The Cage Age Must End

On 16 June, the UK MPs debated the future of cages for farmed animals, following our online petition calling for the UK Parliament to End the Cage Age for all farmed animals.

The petition, launched in January by our Patron Dame Joanna Lumley, gained over 100,000 signatures in just three months – clearly demonstrating public support for ending the use of cages in farming.

The debate saw MPs from multiple parties speaking in support of banning cages. Many MPs also referenced the huge number of emails they’ve received from their constituents and spoke of the British public’s support for action on this vital issue.

We are encouraged that the Government has pledged to announce an animal welfare strategy by the end of 2025 and during the debate confirmed that they are keen to act on cages – not wanting to fall behind EU countries that are already banning these cruel and outdated farming systems.

Because of our supporters, our work to end cages is making global waves. The total potential media reach of our End the Cage Age campaign soared to an incredible 3.2 billion views, helping raise awareness and fuel momentum for change.

Last year we launched our European rabbit farming investigation, exposing the hidden reality of factory farms. The findings had immediate and significant impact – reaching 139 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

In September 2024, following the publication of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, we renewed our call on the European Commission to publish proposals to ban cages and overhaul animal welfare laws by 2026. Our supporters responded powerfully – generating over 40,000 emails to European lawmakers and Commission officials, urging them to act.

Continued advocacy is helping keep farmed animal welfare at the heart of the EU political agenda. In Poland, 68,979 people signed our petition calling on the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, to ban veal crates. Meanwhile, 4,981 Polish supporters emailed President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to commit to phasing out cages across the EU.