Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
New rules that will give the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) greater visibility of the welfare of animals being exported from New Zealand will come into force on August 25, 2016, MPI announced.
"New Zealanders care deeply about the welfare of animals, and this was reflected during the consultation process," says MPI's director biosecurity and animal welfare Julie Collins.
"The changes that are being introduced in August will further strengthen New Zealand's reputation as a responsible exporter of animals and animal products.
"They will give early effect to amendments made last year to the Animal Welfare Act 1999 that would have otherwise commenced in May 2020".
The changes will give MPI's Director-General more powers to:
require reports on the welfare of animals during their journey and for up to 30 days after their arrival in the importing country, and take that information into account when considering future export approvals.
In addition, the current regime under the Customs Export Prohibition (Livestock for Slaughter) Order 2013 will be moved to regulations under the Animal Welfare Act. These regulations will come into force on December 21, 2016.
"Currently this regime is implemented under the Customs and Excise Act 1996, and needs to be renewed every three years. Under the new regulations the requirement to renew this will be removed.
"I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to give us their feedback in the interests of New Zealand's animals."
Labour's agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says while New Zealand needs more housing, sacrificing our best farmland to get there is not the answer.
Profitability issues facing arable farmers are the same across the world, says New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
Tighter beef and lamb production globally have worked to the advantage of NZ, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Groundswell is ramping up its 'Quit Paris' campaign with signs going up all over the country.
Some farmers in the Nelson region are facing up to five years of hard work to repair their damaged properties caused by the recent devastating floods.
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