Potential impacts of a prohibition of keeping laying hens in cages on the structure of laying hen herds and on egg markets

摘要

The presently practised egg production system of keeping laying hens in cages is subject to criticism in Germany, and has initiated various activities aiming at its prohibition. The EC-Commission is also concerned about the impacts of present egg production systems on the welfare of laying hens. On the basis of a report of the Animal Welfare Section of the Scientific Veterinary Committee on the pros and cons of various production systems, the Commission has submitted early 1998 a proposal for a guideline for keeping laying hens to be enacted before 2009.