The European Commission’s own consultation reveals overwhelming public support to end the use of cages – NGO calls for legislation without delay
More than 190,000 people responded to the European Commission’s public consultation on modernising animal welfare laws last year, and the results show the vast majority of respondents want to phase out cages from animal farming.
The key findings include:
- 99% of respondents, including 54% of businesses, think phasing out cages for laying hens is important or very important
- 99% of respondents, including 46% of businesses, think phasing out cages for pigs is important or very important
- 98-99% of respondents think phasing out cages for calves, rabbit, ducks and other animals is important or very important
- 89% fully agree that current EU legislation does not allow animals to express their natural behaviours
- 88-92% think all EU animal welfare requirements should apply to imported meat and egg products, ensuring a level playing field for EU farmers
The consultation also shows that clarity and support are needed for farmers.
Businesses themselves highlighted that EU funding, including through the Common Agricultural Policy, is essential to making change possible.
Head of Compassion in World Farming’s EU office, Vinciane Patelou, said:
“Hundreds of thousands of people took the time to respond to this consultation, and their message couldn’t be clearer – 99% support phasing out cages and 89% say current laws aren’t good enough.
“People across Europe are calling for farming that is fair, compassionate and fit for the future. The mandate is there, now the Commission must show leadership and bring forward legislation to End the Cage Age for good without further delay.”
The Commission has repeatedly committed to modernising the EU animal welfare legislation and following up on its pledge to deliver proposals to phase out cages, but it has yet to deliver. This consultation confirms that public backing for the ban is overwhelming.
With expected legislation due by the end of 2026, this consultation confirms what EU citizens have demanded for years: ambitious, comprehensive protection for all farmed animals.
The Commission’s inaction has confined nearly 300 million hens, pigs, calves, rabbits, ducks, geese and other farmed animals in cages every year. This is despite a striking 89% of Europeans believing that animals should not be farmed in individual cages.
Later this week, the European Court of Justice will hear a case being brought by the End the Cage Age Citizen’s Committee calling on the EU Commission to present a clear timeline to deliver legislative proposals to ban caged animal farming for all farmed species.
Animal welfare: the Commission publishes results of its public consultation
