November 22, 2010

Australian Pork Industry to ban sow stalls by 2017

The Australian Pork Industry has decided to voluntarily phase out gestation stalls by 2017.

The vote, held at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Australian Pork Limited (APL), the industry's peak representative body, is considered a major step for Australian pork producers.

APL CEO Andrew Spencer said that the phasing out of gestation stalls would come at a significant cost to farmers, with initial modelling estimating it will cost up to US$95 million.

"To successfully achieve this outcome by 2017, pork farmers will require support from regulators, political stake holders, the retail sector, consumers and the general community," Mr Spencer said.

As a result of the vote, APL will start a round of meetings with state and federal agriculture ministers to brief them on the voluntary phase out and what this step means for Australian pork farmers.

Mr Spencer said the decision came at a time when major retailers in Australia were clearly indicating there was a growing unrest among customers about the industry's use of gestation stalls.

The vote demonstrates that the industry recognises the issue of gestation stalls has moved beyond the scientific argument of whether or not they are better for pigs.

The move puts Australian pork producers onto the world stage as leaders in animal welfare policy development and provides the marketing opportunity for Australian pork to differentiate itself against its global competitors who continue to use gestation stalls.

"(Yesterday's) vote comes after extensive industry consultation in which producers at meetings across the country were given the opportunity to express their views on this very important issue," he said.