MEPS have voted to phase out caged farming by 2027 during a plenary session of the European Parliament.
The motion passed by Parliament will end the use of cages based on a species-by-species approach and ensure animals have suitable housing for their needs.
This will include prohibiting using cages for hens, pullets, broilers, quail, ducks geese and rabbits; farrowing crates for sows; individual calf pens.
All of Ireland’s 13 MEPs supported the motion. The resolution was backed by 558 MEPs with 37 voting against and 85 abstentions.
Nearly 1.4 million people from across Europe signed the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘End the Cage Age’ which prompted the vote.
EU Parliament will now ask the European Commission to come up with legislative proposals to ban caged farming in the EU.
MEPs also want to stop EU agricultural production relocating to places where animal welfare standards are lower than in the EU.
LSL News.