February 27, 2024

 

Lawmakers call on Taiwan to expedite efforts to improve environment for farming hens

 

A group of lawmakers in Taiwan called on February 22 for faster government efforts to build a animal-friendly environment for farming egg-laying hens in the country, citing the findings of a recent report on progress made in assisting the industry shift to cage-free farming across Asia.

 

Taiwan ranked sixth out of 17 countries surveyed in the report by Open Wing Alliance, a global coalition of 100 organisations spanning 72 countries, when evaluated in 31 indexes on three key pillars: ending the use of cages, policy framework and welfare standards. It scored 29 from 140 points, trailing New Zealand, Israel, Australia, Bhutan and South Korea, according to figures published at a news conference hosted by lawmakers alongside members of the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST).

 

The lawmakers said Taiwan has made no progress in phasing out battery cages in the farming of egg-laying chickens and urged the government to come up with effective measures as soon as possible.

 

Legislator Lin Shu-fen urged the government to help egg farmers upgrade their production model before transitioning to animal-friendly husbandry and encouraging more young people to join the industry. At the same time, a policy should be mapped out to help cooperative egg farmers gain access to land and loans, she suggested.

 

Based on the report, legislator Wang Yu-min said hens raised cage-free lay more eggs and require less veterinary medications than those confined in cages.

 

It is critical to support a cage-free policy to achieve sustainability in terms of reducing pollution and boosting recycling, Wang said.

 

For his part, legislator Chang Chi-Kai said a hen in Taiwan lays an average of 0.52 eggs per day, lower than 0.81 in Canada, 0.8 in Japan and 0.78 in the United States.

 

Animal-friendly policies are key to the issue as hens farmed in a healthy environment are capable of increasing production and laying more fine-quality eggs, Chang said.

 

EAST official Tsun Fang-chu said Taiwan lacks clear-cut policies to provide benefits or subsidies to egg farmers, causing them to delay in upgrading their farming practices.

 

Tsun said EAST is calling for a five-in-one policy that includes measures to prevent bird flu, hen-friendly harming, stabilising egg distribution networks, encouraging youth to participate in egg farming and reducing air pollution caused by chicken droppings.
 

- Focus Taiwan