Changes to government regulations around animal welfare are an ongoing challenge for the Pork and Poultry industries.

The Pork industry is awaiting an outcome on the government’s proposed Code of Welfare for Pigs, which would change the rules around use of farrowing crates for sows. NZ Pork has expressed concern that these changes may cause some pig farmers to leave the industry, which could result in an increased reliance on imported pork. Currently 60% of pork consumed in Aotearoa comes from overseas, and there is a lack of consistency in the animal welfare standards of imported pork, because it does not have to meet New Zealand’s animal welfare standards. 

A change to the Animal Welfare (Layer Hens) Code of Welfare came into effect on 1 January 2023, which banned layer farms from using cages. This has been compounded by a variety of factors, including New Zealand’s two major supermarket chains announcing they will be phasing out the sale of colony cage eggs, and moving to only selling free-range and barn eggs. Consequently, some farmers have left the industry, or are still working through the changes, and there is now an egg shortage across the motu. The cost of eggs is increasing, and farmers cannot keep up with demand.