Hon David Carter - National Party Agriculture Spokesman

8 April 2005

Carter tables farm dog exemption bill

National’s Agriculture spokesman, David Carter, yesterday tabled in Parliament the Dog Control (Exemption of Farm Dogs) Amendment Bill.

The bill will excuse farm dogs from compulsory implantation of microchips, a regulation which is due to come into force from 1 July next year.

“The Dog Control Amendment Act failed to balance the interests of responsible dog owners and protect the public from dangerous dogs,” says Mr Carter.

“Farmers are all too aware of the damage roaming dogs can do to their stock, but they also understand their dogs and know how to control them. The situation on a farm is completely different to that of a dog in an urban area.

“It is not uncommon for some large New Zealand farms to have more than 10 dogs. The cost to microchip these dogs would be huge.

“With microchips costing around $100 per dog, farmers will once again be penalised.

“In essence, this Act creates yet another compliance cost. More than 25 new taxes have been added since Labour came to power in 1999, and the rural sector has been hit particularly hard,” says Mr Carter.

ENDS

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