He says Australia has moved to phase-out live exports of sheep, and animal welfare standards are bedded into our FTAs with the UK and the EU.
"Recent talk of restarting live exports by sea simply ignores the reality that our consumers overseas take issues of sustainability, climate, and animal welfare seriously, which is why they're reflected in our recent FTAs. This decision is part of a number of moves by our Government to protect future export growth and protect our reputation as world-leading food producers," he says.
O'Connor says the decision to ban live exports was supported by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. He says the two-year transition period allowed affected farmers the time to adjust their supply chains and move to different business models.
"In a market where consumers are becoming more and more discerning about ethical and environmental credentials, this Government has moved to ensure that New Zealand's reputation for ethical trade is not at risk," he says.
Damien O'Connor says NZ farmers are world leaders and must be supported to stay ahead of the curve.
