Green MP Sue Kedgley is having another attempt to get a group of MPs together to visit the country's pig farms.

After negative publicity about the use of sow crates six months ago, the industry knocked back the previous attempt.

Ms Kedgley says she was told it was because farmers feared the visitors might bring swine flu onto farms, but with the influenza scare now over, she is trying again to get a cross-party group of MPs out to see for themselves conditions at pig farms. Ms Kedgley says it is important politicians experience the situation first hand.

After criticism that a new code of practice for intensive pig farming was taking too long, Agriculture Minister David Carter expects a draft code to be out for consultation within a matter of weeks.

He say he has explained to Ms Kedgley that there is a legal process that has to be worked through and consultation must take place.