The European Commission has set out a timetable for the phasing out of cage farming for laying hens and pigs as part of its new EU Livestock Strategy, with legislative proposals scheduled for the end of 2026 and 2027.
As part of the roadmap, the Commission said that it intends to publish legislation covering laying hens and broilers by the end of this year, followed by proposals on pig welfare in the second quarter of 2027.
The strategy also includes plans to end the routine culling of male chicks in the egg industry and indicates that imported products will be expected to meet equivalent animal welfare standards.
Legislation needed
Animal welfare organisation Animalia described the strategy as an ‘important step’, but said the commitments must now be translated into binding legislation.
“The strategy is a message that the era of cage farming is coming to an end,” commented Heidi Kivekäs, executive director of Animalia. “Future legislation must ensure that cages for laying hens and gestation and farrowing crates for pigs become a thing of the past. At the same time, the ban must extend to all farm animals kept in cages.”
Unanswered questions
Animalia also noted that the Commission’s strategy when it comes to broiler hens leaves many questions unanswered, including specifying how issues such as overcrowding, fast-growing breeds and animal health will be addressed.
“There are serious problems associated with the breeding, treatment and production conditions of broilers, such as diseases, injuries, overcrowding and uninspiring conditions,” Kivekäs added.
“Broiler production is completely unsustainable from an animal welfare perspective, and the scale of production is enormous. The promise of regulation leaves a big question mark about the content of the regulatory proposal.”
Elsewhere, Animalia has said that the forthcoming pig welfare proposals should go beyond cage-free housing and include measures such as an EU-wide ban on the surgical castration of pigs.
Protein Plan
Alongside the livestock strategy, the Commission also published its Protein Plan, which focuses on strengthening Europe’s protein supply chains. Animalia argued that the plan places too much emphasis on feed production for livestock rather than encouraging greater production and consumption of plant-based foods.
“The EU talks about the sustainability of the protein system, but focuses too much on feed production instead of plant-based food production,” Kivekäs added. “Reducing meat production and the number of animals and increasing plant-based protein food production are necessary actions to improve animal rights and welfare, as well as the state of the climate and the environment.” Read more here.
