Humane World for Animals pushes EU to end cage farming for laying hens

Humane World for Animals has launched a new #NoSpaceForCages campaign urging the European Commission to deliver long-promised rules to phase out cages for egg-laying hens by the end of 2026. The group says delays are prolonging animal suffering and leaving farmers without certainty, while Italy is also pressing to renew cage-free transition funding in its 2027 budget.

Why it matters: - The EU still houses about 400 million hens, and more than a third remain in cage systems. - Humane World for Animals says a clear EU timeline would reduce suffering for hens and give farmers a predictable path for future investments. - The campaign also ties the issue to Italy, where lawmakers are being urged to extend funding for the cage-free transition in the 2027 budget.

What happened: - Humane World for Animals launched the #NoSpaceForCages campaign in Brussels on Nov. 12, 2026. - The group is pressing the European Commission to present ambitious legislation for laying hens by the end of 2026. - The campaign follows a 2021 commitment from the Commission, made after the European Citizens’ Initiative “End the Cage Age,” which gathered more than 1.4 million signatures. - The Commission had pledged to propose legislation by the end of 2023, but has not done so.

The details: - The campaign slogan, “A life on A4 paper,” refers to hens kept in spaces about the size of a sheet of A4 paper. - Humane World for Animals says cage confinement blocks natural behavior and harms hen welfare. - The group wants any new EU law to include a clear, binding phaseout schedule. - The group also wants financial support for farmers making the shift to cage-free production. - Humane World for Animals points to a recent Institute for European Environmental Policy report it commissioned, which says the Common Agricultural Policy and other funding tools can support the transition. - The organization is calling for those funding tools to be used, including within the CAP.

Between the lines: - The Commission’s broader livestock strategy now creates a new opening to advance cage-free rules for both egg-laying hens and broiler chickens. - Humane World for Animals argues that leaving the issue to member states or voluntary producer decisions would slow progress and create uneven standards across the bloc. - The group is also framing the transition as a competitiveness issue, not only an animal-welfare issue, because farmers need certainty on timing and support. - In Italy, Humane World for Animals says the 2026 budget set aside funds for the transition, and the group is already seeking to renew and expand that money for 2027. - Martina Pluda, director of Humane World for Animals Italia, said Italy’s experience shows the change is possible and that an EU-wide rule would help keep competition fair across member states.

What's next: - Humane World for Animals wants the Commission to file a legislative proposal before the end of 2026. - The group is asking for the shortest possible phaseout period for cages. - Citizens are being urged to back the campaign and pressure the Commission to act. - The organization says the next budget cycle in Italy will be a key test for continued support to farmers shifting to cage-free systems.

The bottom line: - Humane World for Animals is trying to turn a long-delayed EU promise into binding law, with funding support for farmers seen as essential to making the cage-free transition happen.