On December 2, hundreds of activists took to Ketagalan Boulevard in front of Taiwan’s presidential office to demand the government and presidential candidates commit to a phase out of battery cages.

The activists stood in the space of an A4 sheet of paper for more than 30 minutes to reflect the cramped confines of hens in battery cages. The stand-in marks the first time a demonstration seeking better treatment of farmed animals has been held on Taiwan’s presidential boulevard.

Yu-Min Chen, deputy chief executive of EAST, stated “the barren confines of battery cages are a daily reality for more than 80% of laying hens in Taiwan, who will never experience the freedom to stretch their wings or the ground beneath their feet.”

During the stand-in, representatives of Taiwan’s political parties responded to the appeals.

Spokesperson for the Kuomintang presidential campaign, Joey Lu, pledged “we will mandate a ban on the new construction of battery cages” and encourage farmers to fully adopt animal-friendly farming methods by 2030 if elected to the executive or the legislature.

Tai Wei-shan, spokesperson for the Democratic People’s Party presidential campaign, reiterated the incumbent party’s progress on animal welfare and said it would accelerate its efforts on animal welfare in balance with disease prevention and food security.

Green Party legislator-at-large candidate Dr Jhu-Cin Jhang expressed the Green Party’s support for One Health principle, in addition to preferential sourcing and training programs to promote animal-friendly farming.

Kuomintang legislative candidate Hung Chia-chun emphasized that school lunch programs and food and agricultural education should integrate laying hen welfare. Hung currently serves as a member of the education committee in New Taipei City.

Internationally, more than 40 countries and sub-national jurisdictions have banned the use of battery cages. In Taiwan, the first survey of attitudes towards the welfare of animals used for food production found that more than 80% of people believe there are links between animal welfare and food safety or zoonotic diseases, while nearly six in 10 support legislation to ban battery cages.

A 10-meter long mural displayed next to the action showcased some of the 15,000 handwritten postcards signed in support of the campaign.

Media contact

Yu-Min Chen, Deputy Chief Executive
Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST)
Mobile: +886 (9) 1015 0908
Phone: +886 (2) 2236 9735