News
Europe intends to phase out caged farming by 2027
5 Jul 2021A June 30 vote from the European Commission will end caged farming in the European Union. This initiative is part of the overarching Farm to Fork Strategy and was brought to the attention of the commission thanks to a citizen petition that was supported by 1.4 million bloc members as well as large corporations, including Nestlé, Unilever and Mondelez International.
In its decision, the Commission said it would propose legislation on the matter in 2023 with the intention of enacting a ban on caged farming for all animals listed in the petition by 2027. In a statement, the Commission acknowledged that animal welfare is a high priority, and because this petition asked to amplify current protections that are in line with commitments previously made in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the European Green Deal, it was in support of the request.
Animal welfare was the central question surrounding the push for this decision. Lawmakers from across the bloc supported the move with the Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski saying that this decision makes the EU Commission’s current animal welfare legislation “even more ambitious.”
Already laying hens, sows and calves are covered by EU rules that do not permit them to be farmed in restrictive cages. Laying hens can, however, be kept in “furnished” or more expansive cages. With the approval of this new petition, the list of animals that are no longer allowed to be raised in cages is expanded to include rabbits, young hens, quails, ducks and geese.
"Animals are sentient beings and we have a moral, societal responsibility to ensure that on-farm conditions for animals reflect this," EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a statement.
As part of its decision, the Commission said it will provide financial support to help farmers upgrade to more animal-friendly facilities in line with the new standards. The Commission will also ensure that additional financial resources are made available to support farmers in the transition to cage-free systems.
The Commission is now assessing the feasibility of enacting the legislation by 2027. Reuters reported that the EU Parliament also supports the ban on farming animals in cages.
Related news
Rainforest Alliance praises Nescafé for regenerative agriculture efforts
27 Jun 2023
Instant coffee brand Nescafé is supporting coffee farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices, according to a recent supply chain assessment by Rainforest Alliance that highlighted “encouraging trends”.
Read more
Sustainability commitments lead more LatAm brands to B Corp
19 Jun 2023
A growing number of Latin American brands are becoming B Corp certified as they seek to address consumers’ sustainability concerns, from Colombia’s Luker Chocolate to Brazil’s Naveia and B.You Açaí.
Read more
Tea brands accused of human rights abuses
9 Jun 2023
Multinational companies with tea brands, like Unilever, Starbucks and Tetley, have been linked to dozens of counts of human rights abuse in their supply chains from last year alone, according to a recent report from the Business and Human Rights Resour...
Read more
New Zealand mānuka honey producers lose battle to trademark product
7 Jun 2023
New Zealand’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has ruled that mānuka honey cannot be trademarked, which means that neighbouring Australian producers can use the valuable name.
Read more
Singapore’s Nutri Grade label spurs beverage reformulation
24 May 2023
Nearly six months after becoming mandatory for drinks, Singapore’s Nutri-Grade front-of-pack label is encouraging some beverage brands to reduce sugar and saturated fat content.
Read more
US introduces Food Labeling Modernization Act
23 May 2023
Amid calls for better food integrity and safety, the US Congress has proposed a bill for clearer nutritional information and accurate labelling claims.
Read more
EFSA’s proposed BPA limits may be ‘totally unrealistic’
2 May 2023
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has proposed limits for Bisphenol A – a chemical known to be harmful to health – that are 20,000 times lower than before, but they may be “totally unrealistic” for the food industry to meet, says one food safet...
Read more
US-Mexico trade tensions rise over Mexico’s GM import ban
17 Apr 2023
As trade tensions rise between Mexico and the US over a Mexican ban on imports of genetically modified (GM) corn, Mexican food safety authorities have announced plans to investigate the presence of GM corn in the country’s tortillas and the risk of eat...
Read more
SAFE raises concerns over EU directive to avoid false green claims
5 Apr 2023
Following the release of the European Commission’s proposal to avoid false and misleading green claims, Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE) is calling for updates to prevent consumer confusion and exploitation.
Read more
Confectionery firm fined €10k for misleading Nutri-Score use
30 Mar 2023
Italy’s Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) has fined Vivil A. Muller (Vivil) €10,000 due to its misleading use of the Nutri-Score system to indicate the healthiness of its confectionary.
Read more