Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025
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Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025
Public Act |
2025 No 79 |
|
Date of assent |
16 December 2025 |
|
Commencement |
see section 2 |
Contents
The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:
1 Title
This Act is the Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025.
2 Commencement
This Act comes into force on 17 December 2025.
Section 2: editorial change made by the PCO, on 24 December 2025, under sections 86(1) and 87(m) of the Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 58).
3 Principal Act
This Act amends the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
Part 1 Amendments to principal Act
4 Section 71 amended (Public notification)
After section 71(4), insert:
(5)
Subsection (1)(b) must be treated as being met in relation to proposed standards and recommendations in a draft code of welfare if the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is satisfied that they are needed to give effect to, or for consistency with, any of regulations 25 to 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
5 Section 73 amended (Matters to be considered)
After section 73(6), insert:
(7)
Subsection (1)(a) must be treated as being met in relation to proposed standards if the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is satisfied that they are needed to give effect to, or for consistency with, any of regulations 25 to 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
6 Section 75 amended (Issue of code)
After section 75(4), insert:
(4A)
Standards and recommendations in a code of welfare issued under this section must be treated as complying with the purposes of this Act if the Minister is satisfied that they are needed to give effect to, or for consistency with, any of regulations 25 to 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
(4B)
Recommendations in a report under subsection (2)(a) must be treated as complying with the purposes of this Act if the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is satisfied that they are needed to give effect to, or for consistency with, any of regulations 25 to 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
7 Section 183A amended (Regulations relating to standards of care)
After section 183A(11), insert:
(11A)
See section 204(2), which provides that subsection (6) does not apply to regulations 26 and 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
8 New sections 203 to 206 and cross-heading inserted
After section 202, insert:
Validation and extension of regulations relating to management of pigs
203 Validation of regulations relating to management of pigs
(1)
This section applies to regulations 25 to 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 as in force immediately before and immediately after the Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025 comes into force.
(2)
Regulation 25 is, and always has been, validly made under section 183A(1).
(3)
Regulations 26 and 27 are, and always have been, validly made under section 183A(2).
204 Extension and revocation of regulations relating to management of pigs
(1)
Unless sooner replaced or revoked,—
(a)
regulation 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 is revoked on the close of 18 December 2026:
(b)
regulations 25 and 26 of those regulations are revoked on the close of 18 December 2035.
(2)
Section 183A(5) and (6) does not apply to regulations 26 and 27 of those regulations.
205 Amendments taking effect on 19 December 2026
On 19 December 2026,—
(a)
in sections 71(5), 73(7), and 75(4A) and (4B), replace “any of regulations 25 to 27”
with “either or both of regulations 25 and 26”
:
(b)
in sections 183A(11A) and 204(2), replace “regulations 26 and 27”
with “regulation 26”
.
206 Repeals taking effect on 19 December 2035
Repeal the following on 19 December 2035:
(a)
section 71(5):
(b)
section 73(7):
(c)
section 75(4A) and (4B):
(d)
section 183A(11A):
(e)
the cross-heading above section 203:
(f)
sections 203 to 205:
(g)
this section.
9 Schedule 4 amended
In Schedule 4,—
(a)
insert the Part set out in Schedule 1 of this Act as the last Part; and
(b)
make all necessary consequential amendments.
Part 2 Related amendments to Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018
10 Principal regulations
This Part amends the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
11 Regulation 2 amended (Commencement)
After regulation 2(3), insert:
(4)
Regulation 65 comes into force on 19 December 2026.
(5)
Regulation 66 comes into force on 19 December 2035.
12 Regulation 25 amended (Minimum lying space for grower pigs)
After regulation 25(3), insert:
(4)
See regulations 2(5) and 66 and Part 2 of Schedule 3, which provide for new regulation 25 to be inserted on 19 December 2035.
13 Regulation 26 amended (Farrowing requirements)
Replace regulation 26(3) with:
(3)
See—
(a)
regulations 2(4) and 65(1), which provide for new subclause (1A) (a record-keeping requirement) to be inserted into this regulation on 19 December 2026:
(b)
regulations 2(5) and 66 and Part 2 of Schedule 3, which provide for new regulation 26 to be inserted on 19 December 2035.
14 Regulation 27 amended (Other requirements relating to management of pigs)
Replace regulation 27(4) with:
(4)
See regulations 2(4) and 65(3) and Part 1 of Schedule 3, which provide for new regulation 27 to be inserted on 19 December 2026.
15 New regulations 65 and 66 inserted
Before Schedule 1, insert:
65 Amendments relating to management of pigs commencing on 19 December 2026
(1)
After regulation 26(1), insert:
(1A)
The owner of, and every person in charge of, a sow confined in a farrowing crate must keep records that document compliance with subclause (1)(b) to (d).
(2)
Replace regulation 26(3) with:
(3)
See regulations 2(5) and 66 and Part 2 of Schedule 3, which provide for new regulation 26 to be inserted on 19 December 2035.
(3)
After regulation 26, insert the regulation 27 set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3.
