26 June 2014
Government Fails to Make High Animal Welfare Ambitions a Reality
New report highlights hits and misses
The review of New Zealand’s most important piece of legislation surrounding the treatment of animals promised big
changes. Unfortunately, the reality has fallen short say animal group SAFE. The statement follows the reporting back of
the Primary Production Select Committee today on the review of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
SAFE says cruel factory farms are still going to be legal and animal welfare will continue to be under the Ministry for
Primary Industries (MPI), which suffers a conflict of interest with its primary goal: to increase the profits of
industry. The government also missed several key opportunities, such as banning exotic animals in circuses, live export
and cetaceans in captivity.
Cosmetics testing on animals was not banned, and alternatives to animal testing do not have to be used even when they
are available. “How can the government expect this bill to be taken seriously, if it still allows the torture of rabbits
for the sake of shampoo?” says SAFE campaign officer Shanti Ahluwalia.
“We’re pleased to see they have removed loopholes protecting the most extreme abuse like battery cages,” says Mr
Ahluwalia. “There are also some improvements in enforcement, although without any extra funding allocated, this is
another example of aspiration over substance.”
SAFE urges the Government to listen to the thousands of people who sent submissions and e-cards for better animal
welfare standards and ensure that any changes to the final Animal Welfare Act will bring meaningful improvements to the
lives of animals in New Zealand.
Find out more about SAFE’s key recommendations at www.animalwelfare.org.nz
ENDS