EU Farm to Fork Strategy and Animal Welfare Reform

The European Union Farm to Fork Strategy, launched in 2020 as part of the Green Deal, includes ambitious animal welfare commitments. Understanding what it proposes and how it has progressed reveals the politics of farm animal welfare reform.

Key Facts

The Farm to Fork Strategy aims to make EU food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly
It committed to revision of all EU animal welfare legislation, including the outdated Laying Hens Directive
Cage-free commitments prompted by citizen initiatives gathered over 1.4 million signatures across member states
The 2030 target was to phase out cages for all farmed animals including hens, rabbits, pigs, and calves
Progress has been slower than promised — a promised legislative proposal was delayed multiple times
Animal welfare is identified as a key consumer concern alongside sustainability and health
The strategy links animal welfare to antibiotic reduction, recognising that high-welfare systems use fewer drugs
Trade policy coherence — ensuring imports meet EU standards — remains a major unresolved challenge

Welfare Considerations

The Farm to Fork Strategy represents the most ambitious animal welfare reform agenda the EU has ever proposed. However, implementation has faced structural opposition from agricultural lobbies and member states with intensive farming economies. The cage-free legislative commitment, supported by an unprecedented citizen initiative, was repeatedly delayed and then narrowed in scope. For advocates, this illustrates the gap between policy aspiration and political delivery — and the importance of sustained civil society pressure to hold institutions to their stated commitments.

What You Can Do

Contact your MEP urging full implementation of Farm to Fork animal welfare commitments
Support European animal welfare NGOs monitoring and pressuring EU institutions on cage-free legislation
Sign and share petitions supporting the End the Cage Age citizen initiative follow-up
Buy EU-origin animal products with certified higher welfare standards when available
Engage with trade policy debates to ensure EU standards are not undercut by lower-standard imports
Follow Eurogroup for Animals and Compassion in World Farming for legislative updates