The prognosis under Australia’s pig code of practice

Generations of female pigs are destined to be crammed in stalls so small they cannot even turn around, under the latest revision of the Model Code of Practice for Pigs which was endorsed by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) in April 2007.

The 3^rd revision of the Code of Practice was intended to ensure consistent treatment of pigs used for commercial purposes across Australia's States and Territories; however more than 3 years later, the status of the Code still varies between jurisdictions. To view a table on the legal status of the Pig Code in your jurisdiction, please follow this link.

Voiceless has always been of the view that the Codes are unable to offer true protection to pigs and other farm animals, as they are used to justify many cruel factory farming practices. The Codes are also used as a tool to maintain the veil of secrecy over the worst aspects of factory farming. In our view, the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals- Pigs (revised) is no exception. Some of the cruel practices incorporated in the Revised Code are:

• Until 2017 at least, pregnant pigs will be permitted to be confined for the duration of their 16 week pregnancy in individual sow stalls, measuring no more than 0.6 x 2.2m. These stalls, which have been associated with physical disorders, chronic stress and depression, are so small that female pigs cannot even turn around.
  
  
• From about 2017:

1. the maximum time for holding pregnant pigs in sow stalls will reduce to 6 weeks. This is two weeks more than the minimum standard being introduced by the European Union and New Zealand. Sow stalls are already banned in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Finland. They are also banned in Florida and are being phased out in Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan and Oregon  in the United States. Two of the largest pork producers in the US and Canada also recently announced their plans to phase out sow stalls. Follow this link to find out more about their plans.
   
2. Heavily pregnant and nursing sows will be confined for up to 6 weeks of each reproductive cycle in farrowing crates, before their young are prematurely weaned. These crates, which measure 0.5 x 2.2m, are even smaller than sow stalls.

• Pig producers will not be obligated to provide access to the outdoors where pigs can engage in natural behaviours such as grazing, wallowing in mud, walking around and nosing or manipulating their environment;
  
  
• Painful mutilations of young piglets including tail docking, teeth clipping and castration without pain relief, will continue to be permitted; and
  
  
• Natural materials such as straw for sleeping and nesting, while encouraged, will not be mandatory, rendering many pigs subject to a miserable life on concrete floors.

Pregnant female pigs are some of the most cruelly treated animals in the world. This is their maternity suite, commonly called a 'sow stall' by the industry. Photograph provided by Animals Australia.

You can download a complete copy of the Revised Code, from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s website or by following this link (http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/5698.htm)

To read Voiceless's analysis of the Revised Code, please follow this link. 

The table below outlines the status and effect of the Code of Practice for pigs in each Australian State and Territory.^*

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^* Voiceless has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the information in this Table was current as at July 2010. 


¹ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2006 (NSW) sch 2, r 19; Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Commercial Pig Production 2009 (NSW).
² Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2006 (NSW) r 20(1)(a), r 20(3)(i).
³  Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) s 34A; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2006, r 20(4).
⁴ Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2002 (QLD) r 2(2), sch 1.
⁵ Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2002 (QLD) r 2(2), sch 1.
⁶ Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (QLD) s 40.
⁷ Western Australian Government Gazette, No. 98, 20 June 2008, 2719; Animal Welfare Regulations 2000 (WA) sch 1.
⁸ Animal Welfare Act 2002 (WA) s 25.
⁹  Victoria Government Gazette, No. G10, 6 March 2008, 463-488.
¹⁰ However, Victoria is in the process of turning the Model Code into Regulations pursuant to s 63 of the Livestock Management Act 2010 (Vic). These will be mandatory under s 6 of the Livestock Management Act 2010 (Vic).
¹¹ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Vic), s 6.
¹² Animal Welfare Regulations 2000 (SA), Part 5.
¹³ Animal Welfare Regulations 2000 (SA), Part 5.
¹⁴ Animal Welfare Act 1985 (SA), s 43.
¹⁵ The Act allows Minister to make Guidelines and Standards. However the revised Code has not been approved; Animal Welfare Act 1993 (Tas), s 44A and s 44B.
¹⁶ Northern Territory Government Gazette, No. G33, 20 August 2008, 2.
¹⁷ Compliance will become mandatory if the Code is enacted into regulations as proposed.
¹⁸ Animal Welfare Act (NT), s79.
¹⁹ Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT) s 20.

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