THE EXECUTIVE SAID IT WOULD PRESENT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO PHASE OUT CAGES FOR ALL FARM ANIMALS LISTED IN THE ‘END THE CAGE AGE’ EUROPEAN CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE

The European Commission has decided to positively respond to the ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) - which garnered 1.4 million signatures - and change the lives of more than 300 million farm animals in the EU. The executive said it plans for a legislative proposal by 2023 to prohibit cages for a number of farm animals and will assess the feasibility of working towards the proposed legislation entering into force from 2027. The proposal will come as part of the ongoing revision of the animal welfare legislation under the Farm to Fork Strategy.

The Commission said that the ECI “reflects a demand for a transition to more ethical and sustainable farming systems, including a revision of existing EU animal welfare rules.”

The Commission’s proposal will not only concern animals already covered by legislation - laying hens, sows and calves – but also other animals mentioned in the ECI: rabbits, pullets, layer breeders, broiler breeders, quail, ducks and geese. Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said, “Animals are sentient beings, and we have a moral, societal responsibility to ensure that on-farm conditions for animals reflect this.” As far as farmers are concerned, the executive said that the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will provide financial support and incentives – such as the new eco-schemes instrument

– to help farmers upgrade to more animal-friendly facilities in line with the new standards. Additionally, Member States can draw from the Just Transition Fund and Recovery and Resilience Facility to support farmers in the adaptation to cage-free systems.

MEP reaction to the news was swift, with Greens/EFA deputy and chair of Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT), Tilly Metz, saying, “A historic day for farmed animals. I welcome the Commission’s announcement of a legislative proposal by 2023 to End the Cage Age. Now we need to start working on the assessment of this measure and most of all we need a clear end date.” Fellow Greens/EFA MEP Thomas Waitz said, “Caging will soon be a thing of the past - it is high time to end the ordeal for millions of animals across the EU.” Belgian Renew Europe deputy Hilde Vautmans welcomed the news, but cautioned, “To reach a balanced and economically viable transition, the proposal must be based on an impact assessment and accompanied with financial support to help farmers.”★