July 27, 2010

Australian pork producers urge for extension on stall-raised meat ban

Australian pork producers have called on Coles to extend its decision to stop stocking meat from pigs raised in gestation stalls to imported products, or be accused of double standards.

The supermarket giant earlier said it was working with its pork suppliers to address the concerns of shoppers and phase out the use of sow stalls to raise pigs in Australia.

Coles general manager of meat Allister Watson said in-store butchers will begin receiving pork from pigs raised outside stalls in 2011. By the end of 2014 all of its pork supply will come under the policy.

However, Australian Pork Limited (APL) said Coles should extend the policy to imported pork products.

"Currently more than 70% of ham and bacon products are made from imported pork produced in countries such as Denmark, Canada and the US," APL chief executive Andrew Spencer said.

Meanwhile, Spencer said the pork farming industry is debating the issue of gestation stalls and consulting with retailers, regulators and animal welfare groups.