Appleby Michael C
The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2003;6(2):103-21. doi: 10.1207/S15327604JAWS0602_03.
Since the publication of Animal Machines (Harrison, 1964), there has been widespread public pressure in Europe--supported by European institutions--to "ban the battery cage." The European Union (EU) and national governments (particularly in Northern Europe) funded research on noncage systems for egg production and enriched cages. In 1986, the EU passed a Directive specifying a minimum size for cages, but public opinion--again particularly in the North--continued to require more. A market sector emerged that would pay more for noncage eggs. Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland passed more stringent legislation than the rest of Europe. A 1999 Directive with details based on advice from the EU's Scientific Veterinary Committee will phase out conventional laying cages but allow enriched cages. Implementation depends on various factors, including negotiations in the World Trade Organization. In the next 10 years, however, major changes to the housing of most laying hens in Europe almost certainly will occur. Similar changes in other countries will follow. As in Europe, change probably will be piecemeal, affected both by public pressure and by all sectors of society: producers, retailers, consumers, legislators, and the media.
自《动物机器》（哈里森，1964年）出版以来，在欧洲机构的支持下，欧洲民众普遍施压要求“禁止使用层架式鸡笼”。欧盟和各国政府（尤其是北欧国家）资助了关于蛋鸡生产的非笼养系统和富集鸡笼的研究。1986年，欧盟通过了一项指令，规定了鸡笼的最小尺寸，但公众舆论——尤其是在北欧——仍然要求更多改进。一个愿意为非笼养鸡蛋支付更高价格的市场领域出现了。丹麦、瑞典和瑞士通过了比欧洲其他国家更为严格的立法。1999年一项基于欧盟科学兽医委员会建议的详细指令将逐步淘汰传统产蛋鸡笼，但允许使用富集鸡笼。指令的实施取决于多种因素，包括世界贸易组织的谈判。然而，在未来10年里，欧洲大多数产蛋母鸡的饲养方式几乎肯定会发生重大变化。其他国家也会随之出现类似变化。与欧洲一样，变革可能是渐进的，受到公众压力以及社会各界（生产者、零售商、消费者、立法者和媒体）的影响。
