Farm Animal Welfare

Battery Cage Phase-Out: Progress and Resistance

The global phase-out of conventional battery cages for laying hens is one of the most significant ongoing farm animal welfare reforms — with substantial progress and continued resistance.

Key Facts

EU banned conventional battery cages for laying hens in 2012 — a landmark reform
US corporate pledges have committed over 350 companies to cage-free eggs by 2025-2030
India and China have large battery cage systems with no national phase-out timeline
Cage-free systems have their own welfare challenges requiring management attention
Enriched colony cages remain a contested intermediate standard in some markets

Welfare Considerations

Conventional battery cages provide 550 sq cm — less than an A4 sheet of paper — per hen, preventing all natural behavior including wing extension, dust-bathing, and perching. The welfare of 300+ million hens in EU systems was transformed by the 2012 ban. Global progress is accelerating through corporate pledges but remains incomplete. Cage-free systems require careful management to prevent welfare problems from pecking, smothering, and floor-level hygiene.

What You Can Do

Choose only cage-free or higher-welfare certified eggs
Advocate for legislative cage-free requirements where corporate pledges are unfulfilled
Support organizations like HSUS and Mercy for Animals tracking corporate cage-free commitments
Engage food companies to accelerate and complete their cage-free transitions
Follow the Open Wing Alliance global cage-free campaign progress