Delayed impact assessment

Furthermore, this industry-backed research in Europe comes at a crucial time for the ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens’ Initiative. The EU Commission has promised to present a draft law by the end of summer.

However, the Commission’s impact assessment of its legislative proposal for the revision of animal welfare legislation has not been published yet although the deadline for the consultation has long passed. A secretive EU body, the Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB), has reportedly rejected the first draft of the impact assessment, calling for more evidence on the economic impacts. This delay is unfortunately well-timed for the agri industry to push their unproven science with the hopes of alarming politicians.

Yet, there are other jurisdictions in the world that have banned cages, and no economic fallout has ensued. Last month, the US Supreme Court upheld the California law banning cages for farmed animals, as well as the sale of products originating from caged animals. To date, 14 of 50 US states have banned at least some form of extreme confinement of farm animals, and a number of other states are debating similar laws. Israel has also committed to ban cages in the egg industry by 2029.

Additionally, the Institute for European Environmental Policy has examined the issue of how going cage-free would impact the economy. They have concluded that, with the right funding a cage phase-out holds economic benefits for consumers and farmers; ethical benefits for animals, the environment, and all others involved.

While the EU debates whether to join other jurisdictions in banning the cruel practice of caging, animal suffering continues unabated across Europe. 300 million EU farmed animals suffer extreme confinement every year.

About half of all egg-laying hens, and nearly all rabbits, are forced into miniscule cages, the floor size of which is roughly equivalent to an A4 sheet of paper. The great majority of mother pigs spend approximately half of their short lives inside crates or stalls so small that they cannot even stand and turn around.

If the agri lobby succeeds in their aims, the unfathomable suffering caused by cages will continue. And the EU, for its part, will be funding agri industry to keep factory farming on life support. Instead, EU subsidies should be redirected to support systems that safeguard the environment and increase animal welfare. Short-term economic considerations should not override the popular desire for an ethical, sustainable future.

European citizens cherish democracy as a matter of priority, as evident in the latest Eurobarometer poll, conducted as part of the run-up to the 2024 elections. Likewise, anti-EU sentiment also remains a considerable force in European politics. The European Commission is sure to enflame such sentiments – shooting itself in the foot – should its promise prompted by such a resoundingly popular and successful European Citizens’ Initiative be broken.

It is high time for the EU to honour European democracy by putting a permanent end to the dreadful cage age.

By Olga Kikou and Alice Di Concetto.

Do not hesitate to email us at eu.office@ciwf.org