In a written answer on 3 July 2026 to a question by S&D MEP César Luena, Commissioner for Agriculture Várhelyi confirmed that the European Commission intends to adopt a legislative proposal to phase out cages for farm animals by the end of 2026, but ruled out more stringent verification requirements for animal welfare labels. The answer addresses concerns over non-compliance with EU pig welfare directives and the stalled 'End the Cage Age' European Citizens' Initiative.
Responding to Luena's question about enforcement of Directives 98/58/EC and 2008/120/EC in intensive pig holdings, Várhelyi stressed that Member States bear primary responsibility for implementation and enforcement. He pointed to existing common requirements under Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and noted that the Commission conducts regular audits to verify Member State control systems. The EU Reference Centre on pig welfare provides publicly available guidance to support uniform application of the rules.
On the 'End the Cage Age' initiative, which gathered over 1.4 million signatures, Várhelyi reiterated the commitment made in the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food (COM/2025/75) to revise animal welfare legislation and phase out cages. He stated that work is progressing as planned and that a legislative proposal for the first sector(s) is expected by the end of 2026. This marks a concrete timeline for the long-awaited reform.
However, the Commissioner pushed back on calls for stricter verification and audit requirements for animal welfare labels to prevent greenwashing. He argued that Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 already prohibits misleading food information, and that Member State authorities are responsible for enforcing these rules through risk-based official controls. The Commission sees no need for additional EU-level measures on labelling verification.
The answer leaves a mixed picture for stakeholders. Animal welfare advocates and NGOs will welcome the confirmed timeline for the cage ban proposal, but will be disappointed by the refusal to tighten label oversight. Pig farmers and food producers face continued reliance on Member State enforcement, with no new EU audit burdens, but also no harmonised crackdown on misleading welfare claims. Consumers remain dependent on national authorities to police labels, potentially maintaining variation in protection across the EU. The Commission's approach balances its commitment to legislative action on cages with deference to Member State enforcement and existing consumer protection rules.