The UK banned dry sow stalls in 1999, and since then there has been a trend away from stalls in the EU, and later North America. Properly managed group housing can be economically and productively similar to stalls. Within group housing, stalls are still useful for isolating sows with poor body condition scores, behavioural issues, or breeding. Voluntarily switching to group housing can prevent negative public opinion, and avoid a mandatory installation though legislation.