The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has recently unveiled significant proposals aimed at phasing out the use of cages for laying hens in the United Kingdom.
Specifically, these proposals mandate the gradual elimination of all colony cage systems used in the laying hen sector by the year 2032. This directive includes smaller producers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to hen welfare across all sectors.
In addition to the cage phase-out, Defra is also seeking to impose stricter regulations on certain sheep mutilation practices. These practices, including castration and tail docking, are known to “cause pain to lambs and are often carried out without pain relief,” which raises ethical concerns and prompts the need for reform.
Currently, enriched ‘colony’ cages account for just over 20% of the UK’s shell egg production. However, these cages severely limit the natural movements of British laying hens, with reports indicating up to 80 birds confined within a single cage. Such conditions are increasingly viewed as unacceptable in the context of animal welfare.
Notably, several UK retailers—among them Sainsbury’s and Aldi—have already pledged to cease the sale of eggs produced from cage systems. The UK Government has articulated that this transition aligns with “widespread best practice and public opinion,” reflecting a growing consensus on the need for higher standards in animal welfare.
In her comments, Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the lives of farm animals. She stated, “We are committed to improving the lives of farm animals and to supporting farmers to produce food sustainably, profitably, and to the high standards consumers expect.” This forward-thinking stance resonates with British consumers, who increasingly demand high animal welfare standards.
Anthony Field, head of Compassion in World Farming UK, expressed strong support for the Government’s initiative. He remarked, “We warmly welcome the UK Government’s leadership in honouring a key commitment in its Animal Welfare Strategy by swiftly launching a consultation on phasing out the use of cages for laying hens.” Field views this as a pivotal and much-anticipated stride towards ending the so-called “cage age.”
Moreover, he noted, “We are optimistic that this will be the first of many meaningful and lasting changes. Phasing out cages for the millions of hens kept behind bars every year cannot come soon enough, and we hope the outcome of this consultation will be an ambitious timeline for phasing out these cruel systems.”
Field further commended the consultation aimed at improving the welfare of lambs. He elaborated, “Lambs are routinely subjected to painful, unnecessary mutilations. Castration and tail docking are usually carried out without anaesthetic or pain relief, causing great suffering, so this is an extremely encouraging move.”
As we look to the future, he added, “We look forward to seeing positive changes for millions of other farmed animals in the coming years and to working with Government to achieve this.”
The proposals will undergo an eight-week consultation period, designed to ensure that any impacts on farmers and trade can be carefully evaluated and managed. Both consultations are set to begin today, inviting farmers, industry stakeholders, and animal welfare organizations to participate and share their insights.
