農場動物福利之實然與應然－以我國法制之檢討分析為中心

Abstract

儘管近年來我國關於動物保護的意識已逐漸萌芽，農場動物的福利仍未受到應有的關注。偶發的虐貓、虐狗事件常引發輿論大張撻伐，而人們日常生活所食用的肉、蛋、奶製品是否屬於不人道飼養、運送、屠宰的產物，卻鮮少有人關心。 究竟這些數以億計，生來供人宰殺、禁錮的農場動物，在其短暫的一生中遭受何種對待？如欲對於其實然面的處境有所改革，則改革的正當性何在？改革的目標為何？於應然面的法律制度又須有何調整與配套？對於此等問題，本文採取文獻回顧法及比較法之研究方法，依次爬梳動物保護之理論思想與農場動物福利之法制建構，並考察我國畜產實務上的動物福利現況與外國動物福利法制，最終得出對我國法制之檢討反省與分析。 本文研究發現，於我國法文化環境下，農場動物福利法政策宜以「痛覺主義」為指導理念，並以「新福利主義」為實踐立場，在不破壞法的實效性與安定性的前提下進行漸近改善、落實農場動物「五大自由」。就法律面而言，農場動物(與其他有痛覺感知能力的動物)並非單純的權利客體，而係處於「受法律保護的特別地位」，而農場動物福利也具備憲法基本國策和其他公益目的等憲法上正當性基礎，因此農場動物福利法規之合憲性得以初步確立。惟就規範妥適性而言，我國雖設有畜牧法、動物保護法及其子法為主的農場動物福利法規，實務上卻仍存在如蛋雞強制換羽、神豬競重、濫用飼料添加物或藥品、畜禽未經致昏即割喉放血…等諸多動物福利問題，顯見我國法制存有不少闕漏。 於比較分析歐盟、美國立法例和國外指標案例的司法裁判後，本文分別就動物福利法典體例與保護對象、從業人員之資格與責任、畜禽飼養運送屠宰各階段之福利規範、主管機關之組織層級、民間團體之執法協力、消費市場之影響、生命教育之落實等面向提出法制改革建議，以期從民間到官方、從生產者到消費者，共同確保農場動物福利應然與實然的徹底銜接。

Despite the awareness of animal protection in Taiwan has been raised in recent years, people today still disregard farm animal welware. For instance, the news of cruelty to cats and dogs often leads to outbreaks of public anger. Few people care, nevertheless, whether the eggs, meat, or dairy produce which they eat or drink everyday are products of inhumane breeding, inhumane animal transport and slaughter. How are hundreds of millions of animals born to be slaughtered and confined being treated in their short life? What is the reason for changing the miserable situation which farm animals face? To what extent ought we to improve the condition of farm animals? With this aim what part of existing laws must be reformed? To solve these questions, this study adopts literature review and comparative legal analysis as the study methods, analyzes animal protection theories, investigates the legal system and the real situation of farm animal welfare in Taiwan, compares it with that of other countries and regions, and does an examination analysis for the legal system in R. O. C... This theis finds out in view of Taiwan’s legal culture environment, “pianism” can be adopted as the guiding philosophy of the legal policy, and “new welfarism” as the strategy for improving farm animals’ condition, so that the five freedoms of farm animals will be realized gradually without undermining the effectiveness and stability of law. From a legal point of view, instead of being simply objects of rights, farm animals (and all the other painient beings) are in the special status under legal protection. Moreover, farm animal welfare is one of the fundamental national policies in the Constitution of the Republic of China, and realization of farm animal welfare also brings about other commonweal; therefore, the farm animal welfare legislation can be presumed consitutional. Besides, existing farm animal welfare legal system in Taiwan is mainly composed of Animal Protection Act, Animal Industry Act and relevant legal orders and administrative rules. In spite of these numerous rules, various problems of animal welfare occur in animal husbandry, animal transport, and butchery, such as the forced molting of laying hens, “Holy Pig” weight competition, the abuse of feed additives and veterinary drugs; feeding water or food by force; cutting or exsanguinating of animals that are not humanely stunned. Apparently, there are legal loopholes and defects in our legal system. After doing the comparative analysis of the legislation of the European Union, the United States and judgements of leading cases of farm animal law, this study presents several legal amendments respectively relating to the systematization of farm animal welfare codes; the qualification for and the liability of the personnel of the farm, the animal transporter and the slaughter house worker; rules of humane breeding, humane animal transport and humane slaughter; level of the competent authority; the assistance of animal protection groups; the influence of consumers; the animal ethics course in school education. By means of such legal reform, all the people concerned－from producer to consumer, from voter to lawmaker－shall cooperate to reconcile the ideals of farm animal welfare with reality of it.