‘A seismic result’: European Commission set to ban all cages for farmed animals

UK government urged to match ‘historic’ change and not ‘trail behind’

About 119 million rabbits are raised for food in Europe every year, the vast majority of them caged (Andrew Skowron / Open Cages)

The European Commission has unveiled plans to ban all cages for farmed animals within six years, in decision hailed as historic.

The UK government, which claims Britain’s animal welfare standards are the highest in the world, is now being urged to follow suit.

The EU ban, which follows many years of campaigning by activists, will benefit more than 300 million hens, mother pigs, calves, rabbits, ducks, geese and other farmed animals every year.

The plan is to phase out cages and individual calf pens by 2027.

Nearly 1.4 million EU citizens – including many from the UK before Brexit – signed a European Citizens’ Initiative petition calling for a ban on cages, which prevent animals moving around freely and being outdoors.

The ability to carrying out their natural behaviour is one of the five basic freedoms, recognised worldwide, that animals should be allowed, according to vets and the RSPCA.

The commission announced it intended to put forward proposals for a ban by the end of 2023 to “phase out and finally prohibit the use of cages”.

It will need the approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

Commission chiefs have also pledged to look at introducing rules or standards for imported products that are equivalent to those in the EU.

Olga Kikou, head of EU at Compassion in World Farming (CiWF), which launched the End the Cage Age campaign in 2018, said: “Today, the European Commission made a historic decision to leave a legacy for farmed animals.

“Citizens demanded change and the commission received the message loud and clear, making an unequivocal and visionary commitment to phase out cages.

“The tide is finally turning. We will stay focused on the European institutions until they deliver on this ambition and will be vigilant in preventing vested interests from watering it down.”

Philip Lymbery, chief executive of CiWF, said it was “a seismic result”.

James West, senior policy manager, added: “It is now crucial that the UK government follow suit and delivers an end to the use of cages – Britain must not get left trailing behind the EU in improving farm animal welfare”.

More than 16 million hens in the UK are still kept behind bars, producing more than a third of Britain’s eggs, and 250,000 British pigs are forced to give birth in cages and raise their piglets through bars.

About 94 per cent of farmed rabbits in Europe - 119 million - are kept in cages.

Primatologist Jane Goodall had backed the End the Cage Age drive, as did several food giants, including Nestle.

At least 140 scientists condemned the use of cages as “inconsistent with the treaty recognition of animals as sentient beings”.

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.

“I am determined to ensure that the EU remains at the forefront of animal welfare on the global stage and that we deliver on societal expectations.”

The RSPCA said it was delighted by Europe’s decision. Chief executive Chris Sherwood said the imports standards review would affect future free trade deals, and David Bowles challenged the government to match Europe’s ban.

The commission says it will consider the socio-economic and environmental implications of the ban next year, carrying out a public consultation.

Intensive farming groups are expected to lobby against the ban or argue for a delay.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and a strong track record for raising the bar when it comes to welfare measures.

“We are currently examining the evidence around the use of cages for farm animals, and as an independent trading nation, we have the option to review our own legislation in the future and ensure that any changes made would maintain our high level of animal protection.”