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…
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Statement From Compassion in World Farming in Response to Unilever’s Abandonment of their Global Cage-Free Commitment
It is deeply disappointing to see Unilever – one of the world’s largest food manufacturers – not only abandon the global cage‑free egg commitment it made in 2018 but also withdraw from the higher‑welfare broiler chicken requirements of the Better Chicken Commitment. Cage‑Free Egg CommitmentAfter reaching 68% global cage‑free implementation, this reversal leaves hens confined in cages, unable to express even their most basic natural behaviours. Unilever’s pledge was global in scope – not limited to Europe and North America, where it has since gone 100% cage‑free. Consumers around the…
Read MoreCompassion in World Farming Launches First Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard
Compassion in World Farming has launched its first Sea Bass and Sea Bream Welfare Scorecard, providing an assessment of the public welfare policies and reporting of 13 major producers. The scorecard evaluates producers against 11 key welfare criteria, establishing a much-needed baseline for a sector where public commitments on fish welfare have historically been limited, or optional, but are now increasingly expected and required. Together the assessed companies span six countries and account for around 36% of global sea bass and sea bream production. This new benchmark builds on the…
Read MoreNew Government strategy set to raise the bar for farmed animal welfare
The UK Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy, released recently, marks an historic turning point for farmed animals across England. The strategy sets out the Government’s priorities and focuses on the changes and improvements it aims to achieve by 2030. Compassion in World Farming (Compassion) is thrilled to see a commitment to phase out cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for sows. For decades, cages have been the enduring symbol of intensive livestock farming, and Compassion has fought tirelessly to consign them to history. Today’s announcement represents one of the…
Read MoreLeading European food companies urge EU to End the Cage Age
More than 30 leading European food companies have urged the European Commission to end the use of cages in animal farming across Europe. Three statements signed by 17 companies, were submitted to the Commission, each focused on a key species: hens, sows, and rabbits. These statements were signed by companies, including Bompieri Group, Fumagalli Industria Alimentari, Coop UK, and Accor which have made voluntary commitments to remove cage systems from their supply chains for a specific species. Together, they call on the Commission to prioritise and enact strong legislation to…
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