13 February 2019 | MEDIA RELEASE
SAFE and NZALA file proceedings against Government for failure to ban farrowing crates
SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) have filed proceedings against the Government for their failure
to act on the ongoing use of farrowing crates. This is the first case that SAFE and the NZALA are partnering on to seek
legal justice for animals.
The organisations will show that farrowing crates and mating stalls breach the Animal Welfare Act 1999 since they do not
allow sows to express natural behaviour and that the process by which the current farrowing crate regulation was put in
place was unlawful.
SAFE spokesperson, Hans Kriek, says that farmers have been allowed to continue using farrowing crates despite the fact
that they breach the Act. Even the Government’s own animal welfare advisor, the National Animal Welfare Advisory
Committee (NAWAC) has stated that crates do not provide for the behavioural needs of mother pigs.
By bringing these proceedings, SAFE and NZALA wish to compel NAWAC and the Minister to act lawfully, improve their legal
procedures, and adopt a more robust legal understanding of their duties.
“Profit is being put before the welfare of mother pigs, who must endure stressful conditions confined to a metal crate,
where they are prevented from expressing much of their natural behaviour,” says Mr Kriek.
“These crates are so small, the pigs can’t even turn around. This is not only cruel but contrary to the intentions and
obligations of the Animal Welfare Act.”
NZALA Vice-President Cassandra Kenworthy says “NAWAC has stated on multiple occasions that the use of farrowing crates
does not meet the obligations of the Animal Welfare Act. Despite this, successive Governments have failed to take action
and it has now come to the stage where we must file proceedings for their failure to uphold the law.”
Not only are farrowing crates illegal, but they’re also unnecessary. The latest research from Sweden shows that loose
housing of sows can provide for the needs of both sows and piglets.
“We need to be a world leader on this. The social licence of farrowing crates has expired. The cruel confinement of
mother pigs to small crates should have been phased out in New Zealand many years ago, as the Act required,” says Mr
Kriek.
“We will argue our case in court to ensure the Government takes action to remove farrowing crates from the pig
industry.”
ends