A proposed ban on the use of cages in farming across the EU has been shelved.
The development was first reported by the Financial Times, which reported the EU considering dropping its plans for stricter animal welfare measures, including the ban on caged farming, in response to cost of living pressures.
In June 2021, the European Commission made a commitment to phase out cages in animal farming across the EU in response to a petition named ‘End the Cage Age’, signed by 1.4 million people. The plan had been to present a proposal for a new law by the end of 2023, which would have had a significant impact on the egg sector.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union speech on 13 September and said that rather than ban cages, there would be “more dialogue” on the topic.
The move was criticised by Compassion in World Farming, which said it demonstrated “disdain for civic engagement at a time when people are already losing trust in the EU”.