Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: SAFE For Animals
SAFE is concerned the Government may do a U-turn on its decision to ban the live export of animals by sea. The ban is due to take effect on 30 April 2023.
Newsroom reported last week that a Chinese state-owned enterprise is pressuring the New Zealand Government to reverse its decision. The People’s Republic of China has been the only importer of cattle from Aotearoa since 2017.
The live export trade is currently in a wind-down period. However, cattle are being shipped to China in record numbers. New figures show 134,722 cows were exported from Aotearoa last year, compared with 109,921 in 2020 and 39,269 in 2019.
SAFE CEO Debra Ashton said the Government must stand firm by its decision if it wants to be seen as credible.
“The Government must not bow to pressure from those who seek to benefit from this cruel industry,” said Ashton.
“Live export is a high-risk trade, not only to animals but to Aotearoa’s international reputation and the only way to mitigate those risks is to end it.”
The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, which will give effect to the ban on live export, is currently moving through the Primary Production select committee. When passed, the live export trade will be outlawed on 30 April 2023. However, some industry submissions to the select committee have called for the ban to be overturned.
“This Government claims to take animal welfare seriously. If that’s the case, they need to stick to their word.”
“We need the Government to know that kiwis are keeping a close eye on the progress of this ban and they need assurances from the Agriculture Minister that the Government stands by its decision to ban live export.”
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– TVNZ’s ‘Sunday’ programme revealed widespread suffering on one voyage of the Yangtze Harmony, which left New Plymouth on 19 August 2020. “By day three, the bedding was gone, meaning the cattle had to stand for a prolonged period, up to 14 days. Up to 80 cattle got their heads stuck under pen railings. There were broken legs, infections, significant numbers of lame cattle, on an overstocked boat on rough seas. All contributed to 49 mortalities on board, and another 14 deaths during the cattle’s first month in China.”
– ’Sunday’ also revealed that post-voyage reports noted serious welfare issues such as overcrowding and animals dying of trampling and suffocation. There was a shocking report of a peak ‘abortion storm,’ with 13 cases noted. Veterinarian and animal welfare expert Dr John Hellstrom stated, “Animals don’t start aborting for stress-related reasons until they’re pretty stressed.”
– The Government began a review of the live export trade in June 2019. This was after SAFE raised concerns about the treatment of New Zealand cows in Sri Lanka, which was subsequently reported on by ABC News.
– In 2020, SAFE broke the news that the live export ship Gulf Livestock 1 had capsized and sunk off the coast of China. The tragedy saw 5,867 New Zealand cows drown, and 41 crew members, including two New Zealanders, were lost at sea.
– Recent analysis from The Guardian has found that live export ships are twice as likely to be lost at sea as cargo vessels.
– In 2003, Saudi Arabia rejected a shipment of over 57,000 Australian and New Zealand sheep on board the MV Cormo Express on alleged disease grounds and refused to unload them. After two months at sea and the ship being unable to find a port, around 6,000 of the sheep died on board. Following this disaster, the New Zealand Government suspended the export of live sheep for slaughter. In 2007, a conditional prohibition on the export of livestock (cattle, sheep, deer and goats) for slaughter was introduced.
– Under the Animal Welfare (Export of Livestock for Slaughter) Regulations 2016, live animals cannot be exported for slaughter without the approval of the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries. Approval may only be granted if the Director-General considers that the risks to New Zealand’s trade reputation can be adequately managed. There have been no livestock exports for slaughter since 2008.
– Animals exported for breeding purposes and their young will still eventually be slaughtered, potentially by methods that would not be legal in New Zealand.
