SPCA supports petition handover at Parliament calling for an end to cruel imports

The petition by animal law expert Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, which gathered over 11,000 signatures from concerned New Zealanders, urges the government to require that imported animal products meet the same welfare standards that apply to our farmers here at home.

New Zealand has rightly banned practices like battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs. Yet products from those systems can still be legally imported and sold in our country. This inconsistency not only undermines our animal welfare laws, it puts local producers who do the right thing at a disadvantage.

Research commissioned by Animal Policy International found that 83% of New Zealanders believe imported animal products should meet our domestic welfare standards. Yet, as SPCA’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Arnja Dale noted, many people still don’t realise that the chicken or pork they’re buying might come from systems that would be illegal here.

“We know that New Zealanders care deeply about animal welfare, yet we continue to import products that are the result of cruelty that would be illegal here at home,” says Dr. Dale. “Without swift action, imminent trade deals could further compromise New Zealand's values, standards and our global reputation as an ethical food producer. Animals deserve protection no matter where they are raised, and we urge the government to take action."

MP Rachel Boyack accepted the petition and spoke powerfully about the injustice of allowing imports that fall short of our standards. She highlighted that producers and animals alike are being failed by loopholes that allow cruel farming practices abroad to find their way into our supermarkets.

We’re incredibly thankful to the more than 11,000 people who signed the petition and stood up for animals. This public support sends a clear message to decision-makers: Kiwis care about animal welfare, no matter where the animals are raised.

We look forward to seeing Parliament respond to this call for fairer, more humane trade rules that reflect our country’s values.