Trusting MAF on live sheep exports

If live sheep shipments resume, Federated Farmers believes the welfare of animals during shipment and afterwards must be the prime consideration.

“Federated Farmers knows the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) doesn’t take live sheep exports lightly. MAF must impose the highest standards possible and Federated Farmers will be making enquiries to ensure this happens before any resumption takes place,” says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers animal welfare spokesperson.

“The Federation’s minimum starting point is that any animal must be treated humanely and ethically during transportation through to slaughter. The deserved high reputation New Zealand enjoys for animal husbandry won’t be based on the vast majority processed here, but the miniscule amount exported live.

“We have to trust MAF knows what its doing with respect to setting high standards and putting checks and balances in place. This must be backed by government to government arrangements to ensure any requirements are carried out. New Zealanders trust government departments everyday for their general well being and farmers do the same with MAF.

“Federated Farmers will work hard to ensure any standards for animal transportation and care are analysed, robust and above all monitored. Repeating the past just isn’t an option.

“Consumers around the world want assurances about the ethical treatment of farm animals.

“Federated Farmers is deeply concerned that it only takes one bad shipment for a negative light to be cast on all New Zealand farmers and the brand value of all New Zealand meat. We are only as strong as our weakest link and that weak link will be live animal shipments.

“Yet, if live animal shipments can be lifted to a whole new level, then that will be positive. Showing leadership and setting global benchmarks is something New Zealand is renowned for,” Mr Wills concluded.

Federated Farmers is a member of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) - a ministerial advisory committee on animal welfare matters. Other members include MAF, RNZSPCA, NZ Veterinary Association, New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Ministry of Women's Affairs, Te Puni Kokiri, Landcare Research NZ Ltd, a representative of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee and an independent member.

This issue also comes on the same day the World Trade Organisation reports that global exports are expected to drop by roughly nine percent in volume terms in 2009, the biggest such contraction since the Second World War.