Farmers demand Government end egg and meat import loophole

Thursday, 26 February 2026

New Zealand farmers are demanding an end to a loophole that allows imported animal products to enter the country without meeting the animal welfare standards required of local farmers.

An open letter on behalf of farmers across the country was being sent to various politicians on Thursday as the Fair for Farmers campaign launches at Northland Field Days.

The letter called for an even playing field for farmers, saying they were being asked to meet strict animal welfare standards while imports produced to standards banned years ago flooded the market.

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay was against making changes, while Labour was considering it and the Greens supported it.

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In New Zealand, it is illegal for farmers to sell eggs laid in battery cages and have pigs living in sow stalls ‒ narrow cages for pregnant pigs ‒ yet there’s no law stopping such products from being imported and sold here.

“If a practice isn't acceptable on a New Zealand farm, it shouldn't be acceptable in a New Zealand supermarket,” the letter said.

There have been repeated calls for a law change, with a members’ bill from Green MP Steve Abel lodged last year to ensure all pig and egg-laying hen products sold in New Zealand meet the country’s animal welfare standards.

Around 60% of pork in supermarkets came from overseas, primarily from countries that still permitted the use of sow stalls - a practice New Zealand banned in 2016.

More than 50% of liquid egg imports in 2023 came from Australia and China, where battery cages are legal despite New Zealand banning it in 2023.

The letter noted no retaliation came from affected trading partners when the EU and California had enforced the same restrictions on animal product imports.

“Our trading partners are moving in this direction anyway. If we don't act, we're falling behind,” it wrote.

The letter argued exports to New Zealand were a fraction of other countries' total production, and they were already producing higher-welfare products that meet New Zealand standards.

A report published by Animal Policy International last year found requiring imported pork to meet NZ domestic animal welfare standards would cost about 25 cents per person per week, representing approximately 0.22% of the average weekly household food expenses.

More than 80% of New Zealanders agreed imports should meet the same animal welfare standards required at home, a poll commissioned by Animal Policy International found.

In response to the letter, McClay said introducing requirements could impact negatively on the country’s agriculture exports, anda law change could potentially undermine efforts to prevent other countries from applying unjustified measures.

Last year, animal product exports made up more than half of the country’s total goods exports, he said.

“New Zealand is a global leader in farmed animal welfare standards, which underpin our trade reputation and the high quality of our global exports.”

The country worked with others to improve animal welfare standards internationally through its World Organisation for Animal Health membership and through bilateral collaboration.

“It is important to recognise that different countries have different production systems. Approaches to caring for animals are adapted to local conditions and applying the same standard can sometimes result in different welfare outcomes,” McClay said.

Abel said a consistent position taken by both animal welfare organisations and the pork industry when he launched his bill was that the lower welfare standard products were undercutting domestic pork products.

A report by Animal Policy International found the policy could increase domestic pork output by between $17 million and $29m.

“It needs to be fixed for the sake of the welfare of animals but also in terms of the fairness of the playing field for local producers.”

He asked that politicians kept an open mind and support the bill to select committee where any concerns could be examined.

The bill needs to be picked out of the biscuit tin ballot before it can become law.

Walt Cavendish, a dairy farmer, said there had been clear animal rights laws in place in New Zealand since 1999, and it was unfair the door remained open for international sellers.

Farmers had spent millions of dollars upgrading farms to adhere to new guidelines, he said.

He said changing the system could benefit farmers by removing lower priced competition and encouraging consumers to buy local products.

It was also unfair for consumers, who believed the products they were buying met the same standard advocated for here.

He said many New Zealanders, especially young people, were not aware of the differing standards, and were “horrified” when they heard.

Labour’s animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack had seen the letter, and said the Labour Party would continue to have conversations with farmers as it worked through its policy manifesto.

“We are proud of New Zealand’s history of upholding strong animal welfare standards – it’s why we banned live animal exports and committed to reinstating the ban when re-elected.”

“These matters involve a range of considerations, including trade arrangements, regulatory settings, consumer expectations, and the experiences of local producers.”