Italian animal protection groups have welcomed the new Cage-Free Fund established in the 2026 Budget Law of the Italian Parliament, calling it “a good first step for animal welfare".

The Fund is the first permanent public funding in Italy dedicated exclusively to supporting the transition to cage-free farming systems. It allocates €500,000 for 2026, followed by €1 million annually from 2027 onwards.

The approval of the Cage-Free Fund is a good first step for animal welfare,

said Annamaria Pisapia, Head of Compassion in World Farming Italy, alongside NGO partners in the Italian End the Cage Age coalition (ETCA).

Citizens don’t want cages. The transition to cage-free systems would significantly improve the lives of millions of animals currently sentenced to an existence of suffering and confinement. Any instrument helping animals out of cages is not just welcome – it’s urgently needed. This Fund will support farmers committed to eliminating cages which is what our Government- any Government- should do. However, we are disappointed that the endowment has been reduced compared to the initial proposal. We will work in the coming years to make sure its endowment is significantly raised. A higher allocation is key for this fund to significantly contribute to build a cage-free future in Italy.

Animal welfare is a growing priority for European citizens: according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 91% of Italian citizens oppose the use of individual cages, and 1.4 million people signed the European Citizens’ Initiative End the Cage Age in 2019.

Vinciane Patelou, Head of EU at Compassion in World Farming, said:

Despite its regrettably low endowment, what comes from the Italian Parliament is a political signal to the European Commission and other Member States. While waiting for a comprehensive, ambitious modernisation of the European animal welfare legislation, it is essential to accelerate the process by providing economic incentives for the transition.

Compassion in World Farming Italy, together with the other partners of the End the Cage Age coalition, is ready to work with the Italian Government and Parliament to devise a smooth cage-free transition, and will continue to advocate for the Cage-Free Fund to be increased in the coming years.

First cage-free fund approved in Italian budget law