Farmer input is crucial for our consultation submission on proposed changes to the code of welfare for sheep and beef cattle. Find out more about how we’re getting input and how you can make your own consultation submission.
About the consultation
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is consulting on the proposed updates to the code, which was last updated in 2018.
All the information about the consultation is on MPI’s site here.
We believe there are aspects of the proposed code that will need changes and we’re keen to get farmer input on these points, and for these to be reflected in farmers’ own submissions.
For more info see our dedicated Code of Welfare consultation webpage here.
Farmer input crucial to B+LNZ’s submission
B+LNZ will be providing a consultation submission on behalf of farmers that will be informed by farmer input, particularly on the aspects that we think need changes.
We’ll gather this in various ways, including:
- through webinars on 23 and 30 June, where B+LNZ Technical Policy Senior Manager Will Halliday will go through the proposals and our views on them and you can ask questions and provide your thoughts – for more info and to register, visit the event page on our website
- farmer focus groups, made up of B+LNZ Farmer Councillors, that are examining some of the on-farm practicality in more detail.
Farmers encouraged to make a submission
Farmers are also encouraged to make their own submissions, particularly where on-farm practicality needs to be further considered.
If you want to provide a consultation submission we’ve provided some guidance below, but the important details about how to make a submission are:
- You can either email feedback to animal.consult@mpi.govt.nz or complete the online submission form. MPI would prefer email/online but there’s also an address for written submissions on MPI’s site.
- Note you need to include specific information with your submission – we recommend you check all the items listed under ‘What to include’ on MPI’s site and note that submissions are public information.
- Consultation closes 5pm Tuesday 15 July.
Suggestions to help with writing a submission
A good starting point for making a submission is to look at the Proposed Changes document on the MPI website, which provides a step-by-step comparison between the current code and the new draft.
In your submission you could:
- note whether you think the Minimum Standards in the code reflect the existing reality of New Zealand’s commercial sheep and beef farming systems
- then highlight specific aspects that need further consideration.
If you want more information about the areas B+LNZ is concerned about check out our dedicated Code of Welfare consultation webpage.
Next steps
Once we’ve gathered farmer input and completed our consultation submission, we’ll publish it on our website – this will be around the time consultation closes (15 July).