Compassion backs mounting pressure on EU Commission to modernise EU animal welfare rules

Compassion in World Farming today welcomed the strong signals sent by the several member states and the European Parliament, urging the European Commission to deliver on its promise to ban cages and reform its outdated animal welfare legislation.

In a public debate during the last AGRIFISH Council before the end of 2024, ministers from Sweden - supported by Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Slovenia - called on the European Commission to present the long overdue proposals to overhaul the block's animal welfare rules and ban cages.

Several member states took the floor to insist on the importance and urgency of delivering the remaining proposals on animal welfare as soon as possible, including them in the Commission’s 2025 work programme.

Finland’s minister stated that the reform of the animal welfare legislation “should not be left half done.”

Czechia also expressed its trust that the Commission will “honour its commitment” in response to the End the Cage European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). While Animal Welfare Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi reiterated that the Commission will follow up on the promised cage ban, he once again failed to provide a clear timeline.

Similarly, several MEPs from across the political spectrum submitted an oral question in November pressing the Commission to include the revision of the EU animal welfare rules in its 2025 work programme.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of EU at Compassion in World Farming, said: “Seeing several member states and members of the Parliament united behind a common call for better animal welfare sends a clear, strong message: it’s the right time for the Commission to deliver on its unfinished business.

“Millions of animals still suffer in cages every year and EU citizens have been clear in their demands for better animal protection. Now the EU’s executive has the ideal opportunity to include the animal welfare revision by 2026 in its upcoming Vision on Agriculture and Food, to ban cages and improve animal welfare for all species.”

For more information about Compassion’s work to end caged farming, visit www.endthecageage.com.

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please email marta.vigano (at) ciwf.org

Notes to editors

1. In response to the successful End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative, signed by over 1.4 million EU citizens and led by Compassion in World Farming, the European Commission made a clear and legally-binding commitment in 2021 to introduce legislative proposals by 2023 to end caged farming by 2027. It also announced it would ensure all imported products in the EU comply with future cage-free standards. Regrettably, the previous Commission has not delivered a proposal to ban cages.
2. According to the Eurobarometer 2023, 84% of Europeans believe that the welfare of farmed animals should be better protected in their country than it is now. Similarly, 90% of Europeans consider that farming and breeding practices should meet basic ethical requirements.
3. Compassion in World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer who became horrified at the development of intensive factory farming. Today Compassion is the leading farm animal welfare organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and achieving humane and sustainable food production. With headquarters in the UK, we have offices across Europe, in the US, China and South Africa.