Pork producers challenge Coles policy

Australian pork producers have called on Coles to extend its decision to stop
stocking meat from pigs raised in gestation stalls to imported products, or be
accused of double standards.
The supermarket giant on Wednesday said it was working with its pork suppliers to
address the concerns of shoppers and phase out the use of sow stalls to raise pigs
in Australia.
"Our customers are becoming increasingly interested in welfare issues surrounding
pig farming, with the use of sow stalls their greatest concern," Coles general
manager of meat Allister (Allister) Watson said in a statement.
Coles' in-store butchers will begin receiving pork from pigs raised outside stalls
in 2011. By the end of 2014 all of its pork supply will come under the policy.
But Australian Pork Limited (APL) said Coles should extend the policy to imported
pork products.
"Currently more than 70 per cent of ham and bacon products are made from imported
pork produced in countries such as Denmark, Canada and the US," chief executive
Andrew Spencer said.
"These countries continue to use and have no plan to stop using gestation stalls.
"If Coles believes this move is about animal welfare, then consumers should demand
the same standards apply for their ham and bacon products."
Mr Spencer said the pork farming industry is debating the issue of gestation stalls
and consulting with retailers, regulators and animal welfare groups.
He said the issue was complex and the Coles announcement was unhelpful.
"Individual statements of this nature are unhelpful in this process," Mr Spencer
said in a statement.
"APL is aware that some pork producers have already undertaken changes to their
farming practices to gradually phase out the use of gestation stalls."
RSPCA Australia chief executive Heather Neil said Coles' decision was a "huge step"
and the strongest sign yet that sow stalls were no longer palatable to consumers.
"The RSPCA believes we can all enjoy a pork roast and still care about the pig that
provided it," she said.