MPI committed to ensuring animal welfare standards

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is committed to ensuring high standards in all aspects of animal welfare.

As an employer of Warranted Inspectors under the Animal Welfare Act, MPI's role is to investigate any animal welfare complaints or concerns. We investigate all concerns that are raised with us. If an owner is found to be causing unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress in animals, we ensure the appropriate steps such as vet treatment are taken. We also have the power to prosecute owners and those in charge of animals found to have breached the Animal Welfare Act.

MPI also plays an important role in encouraging compliance with the standards outlined in the Codes of Welfare. These codes provide minimum standards of animal care and handling.

If a property does not meet the standards specified in the Code of Welfare, they are in breach of the Code, but are not necessarily in breach of the Animal Welfare Act. In the case of layer hens, cage doors that are not complaint under the Code are not necessarily a breach of the Act.

MPI investigates all reports that welfare codes are not being met to ensure that there are no consequent breaches of the Act, and to work with people to bring them into line with the best practice that the codes represent.

In the 2010 reporting year, MPI staff investigated over 600 complaints and took five prosecutions. Until the end of June this year we had investigated over 550 complaints and initiated 23 prosecutions.

While MPI has the power to prosecute under the Animal Welfare Act, enforcement is not always the best or only course of action to ensure a lasting improvement. Animal welfare and getting a farm back on track is always our number one priority. We do this by working with farmers, industry and support groups such as Federated Farmers and Rural Support trusts to educate those in charge of animals and to work with them to ensure they know what they need to do to comply.

MPI verification staff visit registered commercial farms yearly to look at production standards of eggs, hygiene and general food safety requirements. Each of these staff are also a Warranted Animal Welfare Inspector under the Act and is trained to look for any welfare breaches. We respond to any concerns they raise and investigate further.

Anyone with any concerns about possible cases of animal ill-treatment or cruelty can contact the MPI animal welfare hotline on 0800 00 83 33.

Page last updated: 2 May 2012