Our wonderful Patron, Deborah Meaden, has launched a new parliamentary petition this week, calling on the Government to ban the use of all cages for all UK farmed animals.

The petition comes after the European Commission announced plans last month to introduce legislation that would phase out cages by 2027. Yet, every year across the UK, millions of farmed animals are suffering in cages, unable to express their natural behaviours. Most cages are barren, cramped and deny the animals space to move freely.

Suffering behind bars

“More than half of the UK’s mother pigs give birth confined in prison-like farrowing crates and over a third of the UK’s egg laying hens are kept in cages,” said Dragons’ Den favourite and petition lead signatory, Deborah Meaden. “That’s around 16 million farm animals in the UK, every year, suffering behind bars. It’s hard to believe that this is still legal.”

"These inhumane systems cannot and must not be the future. Rather than falling behind our European neighbours, we should be leading the way in a move towards more humane farming systems. It’s time for the UK Government to take action and do the right thing. It’s time to End the Cage Age!”

The Commission has also indicated that it will look to ban the import of food from caged systems. This means that inaction from the UK Government won’t just result in the country lagging behind its European neighbours, it may also add bureaucracy to trade with the UK’s nearest and largest export market, and could ultimately damage the entire British farming sector.

Time for the UK Government to act – now!

“We are extremely grateful to our fantastic Patron Deborah for shining a light on this important petition,” said Sarah Moyes, our Senior Campaign Manager. “100,000 petition signatures are need to bring about a parliamentary debate on the use of cages for farmed animals, which could be absolutely crucial to bringing about the legislative change that is needed to End the Cage Age across the UK once and for all.

“An EU cage age ban could free over 300 million farmed animals a year to roam, forage, build nests and flap their wings. But, unless the UK Government acts now, animal welfare standards here will fall significantly behind those of the EU and British animals will continue to suffer in barren, cramped cages.”

Please add your signature to call for a debate in Parliament and urge Government to act – now!