산란계 사육면적 개정의 파급 영향

The Effects of Revised Poultry Farming Area Requirements

The 2019 revision of South Korea’s Livestock Act increased the minimum space requirement for layer hens from 0.05㎡ to 0.075㎡, effective from August 31, 2025. This change aims to enhance animal welfare but is anticipated to reduce the number of hens per farm, leading to significant impacts on egg supply and market prices. The study estimates a reduction in hen numbers by 14.0% to 33.3%, particularly affecting farms using traditional caging systems. Consequently, egg supply could decrease by the same percentages, causing farm gate prices to rise by 24.0%, 33.1%, and 57.0% respectively. The economic ripple effects include a loss in production value for upstream suppliers between 335.3 billion and 797.6 billion KRW. To mitigate these impacts, the study recommends investment in facilities to support farmers, consumer education about the benefits of the regulation, and clear labeling of compliant eggs to justify higher prices. These measures aim to manage the transition effectively and maintain steady egg supply while improving welfare standards.