Supervisors: Nearly 80% of Taiwan's Laying Hens Still Caged; Industry Transition Should Be Promoted with Specific Timeline

(CNA Taipei, July 4, 2024) Following last year's fipronil egg incident that caused a food safety crisis, Control Yuan members Tian Chiu-chin and others pointed out today that proper farm management, environmental controls, and a friendly farming environment can reduce improper drug use in laying hen farms. However, nearly 80% of Taiwan's laying hen farms still use traditional cage systems. The Ministry of Agriculture should establish a specific timeline to lead the industry's transition.

Last year, Taiwan experienced the fipronil egg incident. Wen Ya Livestock Farm, in an attempt to solve the problem of "chicken lice" parasites affecting laying hens, mixed and sprayed fipronil, which is prohibited for use in laying hens and as an animal drug, along with other pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and ivermectin, after dilution, onto the chicken coops and cages. Over 50,000 eggs entered the market and could not be recalled.

After Control Yuan members Tian Chiu-chin, Chang Chu-fang, and Tsai Chung-yi initiated an investigation into the case, the Control Yuan's Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs passed the investigation report recently and explained it through a press release today.

The supervisors stated that the lack of horizontal communication between the health and agricultural units of the Changhua County Government, and the unclear division of responsibilities in the food safety incident's mobile control and handling process, led to over 50,000 problematic eggs entering the market and being difficult to recall. The Executive Yuan should urge the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Changhua County Government to review and improve.

The supervisors said that the person in charge of Wen Ya Livestock Farm had a background as a farmer, indicating that the pesticide management system has difficulty preventing individuals with multiple identities or those who deliberately conceal their identities from purchasing and illegally using pesticides. The Ministry of Agriculture should also review and improve.

Regarding the transition of laying hen farms, the supervisors noted that Taiwan has experienced fipronil egg incidents in 2017, 2019, and 2025. In reality, proper farm management, environmental controls, and a friendly farming environment can reduce improper drug use. However, nearly 80% of Taiwan's laying hen farms still use traditional cage systems. This not only results in an egg-laying rate of only about 60%, far lower than the approximately 80% in other developed countries, but also causes NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) effects due to environmental hygiene issues.

According to the supervisors' investigation report, South Korea legislated in 2018 to require new laying hen farms to have a minimum rearing area of 750 square centimeters per hen, allowing hens to spread their wings and move within the cage to clear lice and maintain health. It also requires all laying hen farms to complete their transition by 2027. The European Union banned cage farming starting in 2012 and completed the elimination of traditional cage systems by 2015. California in the United States fully implemented cage-free systems in 2022.

The supervisors believe that the Ministry of Agriculture's promotion of friendly egg production measures for the laying hen industry transition is still limited to establishing guidelines, assisting with transitions, or promotional activities, and lacks a specific timeline to lead the industry's transformation. This should be reviewed and improved. (Editor: Chai Szu-chia) 1150704

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