Hens sit in cages inside an egg farm in the West Flanders region of Belgium. The caging of hens and pigs could be banned across Europe as soon as 2027. Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In Europe, the European Commission is expected to consider the European Citizens Initiative “End the Cage Age,” which is expected to lead to a gradual and total ban on caged hens throughout the European Union. The legislative proposal, initially promised for 2023, has been postponed by the European Commission to 2026.
In the meantime, however, Sweden is going it alone and paving the way for national solutions along these lines.
After 50 years of political advocacy, dialogue with companies, public campaigns, and international efforts, the Scandinavian country has achieved the result of having “cage free” laying hen farms without having to resort to a legislative ban, but through a steady and slow work of transitioning to the abolition of cages.
As early as 1988, the Swedish Parliament banned cage rearing, but by the end of the 10-year statutory transition period, the egg industry had still not eliminated cages. As a result, the law was changed and the use of cages in egg production continued.
Since 2008, however, more than 85 companies-from retailers to hotel and restaurant chains-have taken a stand against eggs from cage farms following discussions with Project 1882.
These corporate commitments have played a crucial role in phasing out cages from egg production in Sweden.
And so, since 2008, more than 17 million hens have been spared a life behind bars.
The result is confirmed by statistical data from regional authorities and industry collected by Project 1882, the leading organization for the protection of food-reared animals in Sweden.
Around the world, Animal Equality has for years documented the negative effects of cage farming at the expense of chickens, sows, rabbits, ducks and millions of other animals exploited every day within the food industry.
"Sweden shows us that a world without cages is possible. This extraordinary achievement, achieved without a legal ban but through tireless work of public pressure and corporate change, reminds us that the power of change is in our hands. We will continue to fight every day until no animal is forced to live captive anymore. Cages must become a distant memory, everywhere," says Matteo Cupi, Executive Director Animal Equality Italy.
https://www.project1882.org/news/sweden-becomes-cage-free
