21 September
More than four in five surveyed
farmers would support a move to cage-free farming with
sufficient public funding and restrictions on lower welfare
imports, new polling reveals today (21 September), as
pressure mounts on the European Commission to begin
delivering its long-promised ban on cages.
The survey,
commissioned by Compassion in World Farming in France,
Poland, Spain, and Italy, also found that:
- 74% of
farmers surveyed acknowledged animal welfare would benefit
from transitioning to cage-free systems - 71% of
farmers surveyed said transitioning away from cages would
have a positive impact on their own
wellbeing.
On World Cage-Free Day in March, the
End the Cage Age (EtCA) coalition started a countdown to the
last quarter of the European calendar, when the Commission
committed to deliver the first proposals to ban cages. The
new findings come as the EtCA coalition marks the final ten
days of the countdown.
In July, the Livestock Strategy
was published, confirming that the Commission would
introduce proposals for laying hens by the end of 2026 and
for sows by mid-2027. If delivered, and sufficiently
ambitious, this will be a historic victory for animal
welfare in Europe. However, the Commission must still honour
its commitment and produce a timeline for all species,
argues the NGO.
Debbie Tripley, Global Director of
Campaigns and Policy Advocacy at Compassion in World
Farming, said: “After years of delay, it’s time for the
Commission to deliver the first proposals to ban cages, as
it first promised in 2021 and again earlier this year in the
Livestock Strategy.
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“If it keeps this commitment, this
will be a historic moment for animal welfare in Europe.
However, banning cages for hens and sows cannot be where the
Commission’s ambition ends. We are still waiting for a
clear timeline to ban cages for all farmed animals,
including calves, rabbits, ducks, geese, and
quail.
“It’s time to move quickly – and deliver.
Citizens have been demanding it for years and the vast
majority of farmers surveyed agree: it’s time to end the
cage age.”
Andreas Hubmann, farmer and co-founder of
Bauernhof Hibmann in Austria, said: “The Commission’s plan
to phase out cages for hens and crates for pigs is a
much-needed reform. As farmers, we know that good welfare
standards are vital for the animals and expected by
citizens.
“But the effectiveness of banning cages and
crates will ultimately depend on the details in the final
regulations. To achieve a real welfare milestone, they must
give animals the space and conditions they need to behave
naturally and live healthier, better lives. This is what we
see on our farm, and this should be seen on farms across the
EU.”
Sjoerd Miedema, calf farmer and founder of De
Nije Mieden in the Netherlands, said: “As farmers, we know
that calves are sentient animals. They have their own needs
and behaviours. Since moving away from individual pens, I’ve
seen the benefits first-hand in the animals’ health and
behaviour. We’ve also seen that farming in a way that works
with nature creates a stronger, more resilient business for
the future. That’s why I am disappointed that the
Commission’s current plans do not include an end to
individual calf pens.
“If Europe is serious about
building a food system that is both sustainable and ethical,
we cannot ignore the welfare of calves and their
environment.”
In 2021, the Commission responded
positively to the successful EtCA European Citizens’
Initiative (ECI) and announced legislative proposals to ban
cages for all species by 2023, but failed to deliver them.
This prompted the EtCA Citizens’ Committee to launch a
landmark case before the European Court of Justice to hold
the Commission accountable. The ongoing case could force the
Commission to produce a timeline for proposals to ban cages
for all species.
Notes:
- In March 2026,
Compassion in World Farming commissioned polling of 205
livestock farmers in 4 countries across Europe through
Savanta Market Research. - An overwhelming 89%
of EU citizens – around 400 million people – believe
animals should not be farmed in individual cages. Yet,
across Europe, around 300 million pigs, hens, rabbits,
ducks, quail and geese still spend most of their lives in
cages every year. Animals kept in cages are often confined
in barren environments, either overcrowded or completely
lacking social contact, unable to turn around or express
even the most basic behaviours.
Compassion in
World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer
who became horrified at the development of intensive factory
farming. Today Compassion is the leading farm animal welfare
organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and
achieving humane and sustainable food production. With
headquarters in the UK, we have offices across Europe, in
the US, China and South
Africa.
