The forum is an operational group combining Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) staff and industry professionals. We work together to improve animal welfare across the production supply chain – from on-farm to transportation, sale yards to processors.

The purpose of the forum is to:

• improve livestock welfare
• strengthen relationships between core livestock production industry groups and MPI
• consider how to improve livestock welfare strategically, based on:
• public concerns
• international trends
• the expertise of forum members
• risks to the primary sector's reputation as a whole.

What the forum does

The forum supports MPI's Safeguarding our Animals, Safeguarding our Reputation Programme by:

• identifying risks, issues, and suitable solutions
• working together on opportunities where possible
• sharing information on industry initiatives
• acting as a reference point to check how feasible, accepted, or available the alternatives for initiatives and priorities are
• providing a coordination point for initiatives
• monitoring the progress of MPI and industry initiatives
• promoting positive change by identifying and removing obstacles in the system.

Forum membership

Membership includes representatives from many groups, including:

• Beef + Lamb NZ
• Dairy Companies Association of NZ
• DairyNZ
• Deer Industry New Zealand
• Egg Producers Federation New Zealand
• Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand
• Federated Farmers
• Meat Industry Association
• NZ Petfood Manufacturers Association
• New Zealand Pork
• NZ Stock and Station Agents Association
• NZ Veterinary Association
• Road Transport Forum
• SPCA
• Ministry for Primary Industries.