NAWAC Guideline 01: Approach to consideration of draft codes of welfare

1. NAWAC will come to its own view

Some concern has been expressed that a draft code of welfare written by an industry group may be a device to embed current industry approaches, and the fact that an industry group has led the writing of a draft code puts it at an advantage. There are two things to say about this. First, the source of a draft code is not an issue. NAWAC will examine every feature of a draft code with care and will come to its own view, which will form the basis of its recommendation to the Minister. Second, such concerns imply that this is a competition between an industry and others who oppose what the industry does. Outside NAWAC it might be a competition – inside, around the NAWAC table, it is not.

2. Working constructively together to safeguard the interests of animals

NAWAC will make its own determination on each and every standard in a code, working together cooperatively, utilising the NAWAC team spirit. NAWAC’s work is not about victories and defeats, as may be perceived externally – it is about working constructively together to safeguard the interests of animals.

3. Animal welfare is a multifactorial discipline

While, inevitably, there will be attempts in some public pronouncements (media releases and the like) to have the acceptability of codes turn on single issues, it is important for NAWAC not to fall into that trap. It is important to remember that animal welfare is a multifactorial discipline. While there will be some particular issues that will need NAWAC’s focused attention, and which may take considerable discussion to resolve, NAWAC must keep in mind that it is an integrated package of measures that it is preparing, which deal with as many facets of animal care and management as NAWAC has knowledge and experience to incorporate.

4. There are certain things NAWAC is required to take into consideration

NAWAC will work within the constraints of the Animal Welfare Act 1999, but also with the sanction (or authority) of that Act. Accordingly, there are certain things NAWAC is required to take into consideration, and NAWAC may also consider any other matters that it sees as relevant. At present, the list includes:

  1. scientific understanding of animals’ needs;
  2. practical experience and available technology;
  3. good practice;
  4. practicality of making changes;
  5. international trends;
  6. public opinion; and
  7. economic implications for those concerned.

5. NAWAC is an independent advisory committee

NAWAC will reach its own decisions utilising the framework within which it will examine each draft code – it will not be constrained in its deliberations by public pronouncements on what it is expected to decide or, for that matter, industry expectations. It is an independent advisory committee. It must examine each and every issue freshly and on its own merits. Sometimes what NAWAC advises the Minister will accord with public sentiment or industry expectations (and NAWAC will tell the Minister that), and sometimes it will not accord with public sentiment or industry expectations (and NAWAC will tell the Minister that too).

6. NAWAC’s obligation is to work to improve animal welfare

NAWAC is not engaged in formulating codes by international trends or public opinion polls. Its obligation is to work to improve animal welfare by rigorous evaluations of relevant science, practical experience and good practice first, with economics, international trends and public sentiment modulating those outcomes. Economics may constrain the speed of implementation of a change NAWAC desires, or it may prevent it. International trends and public sentiment may drive change, but both must be balanced against what really promotes the care and well-being of animals specifically in the New Zealand context.

7. In this country, it is lawful to keep, use and kill animals to provide product

It is important to remember that, in this country, it is lawful to keep, use and kill animals to provide product. NAWAC is not charged with relitigating that principle. Its job is to decide on minimum standards and best practice to operate in New Zealand to safeguard the welfare of those animals we keep, use and kill to provide product, and to advise the Minister accordingly.

This guideline was originally approved by NAWAC on 15 May 2002, and has since been updated. This guideline is not a legal interpretation of the Animal Welfare Act 1999. It is anticipated that this guideline will be updated from time to time in light of experience gained by NAWAC during its deliberations.

Page last updated: 30 April 2008