An Overwhelming Majority of Europeans Urge Commission to Prioritise Modernisation of Farmed Animal Welfare Laws
Support towards the end of the cage age in farmed animals
Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS welcomes the overwhelmingly strong results of the European Commission’s Public Consultation on the modernisation of the EU’s on-farm animal welfare rules, published on 27 February. With nearly 200,000 responses, the consultation reflects exceptional public engagement – driven largely by EU citizens – and sends a clear message: Europe is ready to move away from cages and to end the systematic killing of day-old male chicks. The momentum for this change isn’t limited to just the EU though the UK is laying the groundwork for considerable change too.
Just weeks ago, a consultation closed in which thousands of animal-loving Brits called on the government to phase out the use of caged keeping for farmed animals. When combined with the results from the EU citizens it is evident that there is near unanimous support for higher animal welfare standards across all affected species.
The results show near unanimous support for higher animal welfare standards across all affected species:
- 99% of citizens consider phasing out cages for laying hens and pigs important or very important; similar support (98–99%) is recorded for calves, pullets, broiler breeders, rabbits, ducks and geese.
- Even among businesses and associations, 44–54% support ending cages.
- Almost 98% of all respondents consider the practice of killing of day-old male chicks ethically problematic. 56% of companies share this view.
- 96% support requiring equivalent animal welfare standards for imported animal-derived products.
- 89% believe animal welfare indicators would help improve enforcement; over half of companies (53%) agree.
FOUR PAWS urges the European Commission to finally publish the legislative proposals that have been repeatedly promised under the “End the Cage Age” commitment.
What is the situation in the UK?
Within the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy that was launched at the end of last year, measures to move away from pig farrowing crates were also outlined. The measures to improve farmed animal welfare are hoped to be in place by 2030.
What comes next?
Stay tuned to our social media pages to find out how you can support our endeavours to improve animal welfare for farmed animals in the UK.
Background Information:
The Public Consultation was conducted by the European Commission from September to December 2025 to engage in close dialogue with farmers, food supply chain actors, and civil society. It can be seen as a fundamental step in the legislative process to update the European Union’s animal welfare legislation. One of the Commissions most significant pledges was to build on its 2021 commitment to end the use of cages for farmed animals, made in response to the widely supported End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative, signed by 1.4 million people. The promised proposals are still not delivered by the Commission.
The outcome of the public consultation can be read here.
