End of the cage farming to arrive in 6 years
A resolution passed with 558 votes in favor, 37 against and 85 abstentions in the European Parliament may put an end to the cage era in farms in 6 years. A citizens' initiative called 'End the Cage Age' was registered on September 5, 2018, before the European Commission with 1.4 million signatures, from 18 EU member states.
Now, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to propose legislative instruments to end the use of cages in EU livestock farming, by 2027, gradually, offering an appropriate transition period and on the basis of an evaluation impact with scientific criteria.
The phasing out of cages should be based on a species approach that takes into account and assesses the characteristics of each different animal, which should have husbandry systems tailored to their specific needs, MEPs say. Before adopting legislative changes, farmers and breeders must have a sufficiently long transitional period and the necessary support. This may include advisory and training services and financial incentives, to avoid loss of competitiveness and the relocation of production to countries outside the EU that are less ambitious in terms of animal welfare.
Also, the Parliament calls for a trade policy that ensures a level playing field as a necessary condition for higher European standards, says Parliament. The Commission and the Member States must therefore carry out effective controls and customs controls to ensure that imported animal products comply with the requirements in force in the EU.
MEPs want all animal products imported into the EU to comply with relevant EU regulations, including the use of cage-free rearing systems. They insist that current trade agreements should be reviewed to ensure respect for it.
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