European Commission must publish proposals to modernise animal welfare rules and ban cages in 2026, say campaigners

Compassion in World Farming has today (12 February) called for clarity on the process and timeline of the consultations for the modernisation of animal welfare legislation in response to the announcement of the European Commission’s 2025 work plan.

The plan includes the forthcoming Vision on Agriculture and Food, as well as the Ocean Pact, but does not provide details on the promised and long-overdue revision of the animal welfare legislation, except the pending proposal on the protection of animals during transport.

On several previous occasions, Health and Animal Welfare Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi has committed to “modernise existing EU animal welfare standards”, starting to publish proposals in follow up to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) End the Cage Age (EtCA) in 2026, and using 2025 to conduct consultations with stakeholders.

In response to today’s announcement, Compassion in World Farming is urging the Commission to provide clarity on timing and to avoid any further delay citing the already strong stakeholder consensus on the need to ban cages outlined in the EU Strategic Dialogue report published in September 2024.

The NGO also believes it is paramount that the Commission demonstrates the highest levels of ambition, especially when it comes to modernising animal welfare standards for all species currently unprotected.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of EU at Compassion in World Farming, said: “More consultations cannot be an excuse to further delay the delivery of already long-overdue proposals that will impact the lives of hundreds of millions of animals in the EU and beyond.

“The Commission must build on the consensus of the Strategic Dialogue and deliver on the cage ban promised to the 1.4 million EU citizens who supported the End the Cage Age ECI as well as the much-needed modernisation of animal welfare laws.

"We expect the upcoming Vision on the Future of EU Agriculture to provide clarity on the timing for the next steps leading to the ban on cages, including the financial means to support farmers in the necessary transition to higher-welfare, sustainable food systems.”

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