Today (21 September), we released a new survey which shows that 82% of the farmers surveyed across Europe would support a cage ban with appropriate funding and restrictions on lower welfare imports.

The survey also found that:

74% of surveyed farmers acknowledged animal welfare would benefit from transitioning to cage-free systems
71% of surveyed farmers said transitioning away from cages would have a positive impact on their wellbeing.

The polling comes as the countdown we launched on World Cage-Free Day in March nears its end with ten days left until autumn, when the EU Commission promised to start rolling out proposals to ban cages for farmed animals.

Farmers and citizens support a cage ban

Our new survey, was conducted to explore farmers’ views on transitioning from caged farming systems to cage-free systems.

It found that it's not only a key citizens' demand to improve the lives of millions of animals – it would also be beneficial for farmers.

1.4 million people supported the successful End the Cage Age (EtCA) European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), and they have been demanding a ban on cages for years, alongside the 89% of Europeans who believe that animals should not be farmed in individual cages.

Five years of broken promises

In 2021, the Commission positively responded to the EtCA ECI and committed to introducing legislative proposals to ban cages for all species by 2023. However, it failed to deliver them.

This prompted the EtCA Citizens’ Committee to launch a landmark case before the Court of Justice of the EU to hold the Commission accountable, which could force the Commission to produce a timeline for proposals to ban cages.

Then, this summer, a positive sign emerged. The Livestock Strategy confirmed that the Commission plans to present proposals to ban cages for laying hens by the end of 2026 and for sows by mid-2027.

If delivered, this would be a historic, even if partial, victory for animal welfare in Europe. But through our court case, we will continue to call on the EU to present a timeline to ban cages for all animals, as demanded in the ECI.

Debbie Tripley, Global Director of Campaigns and Policy Advocacy at Compassion in World Farming, said:

After years of delay, it's time for the Commission to deliver the first proposals to ban cages, as it promised in 2021 and again earlier this year in the Livestock Strategy.

However, banning cages for hens and sows cannot be where the Commission’s ambition ends. It must set out a clear, ambitious timeline for banning cages for all farmed animals.

Citizens have been demanding it for years and over 4 in 5 surveyed farmers agree: it's time to end the cage age. It's time to deliver.

Andreas Hubmann, farmer and co-founder of Bauernhof Hibmann in Austria, said:

The Commission's plan to phase out cages for hens and crates for pigs is a much-needed reform. As farmers, we know that good welfare standards are vital for the animals and expected by citizens.

But the effectiveness of banning cages and crates will ultimately depend on the details in the final regulations. To achieve a real welfare milestone, they must give animals the space and conditions they need to behave naturally and live healthier, better lives. This is what we see on our farm, and this should be seen on farms across the EU.

Sjoerd Miedema, calf farmer and founder of De Nije Mieden in the Netherlands, said:

As farmers, we know that calves are sentient animals. They have their own needs and behaviours. Since moving away from individual pens, I've seen the benefits first-hand in the animals' health and behaviour. We've also seen that farming in a way that works with nature creates a stronger, more resilient business for the future. That's why I am disappointed that the Commission's current plans do not include an end to individual calf pens.

If Europe is serious about building a food system that is both sustainable and ethical, we cannot ignore the welfare of calves and their environment.

New survey reveals 4 in 5 farmers support a caged farming ban