Pork labels 'great day for pigs' - SPCA

It would be "a great day for pigs" if the pork industry went ahead with plans to audit conditions on all commercial farms annually, the SPCA says.

New Zealand Pork (NZP) this week also said it would investigate a labelling system similar to that used on eggs.

"Consumer confidence is vital to ensure the continued success of the New Zealand pork industry, especially when record levels of inferior imported product have arrived on our shores," NZP chief executive Sam McIvor said.

"(The labels) will allow wholesalers and retailers to clearly identify the production system their pork has been grown under."

Animal activists have long opposed the use of sow stalls and farrowing crates on pig farms.

SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said labelling would be a great help to responsible consumers, concerned whether pigs were being treated humanely.

"We will be watching with interest how the pork industry now implements its commitment to transparency and to animal welfare."

She was hopeful the announcement was more than just talk and meant the industry was taking animal welfare seriously.

"They certainly haven't in the past. It's been a disaster. They've obfuscated whenever they could.

"I'm hopeful. They've had a big serve from the Minister (of Agriculture), we've been on their tail, they've got activists on their tail and they've got a public profile at the moment which couldn't actually get much worse. So I think they genuinely want to do that."

The industry came under fire in May when comedian Mike King, who had fronted a campaign promoting pork products, condemned the practice of crate farming after breaking into a pig farm with a group of animal activists.

Footage from the farm was shown to Agriculture Minister David Carter who spoke at the conference this week.

"As I see it, you have a real opportunity here to take the initiative, to take the high ground," he said.

"Some of you have taken that message on board, but as an industry you haven't done well enough."

Mr Carter has asked the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee to produce an updated version of the 2005 code for pigs by the end of the year.

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley supported the labels but called for the industry to go a step further, requiring labels on imported pork products and introducing country of origin information.

Regardless of whether NZP's labelling scheme goes ahead, the SPCA will continue to offer its "Blue Tick" label to approved farms.

"It's an assurance of a set of standards. No farrowing crates, no sow stalls," Ms Kippenberger said.

"But also things like the distance the animals are allowed to be transported to the abattoir (and) farm systems like road control, clean water and clean feed."

- NZPA