Battery Cages for Egg Production to Be Phased Out as Conventional Farms Decline

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of conventional egg production farms using so-called "battery cages" has decreased by 9% over the past 11 months.

On May 14, the ministry held the third meeting of the Task Force for Improving Layer Farming Density to discuss the implementation of improved farming practices.

The government is working to increase the minimum space requirement for each layer hen from 0.05 square meters to 0.075 square meters. However, due to concerns about egg supply and price stability, this change is currently left to the discretion of the private sector until September of next year.

The ministry reports that the private sector is actively participating in improving farming density. The number of conventional farms decreased from 718 in August 2025 to 655 in May 2026, representing a 9% decline. The proportion of these farms within the total number of farms also fell from approximately 43% to 39%. Additionally, 521 of the remaining conventional farms, or 80%, have submitted compliance plans to improve farming density.

The ministry plans to encourage farms that have not submitted compliance plans to do so. It will also listen to the concerns of farms that are reducing their livestock numbers to meet density standards and provide additional support.

Lee Jae-sik, the livestock policy director at the ministry, stated at the meeting, "We will do our best to secure funding and improve regulations for farms that are working to enhance their facilities and comply with density improvements."