78706 (2024). Steve Abel to the Associate Minister of Agriculture

78706 (2024). Steve Abel to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: How will the animal welfare implications, if any, of using the method of carbon dioxide gassing to mass cull chickens that tested positive for avian influenza (bird flu) at a chicken farm in North Otago be communicated to the public, if at all?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: I am advised that the use of carbon dioxide is a standard method of killing poultry for disease control purposes across the world. Its use has been widely researched overseas and is currently the best method available in New Zealand for mass depopulation of poultry infected with avian influenza. New Zealand Codes of Welfare for layer hens and meat chickens, issued under Part 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999, allow gas use for mass depopulation, delivered at concentrations that ensure birds are euthanised as humanely and quickly as possible. All codes of welfare, and situational reports about avian influenza, are available to the public via the Ministry for Primary Industries website at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/animals/animal-welfare/codes/all-animal-welfare-codes/ https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/exotic-pests-and-diseases-in-new-zealand/active-biosecurity-responses-to-pests-and-diseases/a-strain-of-bird-flu-h7n6-in-otago/