46721 (2024). Steve Abel to the Associate Minister of Agriculture

46721 (2024). Steve Abel to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What action, if any, is the Government taking or has taken to “cooperate more closely to develop and implement scientifically-based animal welfare standards, including in relation to the treatment of animals on farm, during transport and at slaughter” under the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: New Zealand has a long history of close cooperation with the European Union (EU) including on animal welfare. The New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Animal Welfare Chapter provides the framework to build on our existing cooperation with the EU on animal welfare and establishes a technical working group on animal welfare to take forward work in this area. The FTA Chapter also includes commitments to cooperate in international forums to promote the development and implementation of scientifically based animal welfare standards.