Event: Stop Cruel Imports Petition Handover and Member's Bill

rainer802
May 8
3 min read

Updated: 7 minutes ago

Over 11,000 New Zealanders have signed a Stop Cruel Imports petition calling for legislation requiring imported animal products to comply with New Zealand's animal welfare laws. This petition was officially handed over on 6 May, alongside the announcement of a new member's bill addressing the same issue.

Stop Cruel Imports petition handover and member's bill announcement in front of NZ Parliament

University of Auckland animal law expert Associate Professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere presented the petition to Labour MP Rachel Boyack at the well-attended event. Green MP Steve Abel and National MP Grant McCallum, alongside representatives from Animal Policy International, SPCA, SAFE, and farmer Walt Cavendish, spoke, providing diverse perspectives on the pressing need for reform.

During the event, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack emphasised the need for consistency in animal welfare standards: "The petitioner raises a fair point that there are products sold on New Zealand shelves that are made in countries with lower animal welfare standards than ours. I commend the petitioner on bringing this petition to Parliament and look forward to it making its way through the select committee process for thorough consideration. Consumer preferences are changing, and New Zealand customers rightly expect that all products in our market, regardless of origin, meet New Zealand’s animal welfare standards."

Green MP Steve Abel announced the introduction of his Animal Products (Closing the Welfare Gap) Amendment Bill, which aims to ensure imported animal products meet the same welfare standards required domestically. Steve highlighted the ongoing issues with imports: "It has been years since New Zealand took the principled decision to ban sow stalls due to the immense suffering they cause to mother pigs. Yet, we continue to import significant quantities of cruel pork each year, contributing directly to animal suffering worldwide and undercutting more ethical local producers. My “closing the welfare gap” Bill will close this loophole. Every day we delay adds to the suffering of animals farmed overseas and sold in New Zealand, and disadvantages our local farmers."

This situation also creates a competitive disadvantage for New Zealand farmers who must comply with local laws while effectively allowing practices rejected by New Zealand voters to continue entering through imports.

Walt Cavendish, a dairy farmer, said, “The welfare gap is growing with many imports not up to the high standards that consumers demand of their Kiwi Farmers, farmers are not able to compete on a level playing field, and the high animal welfare standards are ignored on many imported products. Farmers and consumers deserve better, and so do our livestock. If better is possible, good is never enough."

In his address, Animal Policy International Co-Executive Director Rainer Kravets stressed the urgency: "As New Zealand negotiates new trade agreements, the amount of cruel imports may rise further. The time is now to require imports to meet our standards: creating certainty and ensuring our standards are not traded away with each trade deal. Not only is this possible, it’s the right thing to do - for animals, for our farmers and for New Zealanders who want truly better welfare for animals. The Government has a strong mandate to enact legislation with over 8o% of New Zealanders agreeing that imported products from outside New Zealand should respect the same animal welfare standards as those applied in New Zealand.”