BRUSSELS, Belgium -- A European Union-wide ban on keeping laying hens in small battery cages will, according to this story, come into force as planned in 2012, the European Commission said Tuesday. The commission pointed to a new report showing the ban will benefit animal welfare benefits without significantly harming farmers' incomes.
2012年，歐盟國家將全部禁止產蛋雞在小格籠里飼養(yǎng)，歐盟委員會昨天宣布這一消息，同時指出，根據最新的研究報告，這樣的禁令有益于動物福利，對養(yǎng)殖者的收入不會有明顯的影響。
"There is scientific and economic support for the ban on conventional battery cages," EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou was quoted as saying.
“對通產籠養(yǎng)蛋雞的禁止，是有科學和財政支持的，”歐盟健康委員Markos Kyprianou引經據典說。
EU nations agreed in 1999 to phase out the cages by Jan. 1, 2012, after lengthy campaign by animal rights groups who claimed that farming hens in small cages was cruel. After the deadline, laying hens will have be raised in the open air or barns, or be kept in cages of at least 750 square centimeters (116.28 sq. inches) per bird equipped with a nest, litter, perch and clawing board.
歐盟動物權利保護組織認為，把蛋雞放在小籠子里飼養(yǎng)，是一件很殘忍的事情。經過動物權利保護組織的長期運動爭取，歐盟國家同意從1999年開始逐步減少蛋雞籠養(yǎng)，到2012年1月1日正式取締。
In a statement, the European Commission cited a report which said that cost of switching to the so-called "enriched cages" could be less than 1 percent per egg. The EU's executive branch said improving conditions for hens could boost sales, as consumers are increasingly concerned about animal welfare.
歐盟委員會在一項報告中提到，根據研究，把蛋雞放在一個“擴大化的籠子”里養(yǎng)殖，平均每個雞蛋的收益減少不到1%。歐盟執(zhí)行分會提到，改善蛋雞的生活環(huán)境會推動雞蛋的銷售，因為現在的消費者也越來越關注動物福利了。
“This is the right decision for the welfare of millions of hens kept for egg production across Europe,” said Sonja Van Tichelen, director of the Euro group for Animals. The Brussels-based federation of animal welfare organizations said some battery hens are currently kept in wire cages no bigger than a sheet of typing paper.
歐盟動物組織主管Sonja Van Tichelen說：“從動物福利來講，這項禁令是一個正確的決定。全歐洲數現在有數以百萬的蛋雞被迫在小格籠里產蛋。”布勒塞爾聯(lián)邦的動物福利組織說，現在一些鐵籠里飼養(yǎng)的蛋雞，每個小籠子大小超不過1張打印紙。
Some leading supermarket chains in Britain announced last week they were planning to phase out sales of eggs from battery hens before the ban.