A win for farmed Animals – European Commission commits to banning cages in the EU
The European Citizens Initiative (ECI) #EndTheCageAge was successful and caged farming should be phased out across the EU
“A monumental win for caged animals across the European union: 1.4 million citizens, 170 organisations, several experts and scientists, industry representatives and the European Parliament have spoken and the European Commission listened. This afternoon they announced the commitment to ban caged farming in all farms in the EU,” says Pierre Sultana, Director of the European Policy Office at FOUR PAWS.
The Commission’s decision means, that they present a proposal on the phase out of cages by the end of 2023. A ban of cages should enter into force from 2027. To help farmers to transition away from caged farming, strategies to compensate farmers and support producers in their transition will be developed. “If this is successful, over 300 million animals will be able to move around and express their natural behaviours. Caged farming is an outdated and cruel way of keeping animals”, says Sultana, “It limits the animals’ freedom and negatively impacts their health.”
It is important that a legislative proposal is also backed up in the Council “FOUR PAWS urges the representatives of the Member States in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to follow the Commission’s and Parliament’s lead and support the initiative! This is a unique opportunity to improve welfare conditions for so many animals and we hope that the European Union will take this step and become a global pioneer in farm animal welfare!” says Sultana
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org