66 Amendments relating to management of pigs commencing on 19 December 2035
After regulation 24, insert the regulations 25 and 26 set out in Part 2 of Schedule 3.
16 New Schedule 3 inserted
After the last schedule, insert the Schedule 3 set out in Schedule 2 of this Act.
Schedule 1 New Part 3 inserted into Schedule 4 of Animal Welfare Act 1999
Part 3 Provision relating to Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025
8 Code of welfare for pigs: compliance with certain prerequisites and processes
(1)
This clause applies if—
(a)
a draft code of welfare is prepared under section 70 before commencement; and
(b)
the code is issued under section 75 after commencement; and
(c)
the code contains standards or recommendations that the Minister is satisfied are needed to give effect to, or for consistency with, any of regulations 25 to 27 of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018.
(2)
The following must be treated as being met in relation to the standards and recommendations referred to in subclause (1)(c):
(a)
section 71(1)(b), if the draft code is publicly notified under section 71 before commencement:
(b)
section 73(1)(a), if the draft code is considered under section 73 before commencement.
(3)
If a report is made on the code under section 75(2)(a) before commencement, section 75(4B) must be treated as applying in relation to the recommendations (if any) in the report for the code to contain the standards and recommendations referred to in subclause (1)(c).
(4)
In this clause, commencement means the date on which the Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025 comes into force.
Schedule 2 New Schedule 3 inserted into Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018
Schedule 3 Regulations relating to management of pigs to be inserted on 19 December 2026 and 19 December 2035
rr 65, 66
Part 1 Regulation to be inserted on 19 December 2026
27 Other requirements relating to management of pigs
(1)
The owner of, and every person in charge of, a pig must ensure that—
(a)
the pig is not restrained by tethering:
(b)
the pig is not confined in a stall unless—
(i)
the confinement is for the purpose of mating; and
(ii)
the pig is released from the stall as soon as practicable after mating or after a period of no more than 3 hours (whichever is earlier); and
(iii)
after its release, the pig is not again confined in a stall for a period of at least 3 hours:
(c)
if the pig is a sow or gilt that is confined in a stall for the purpose of mating, it—
(i)
is able to stand without contact with any side of the stall; and
(ii)
is able to lie on its side without disturbing neighbouring sows or gilts; and
(iii)
has a dry, smooth, non-slip sleeping area.
(2)
The owner of, and every person in charge of, a pig confined in a stall must keep records that document compliance with subclause (1)(b).
(3)
A person who fails to comply with subclause (1)(b) commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—
(a)
in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; or
(b)
in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $25,000.
Part 2 Regulations to be inserted on 19 December 2035
25 Minimum lying space for grower pigs
(1)
The owner of, and every person in charge of, grower pigs must ensure that, at all times, each pig has an unobstructed floor space in which it can lie down of no less than the area calculated using the following formula:
a = 0.034 × b0.67
where—
- a
is the minimum area (in m2)
- b
is the liveweight of the pig (in kg).
(2)
A person who fails to comply with this regulation commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—
(a)
in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $3,000; or
(b)
in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $15,000.
(3)
In this regulation,—
grower pig means a weaned pig that—
(a)
weighs 30 kg or more; and
(b)
is being raised for the primary purpose of meat or for transfer to a breeding herd
unobstructed floor space includes unobstructed feeding or dunging floor space.
26 Farrowing requirements
(1)
The owner of, and every person in charge of, a sow must ensure that,—
(a)
if the sow is in a farrowing system, it is provided with material that can be manipulated and deformed until farrowing:
(b)
if the sow is in a farrowing crate, it is able to avoid all of the following:
(i)
touching both sides of the crate simultaneously:
(ii)
touching the front and the back of the crate simultaneously:
(iii)
touching the top of the crate when standing:
(c)
the sow is not confined in a farrowing crate for more than 3 days before farrowing:
(d)
the sow is not confined in a farrowing crate for lactation—
(i)
for more than 4 days after farrowing; or
(ii)
if it is a nurse sow, other than in accordance with subclause (2).
(2)
A nurse sow may be confined in a farrowing crate for a single period of no more than 36 hours at any time after the end of the period referred to in subclause (1)(d)(i) if—
(a)
the confinement is for fostering purposes; and
(b)
no more than 5% of sows in any herd at any one time are being retained as nurse sows.
(3)
The owner of, and every person in charge of, a sow confined in a farrowing system must keep records that document compliance with subclauses (1) and (2).
(4)
A person who fails to comply with subclause (1)(b) commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—
(a)
in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $3,000; or
(b)
in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $15,000.
Legislative history
1 October 2025 |
Introduction (Bill 207–1) |
|
7 October 2025 |
First reading and referral to Primary Production Committee |
|
18 November 2025 |
Reported from Primary Production Committee |
|
9 December 2025 |
Second reading, committee of the whole House, third reading |
|
16 December 2025 |
Royal assent |
This Act is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Versions
Animal Welfare (Regulations for Management of Pigs) Amendment Act 2025
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