'End the Cage Age' legislative commitment delayed five years on

Today marks five years since the European Commission committed to phasing out caged farming, yet a legislative proposal, initially promised by the end of 2023, has not materialised. This delay follows the Commission's positive response to the European Citizens' Initiative to End the Cage Age: A Promise Delayed Is Animal Welfare Denied, which called for a prohibition on the use of cages for animals farmed for food. The initial commitment aimed to deliver legislation to phase out and prohibit such practices, which citizens across the Union had welcomed as addressing one of the worst animal production practices. The five-year anniversary highlights the ongoing challenge of transforming public demand into timely EU legislation, impacting animal welfare advocates across the continent.

The stalled legislative proposal contrasts with ongoing efforts in research and innovation aimed at improving animal conditions. The WelFarmers project, launched in January 2024, is establishing eight national and four Europe-wide innovation networks. Comprising pig farmers, advisors, veterinarians, and researchers, WelFarmers directly addresses challenges related to an upcoming change in European pig welfare legislation, specifically targeting the "cage ban" along with other topics like keeping pigs with uncovered tails and avoiding pain during castration. This HORIZON project, with an EC contribution of nearly €3 million, is set to conclude by the end of 2026.

Another significant initiative, the European Partnership Animal Health & Welfare (EUPAHW), also commenced in January 2024. This partnership, involving 98 organisations and backed by an EC contribution exceeding €57 million, aims to provide society with sustainable production for both terrestrial and aquatic animals. Its core objectives include preventing and controlling infectious animal diseases, ensuring prudent antimicrobial use, and delivering a high level of animal welfare throughout an animal's life. These goals align with the European Green Deal and its Farm to Fork strategy, underscoring a commitment to animal welfare despite the legislative hold-up on cage bans.

What this means: The absence of the promised legislative proposal means that the timeline for ending caged farming in the EU remains uncertain. This situation persists despite a clear public mandate from a European Citizens' Initiative and concurrent EU-funded projects actively researching and innovating in animal welfare and sustainable animal production practices.