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Media Release |
13 December 2002
MAF Seeks Information on Trap Use
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is seeking public comment on the possible prohibition or restriction on the use of certain traps and devices used to kill or manage animals.
The call for comment is in response to three proposals to prohibit or restrict the use of the traps and devices put forward by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to the Minister of Agriculture (Hon Jim Sutton). NAWAC says the traps and devices concerned raise significant animal welfare concerns.
The traps at issue are rodent glueboards and certain leg-hold traps (Lanes-Ace, Victor No. 1 ½ (hard jaw), Victor No. 3 and all similar traps). The device in question is the electroimmobiliser. (Background information on the traps and device follows on Page 2 of this release below.)
Mark Neeson, Principal Adviser, MAF Policy, says the Ministry has prepared three discussion papers on the proposals for consultation and discussion purposes only. The discussion papers canvass options for regulation or non-regulation of the use of these traps and the device. They do not represent the policy of the Government or MAF.
"MAF’s analysis shows that animal welfare concerns do exist over the use of the named traps and devices. Public consultation will help us determine the extent of their use, whether prohibitions should proceed, and matters such as the feasibility of transitions to alternatives," Mr Neeson says.
Initial contacts with the food processing industry suggest there is significant interest in the proposals regarding glueboards.
There is also known public concern about the use of leg-hold traps such as the well-known gin-trap.
MAF understands electroimmobilisers are not widely used in New Zealand. NAWAC’s proposal to prohibit their commercial use (with an exception for bona fide research purposes) has been supported by Federated Farmers of New Zealand, Deer Industry New Zealand, the Deer Farmers Association, the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
Copies of the discussion papers are available from the Ministry’s Information Bureau, phone 474-4100 ext. 48436. They will also be on the MAF website www.maf.govt.nz in the near future.
Submissions on the discussion papers close on 28 February 2003.
For further information, please contact:
Mark Neeson, Principal Adviser, MAF Policy
Phone 04 498-9831
For NAWAC information, contact: Kate Hellstrom, Secretary, National Animal
Welfare Advisory Committee
Phone 04 474-4296
Background Information
National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC)
NAWAC is established under section 56 of the Animal Welfare Act 1999. It can provide advice to the responsible Minister on any matter relating to the welfare of animals in New Zealand, including advice on whether to declare a trap or device to be prohibited or restricted. In this instance, NAWAC has made three such recommendations concerning rodent glueboard traps, specified types of leg hold traps and electroimmobilisers.
The place of the Animal Welfare Act 1999
The use of traps and devices is primarily controlled through sections 32 – 36 of the Animal Welfare Act. Any trap or device can be used, unless an Order in Council is in place declaring it to be prohibited or restricted. Once such an Order is in place, prohibited traps and devices cannot be used or sold. Restricted traps and devices cannot be used or sold in a way that contravenes the provision of any Order. An Order for either a prohibition or restriction may relate to a particular trap, or class of trap, its use in relation to a particular species or type of animal, or a specific geographic location.
Glueboards
Glueboards are a type of rodent trap. The boards have an extremely sticky adhesive on one surface, so that small animals become stuck when they attempt to run across it. The glueboard and the animal stuck to it are disposed of when discovered.
Animal welfare issues around the use of rodent glueboard traps include:
- the distress and suffering exhibited by rodents caught in them;
- the likelihood of an extended period between capture and death; and
- the possibility of inhumane disposal of live rodents (such as placing live animals into rubbish bins) when the traps are inspected.
As a non-chemical means of trapping rodents, glueboards are widely used in food industry processing plants where poisonous baits are not favoured because of potential contamination of food products.
NAWAC has recommended prohibiting the commercial importation, sale or use of glueboards.
Leg-hold traps
The term "leg-hold trap" covers different kinds of traps whose primary purpose is to catch and hold an animal by a limb. Sometimes the term "foot hold trap" is used. Generally, leg-hold traps work through the use of leaf springs or coils, which are compressed when setting the trap. The jaws are opened, and the trip latch is set under the trigger pan. When an animal steps on the pan, the springs are released and the jaws close quickly on the animal. The aim is to catch the animal by a limb and hold it firmly until the trapper returns.
Leg-hold traps have played an important role in pest control operations in New Zealand over a number of years. They are also used to control vectors of bovine tuberculosis (e.g. possums) and to harvest animals for their meat and fur.
Internationally and within New Zealand, however, concerns have been expressed about whether leg-hold traps generally, or specific types of leg-hold traps, are humane. The key animal welfare concerns are:
- injury and distress associated with being trapped;
- escape while potentially injured; and
- exhaustion from lack of food and dehydration if animals are held in the trap for a long time.
NAWAC has recommended that the Lanes-Ace, Victor No 1 ½ (hard jaw), Victor No 3 and all similar types of traps be prohibited. The Lanes-Ace trap is sometimes called a gin trap. NAWAC is also recommending that a phase-out period, the ability to exempt parties from a prohibition in certain circumstances, and a prohibition on these traps’ importation also be considered. NAWAC believes the types of leg-hold traps specified raise particular animal welfare concerns.
Electroimmobilisers
Electroimmobilisation involves passing a pulsed, low voltage electrical current through the body of an animal. Usually electrodes are applied to two parts of the animal’s body and the current is delivered along its spine. The electrical current induces contraction of the muscles supplied by the nerves of that segment of the spine, preventing voluntary movement. The ability to move is regained as soon as the current is switched off. Electroimmobilisers are used to enable animal husbandry procedures to be performed where there are perceived risks to handler safety or animal safety with other forms of restraint, or for handler convenience. They can be used on various animal species including cattle, deer, pigs, and sheep.
Electroimmobilisers used in slaughterhouses to immobilise insensible (stunned) animals prior to slaughter, to protect workers from twitching animals are not included in this assessment.
Electroimmobilisation is contentious in New Zealand and overseas due to doubts about its humaneness and the potential for abuse (such as its use in place of anaesthesia or analgesia during surgical procedures). Their use has been banned (except for scientific evaluation) in some European Union countries.
NAWAC has recommended prohibiting the use of electroimmobilisers except for bona fide research purposes.
