Time to label whether pork is free range or intensively farmed

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley welcomed the Pork Industry’s decision to investigate labelling pork so that consumers can work out whether pork products are free range or have been intensively farmed.

The Green Party has been calling on the Pork Industry Board to introduce this sort of labelling for years.

“More and more consumers want to know how food has been produced and whether it has been produced humanely and its time the Pork industry responded to this growing demand,” said Ms Kedgley.

“Consumers can work out whether eggs are free range, barn raised or come from caged hens. Consumers need a similarly simple label to enable them to easily identify whether pork comes from intensive pig farms that use sow crates, or from free range farming operations that treat animals humanely,” said Ms Kedgley.

“Consumer demand for this sort of labelling has intensified by recent revelations of the suffering sows endure when they are locked in sow crates or cages for months at a time.”

Ms Kedgley pointed out that the SPCA has introduced a 'blue tick' labelling scheme, which identifies whether pork, bacon or ham has been produced without the use of farrowing crates, sow stalls or other animal cruelty. Ms Kedgley said this is an easily recognised label which gives consumers assurance that their pork had been produced humanely.

Ms Kedgley said it was important this labelling was required on imported as well as domestically produced pork, so that domestic pork producers were not disadvantaged.

“I am calling on the industry to introduce country of origin labelling on all pork as well, so that New Zealanders can identify whether pork, bacon and other products come from New Zealand or overseas.

“Such labelling would benefit the New Zealand pork industry as it would enable consumers to support local producers.”

Ms Kedgley was pleased at the announcement that the Pork Industry intends to undertake an industry wide animal welfare audit of all commercial pig farms in New Zealand.

Link to the NZ Pork Industry’s announcement
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0907/S00564.htm