Keeping systems of laying hens in the future - the Commission's Proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in various systems of rearing.

A prognostic of the keepingsystems of laying hens in the future is done on the basis of the conclusions in the Report on the Welfare of Laying Hens ma de by the Scientific Veterinary Committee of the European Commission and th e Commission's Proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum standar ds for the protection of laying hens kept in various systems of rearing. Th e present discussions in the Councils are reported. It is quite evident, th at Various keepingsystems will also exist in the future, but the predominan t position of battery cages will not stay at that level.