Farmers gather in Brussels to demand an End to the Cage Age

Farmers from across Europe gathered in Brussels on World Cage Free Day to demand an end to the use of cages for farm animals. The farmers, who run successful cage-free farms, joined campaigners in urging the European Commission to deliver on promised legislation to ban cages for all species. The event drew attention from Commission officials and Members of the European Parliament, highlighting the importance of transitioning away from cages in the EU.

With legislative proposals expected to end cage farming this year, the End the Cage Age coalition kickstarted a 190-day countdown to the last quarter of 2026. The coalition aims to show the benefits of a cage-free future, not just for animal welfare but also for farmers and the environment. The demonstration, following a recent court case presentation for cage-free farming, is a crucial step towards the much-anticipated EU-wide cage ban that would improve the lives of the 300 million animals trapped in cages each year.