Newly appointed NZPork Independent Director Mark Hooper says new welfare rules will set New Zealand pork apart from imports on quality.

“There’s a really clear demarcation between the quality of New Zealand product and some sources of imported stuff,” he says.

He says pork farmers have faced years of uncertainty over welfare rules.

“They know now where they’re at in terms of the requirements around mating stalls, farrowing crates, grower space.

“That creates quite a bit more certainty.”

He says fresh pork is almost always New Zealand-grown, while processed products are the ones more likely to be imported.

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