New polling reveals 82% of surveyed European farmers support a cage ban as campaigners mark European Commission deadline to deliver first proposals to End the Cage Age.

More than four in five surveyed farmers would support a move to cage-free farming with sufficient public funding and restrictions on lower welfare imports, new polling reveals today (21 September), as pressure mounts on the European Commission to begin delivering its long-promised ban on cages.
The survey, commissioned by Compassion in World Farming in France, Poland, Spain, and Italy, also found that:

74% of farmers surveyed acknowledged animal welfare would benefit from transitioning to cage-free systems
71% of farmers surveyed said transitioning away from cages would have a positive impact on their own wellbeing.

On World Cage-Free Day in March, the End the Cage Age (EtCA) coalition started a countdown to the last quarter of the European calendar, when the Commission committed to deliver the first proposals to ban cages. The new findings come as the EtCA coalition marks the final ten days of the countdown.

In July, the Livestock Strategy was published, confirming that the Commission would introduce proposals for laying hens by the end of 2026 and for sows by mid-2027. If delivered, and sufficiently ambitious, this will be a historic victory for animal welfare in Europe. However, the Commission must still honour its commitment and produce a timeline for all species, argues the NGO.

Debbie Tripley, Global Director of Campaigns and Policy Advocacy at Compassion in World Farming, said:

After years of delay, it's time for the Commission to deliver the first proposals to ban cages, as it first promised in 2021 and again earlier this year in the Livestock Strategy.

If it keeps this commitment, this will be a historic moment for animal welfare in Europe. However, banning cages for hens and sows cannot be where the Commission’s ambition ends. We are still waiting for a clear timeline to ban cages for all farmed animals, including calves, rabbits, ducks, geese, and quail.

It's time to move quickly – and deliver. Citizens have been demanding it for years and the vast majority of farmers surveyed agree: it's time to end the cage age.

Andreas Hubmann, farmer and co-founder of Bauernhof Hibmann, Austria said:

The Commission's plan to phase out cages for hens and crates for pigs is a much-needed reform. As farmers, we know that good welfare standards are vital for the animals and expected by citizens.

But the effectiveness of banning cages and crates will ultimately depend on the details in the final regulations. To achieve a real welfare milestone, they must give animals the space and conditions they need to behave naturally and live healthier, better lives. This is what we see on our farm, and this should be seen on farms across the EU.

Sjoerd Miedema, calf farmer and founder of De Nije Mieden, Netherlands said:

As farmers, we know that calves are sentient animals. They have their own needs and behaviours. Since moving away from individual pens, I've seen the benefits first-hand in the animals' health and behaviour. We've also seen that farming in a way that works with nature creates a stronger, more resilient business for the future. That's why I am disappointed that the Commission's current plans do not include an end to individual calf pens.

If Europe is serious about building a food system that is both sustainable and ethical, we cannot ignore the welfare of calves and their environment.

In 2021, the Commission responded positively to the successful EtCA European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) and announced legislative proposals to ban cages for all species by 2023, but failed to deliver them. This prompted the EtCA Citizens’ Committee to launch a landmark case before the European Court of Justice to hold the Commission accountable. The ongoing case could force the Commission to produce a timeline for proposals to ban cages for all species.

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please email media.team@ciwf.org

Notes to Editors

In March 2026, Compassion in World Farming commissioned polling of 205 livestock farmers in four countries across Europe through Savanta Market Research.
Photos from the event on 1 October in front of the Berlaymont in Brussels can be accessed here.
An overwhelming 89% of EU citizens – around 400 million people – believe animals should not be farmed in individual cages. Yet, across Europe, around 300 million pigs, hens, rabbits, ducks, quail, and geese still spend most of their lives in cages every year. Animals kept in cages are often confined in barren environments, either overcrowded or completely lacking social contact, unable to turn around or express even the most basic behaviours.
Compassion in World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer who became horrified at the development of intensive factory farming. Today Compassion is the leading farm animal welfare organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and achieving humane and sustainable food production. With headquarters in the UK, we have offices across Europe, in the US, China, and South Africa.
The End the Cage Age coalition unites organisations from all over the EU under one shared goal – to end the use of cages in animal farming. It represents the voices of the 94% of Europeans who believe protecting farm animals is important, and the 82% who believe they deserve far stronger protection. The EtCA ECI was supported by 1.4 million citizens and 170 NGOs and led by Compassion in World Farming.

82% of farmers support caged farming ban as EU faces deadline to act