Good afternoon,
As you are aware, MPI developed a package of proposed regulations relating to the care and conduct of animals and surgical and painful procedures. The proposed regulations were put out for public consultation in April/May 2016. The consultation period was followed by public meetings across the country, as well as the Companion Animals Workshop on 11 May 2015.
You are receiving this email because you have made a submission in relation to proposal 62 relating to the docking of dogs’ tails. This email is to inform you of our plans in relation to the dog tail docking proposal.
Since the public consultation period, our priority has been on the bobby calves and live animal export proposals; a number of which are now in place.
Our focus is now turning to the rest of the regulatory proposals. We have now had the opportunity to review the submissions on dog tail docking, and recognise that the issue is particularly contentious. Therefore, we would like to engage a further, independent process to assist us in determining the best way forward with this proposal.
We will be commissioning an overseas expert to review all of the submissions we have received, along with the Act, Code of Welfare for Dogs and any additional relevant science. We are asking the expert to come to a determination on a number of questions that will then guide us in whether and/or how this proposal should be progressed.
We are now finalising a terms of reference document for the independent reviewer. The questions for determination that we will be asking the reviewer will help us to decide whether any pain or distress caused by tail docking is unreasonable or unnecessary in terms of the Animal Welfare Act; and whether in any event tail docking is a significant surgical procedure according to amendments made to the Act last year.
We want to give you with the opportunity to provide any additional information relevant to the issues outlined in the above questions for the reviewer to take into account. Please note this additional information will not be recorded as a formal submission as the public consultation period is now closed. However, it will be forwarded to the independent reviewer and will form part of their brief for review.
Please can you provide this additional information to me at
Nicky.Wynne@mpi.govt.nz by no later than 5pm 6 November 2016.
If you would like to discuss anything further, please call either myself (04 894 2446) or Phillipa Aldridge (04 894 2616).
Kind regards,
Nicky Wynne | Senior Policy Analyst
Biosecurity & Animal Welfare Policy | Policy and Trade
Ministry for Primary Industries | Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace | PO Box 2526 | Wellington | New Zealand
Telephone: (04) 894 2446| Web:
Home | MPI - Ministry for Primary Industries. A New Zealand Government Department.
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