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The College of Commissioners has decided to register a European citizens initiative to “End the Cage Age.”
The group of citizens have objected to the “inhumane treatment of farm animals” housed in cages.
The legislation they are proposing would prohibit the use of "cages for laying hens, rabbits, pullets, broiler breeders, layer breeders, quail, ducks and geese; farrowing crates for sows; sow stalls and individual calf pens, where not already prohibited".
The initiative will start on 11 September this year.
It could have potentially far-reaching consequences for European farmers if passed.
However, the group must first gather at least 1m signatures from a minimum of seven Member States within a year before the initiative can move to the next stage.
If the initiative receives that level of support the European Commission will then have three months to decide whether to pursue the request for legislation or not, but must in either case justify it’s decision.
The initiative will start on 11 September this year.
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