Historic turning point: stop to cage farms from 2027! The EU Parliament said yes

Stop to cage farming from 2027 across Europe. Parliament said yes yesterday but now the go-ahead from the Commission is awaited

Stop to cage farming from 2027 throughout Europe. The European Parliament yesterday said yes, supporting the call of European citizens for the gradual end of this type of farming. A historic day, awaited for years.

For the European authorities, in fact, there are alternatives to cage farming and should be encouraged, it being understood that there will be a transition period and adequate support for farmers and livestock breeders. But that's not all: according to the text released yesterday by the EU Parliament, even products imported from non-European countries must have the same standards: in other words, only animals not raised in cages can enter Europe.

In fact, MEPs confirmed their willingness to gradually put an end to the use of cages on farms to improve animal welfare. In their response to the "End the Cage Age" European Citizens' Initiative, they asked the European Commission to present legislative proposals to ban cage farming in the EU, possibly as early as 2027, after an appropriate transition period and afterwards a robust scientific impact assessment was carried out. The resolution was adopted yesterday with 558 votes in favor, 37 against and 85 abstentions.

The 'End the Cage Age' initiative was registered with the European Commission on 5 September 2018. At the time of its presentation, it had garnered support from nearly 1,4 million signatories across the EU. Alternatives to cage farming exist and are already being successfully adopted in many Member States, MEPs say. These alternative systems should be further improved and encouraged everywhere but to ensure a level playing field for farmers across the Union, uniform European legislation is needed.

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Species-by-species approach and adequately funded transition

The phasing out of the use of cages should be based on a species-by-species approach, which takes into account the characteristics of different animals and ensures that all have farming systems adapted to their specific needs

say the deputies. Before legislative changes are made, farmers and livestock keepers must be granted a sufficiently long transition period and adequate support. This could include consultancy and training services, incentives and financial programs and and prevent the relocation of EU production to places where animal welfare standards are lower than those of the EU.

MEPs also call for a more comprehensive food policy to support the shift to a more sustainable food system, but also to prevent small and medium-sized farms from abandoning livestock production and stop its further concentration in the hands of a few large companies. .

Same standards for all imported products

A fair trade policy that guarantees a level playing field is a precondition for higher European standards

says the Parliament. That is why MEPs yesterday asked that all animal derivatives imported into the EU be produced in full compliance with European legislation, including the use of cage-free farming systems. For this, it will be necessary to re-evaluate existing trade agreements.

Prohibition of unnecessary force-feeding of ducks and geese

MEPs also ask the Commission to present a proposal to ban the cruel and unnecessary force-feeding of ducks and geese for the production of foie gras.

Now the ball will go to the Commission which will have to express itself, but the Parliament's decision writes an important page. This is a big step forward in favor of animal welfare.

Here the approved text

Sources of reference: European Parliament