Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Green Party to seek to ban use of sow stalls

Updated at 6:10 am on 6 August 2010

The Green Party is to introduce a bill to Parliament that proposes to phase out the use of sow stalls in pig farming over the next five years.

An Animal Welfare Amendment Bill was drawn from the members' ballot on Thursday.

The bill proposes to ban the use of sow stalls a year or two earlier than a draft pig welfare code that is currently being finalised by the national animal welfare advisory committee.

The Greens say the bill proposes to close loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act that allows sow crates to be used.

Animal welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley says it also gives the Minister of Agriculture the power to amend any Code of Animal Welfare to prevent the suffering of animals.

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