[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'Greens Launch Bill to Ban Sow Stalls and Farrowing Crates for Pigs' (Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
11.11.14
Greens Launch Bill to Ban Sow Stalls and Farrowing Crates for Pigs

NSW Greens MP and Animal Welfare spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has today given notice of a bill to ban the use of sow stalls and farrowing crates in New South Wales.

"Factory farming practices, such as sow stalls and farrowing crates, are unnecessarily inhumane and cruel. That is why I have today introduced a bill that seeks to completely ban all use of sow stalls and farrowing crates, and will give the industry time to phase out such practices by 2018.

"Consumers are increasingly demanding that the animal products they consume are of a higher ethical and animal welfare standards. Companies like Coles are already voluntarily phasing out the use of sow stalls but we need to change the laws to ensure sow stalls and farrowing crates are phased out for good across the industry.

"Australian Pork Limited (APL) has agreed to a voluntary phase out sow stalls by 2017 and this bill will only become active after the voluntary switch over. If the pork industry is serious about the voluntary phase out, there should be no objections to enshrining it in law.

"Sweden and the UK have fully banned sow stalls as has the ACT and it is time for NSW to join them.

Media contact: Matt Hilton for Mehreen Faruqi 9230 2625 / 0423 106 247