Animal welfare group presses EU to end cage use for laying hens by 2026

Humane World for Animals is urging the European Commission to deliver legislation by the end of 2026 that phases out cages for hens kept for egg production across the EU. The group says continued delays prolong suffering for millions of hens and leave egg producers without clarity on future investment rules.

Why it matters: - Around 400 million hens are kept on EU farms, and more than a third are still housed in cage systems. - Humane World for Animals says a binding EU phase-out timetable would reduce animal suffering and give egg producers a predictable path for investment. - The group also wants financial support built into the transition so farmers can move to cage-free housing systems.

What happened: - Humane World for Animals launched its #NoSpaceForCages campaign in Brussels on November 12, 2026. - The campaign is pressing the European Commission to present strong legislation for hens kept for egg production by the end of 2026. - The organization says the Commission missed its earlier commitment to propose legislation by the end of 2023, after the End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative drew support from more than 1.4 million Europeans.

The details: - The campaign’s “A4 for life” message focuses on hens that can spend their entire lives in a space roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper. - Humane World for Animals says cage confinement blocks hens from expressing natural behavior and harms welfare. - Dr. Joanna Swabe, senior director of public affairs at Humane World for Animals Europe, said hens should not face different welfare standards depending on where they are kept in the EU. - Swabe pointed to Austria and Luxembourg as countries where hens are already free from cages, while most hens in Poland and Spain remain in cage systems. - The European Commission’s recent EU Strategy on Livestock says proposals on hens kept for egg production and meat chickens will come by the end of 2026. - The group says that gives the Commission a chance to advance an EU-wide cage phase-out instead of leaving decisions to national governments or voluntary producer action. - Humane World for Animals says the legislation should include a clear, binding timetable and support for farmers who still use enriched cages. - An IEEP report commissioned by Humane World for Animals says the Common Agricultural Policy and other funding channels could help pay for the transition to cage-free production. - The organization is calling for appropriate funding pathways, including through the Common Agricultural Policy, to support the shift.

Between the lines: - The campaign frames the issue as both an animal welfare problem and a market certainty problem for egg producers. - A harmonized EU rule would narrow the gap between member states that have already moved away from cages and those that have not. - The funding debate matters because the speed of any phase-out will depend on whether farmers can afford to rebuild housing systems.

What's next: - Humane World for Animals wants the European Commission to deliver a strong legislative proposal by the end of 2026. - The group is asking the public to back the campaign and press for the shortest possible phase-out period for cages. - If the Commission acts, EU legislation could set the timetable and financing framework for a cage-free transition across the bloc. - The organization says that outcome would move “A4 for life” conditions into the past and secure a cage-free future for Europe’s hens.