SAFE demands a moratorium on live animal exports
July 25th, 2019Earlier this week, SAFE learnt that the Ministry for Primary Industries had received an application to export 5,400 cows from Napier to China. SAFE emailed the Director-General of MPI and asked him to refuse the application. They have the discretion to refuse any live export application. Yesterday, MPI approved this application, making it the largest export of live cows in two years.
SAFE Head of Campaigns Marianne Macdonald says the Government needs to take its review of live export more seriously.
“Despite the suffering of animals prompting a review on the live export trade, MPI is still approving applications to export live animals,” says Ms Macdonald.
“Minister O’Connor acknowledged that once animals leave New Zealand, they have very limited ability to ensure their wellbeing when they reach their destination. All live export applications should have been immediately put on hold pending the results of the review.”
Damien O’Connor ordered the review after ABC News published their exposé on the Sri Lankan dairy scheme in April. Australian live Export corporation Wellard Limited shipped 2,000 New Zealand cows to Sri Lanka as part of the scheme which has been described as a human and animal welfare disaster. SAFE first alerted the Minister to the plight of New Zealand cows in Sri Lanka in January but took he no action until two months, after the story went public.
“Minister O’Connor has been slow to review the cruelty of live export. They’re still yet to confirm the scope of the review. Meanwhile, animals continue to suffer in the live export trade,” says Ms Macdonald.
The Minister needs to halt all live animal exports while the review is underway. SAFE hopes that this review will deliver the best possible outcome and end live export for good.
“SAFE launched a petition outside Parliament last month demanding the Government prohibits the live export of all farmed animals to countries with lower animal welfare, transport and slaughter standards than NZ. Over twelve thousand people have already signed. We’re calling on all caring Kiwis to sign our petition, urging our Government to make positive change for animals.”
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Sign the petition urging the Government to prohibit the live export of farmed animals to countries that have lower animal welfare, transport and slaughter standards than New Zealand.