to pig welfare from this government and the high public interest, Labour believes the Bill should go through a full select committee process to ensure proper scrutiny before final decisions are made."
The SPCA, which had said it was left "blindsided" by the reforms after not being consulted, was also unhappy.
"There was only a two week consultation process which is incredibly short for a select committee, so we have grave concerns about this just being rushed through and purely being a tick box exercise," SPCA chief scientific sdvisor Arnja Dale said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
