Companies showing policymakers how to ‘end the cage age’

Campaigners have urged the UK Government to publish its long overdue consultation on the use of cages for laying hens and take decisive action to ban all caged systems in animal farming.

“Brexit presented the UK with a unique opportunity to lead the way in farm animal welfare, yet despite the previous [government] promising consultations on caged farming, it failed to deliver on these,” said Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) this week.  

The call comes after Europe this month moved a step closer to animal welfare reforms. Published last week, the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture showed a consensus across 29 organisations, including businesses and NGOs, to reform animal welfare regulations in the bloc. 

Around 300 million pigs, laying hens, calves, geese, ducks and quail, are still confined in cages across Europe every year, according to CIWF.

But a new CIWF report shows how an increasing number of European and global food companies are phasing out cages from their supply chain. Major companies, such as Barilla, Carrefour, and Kaufland, are successfully phasing out cages for laying hens, sows and meat rabbits. Pasta and baked goods company, Barilla Group, which operates in over 100 countries, has fully transitioned to using cage-free egg products, for example. 

In the UK, over 200 companies have committed to cage-free eggs, with over 75% of UK egg production already cage-free. However, approximately 8 million hens in the UK remain caged. 

Urgent legislative action is needed both in the UK and Europe, CIWF said. The consensus achieved in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture is “encouraging” but the new Commission must adopt the recommendations and deliver the cage ban proposals by 2026 at the latest, the charity added. 

“With the future of cages hanging in the balance, producers need clarity on timescales, system requirements and transition support,” said CIWF global director of food business Tracey Jones. “We urge both the new European Commission and UK Government to deliver on their promises to end the cage age, once and for all.”