Document type: answer to a question published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française on the website of theAssemblée nationale
Authors: question : M. Pouria Amirshahi (Paris (5th district) - Écologiste et Social). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Question: M. Pouria Amirshahi questions Mme Minister for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty on the transition to cage-free farming in France. Thanks to the 2018 EGALIM law and Decree 2021-1647 of 2021, the construction and expansion of buildings for this type of farming are now prohibited. As a result, the proportion of hens raised in cages was reduced from 70% in 2015 to 27% by the end of 2023. The industry is aiming to bring this down to less than 10% by 2030. Many European countries have already put an end to cage farmimg: the Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Austria and Germany have all banned the practice, in a clear commitment to animal welfare. Meanwhile, a number of major retailers and caterers have pledged to stop using cage-produced eggs by 2025. Moreover, in response to the "End the Cage Age" citizens' initiative, signed by over 1.4 million European citizens, the European Commission has pledged to put forward an EU-wide ban on cages. This expectation is widely shared by French society, with 89% in favor. This transition can only be fully successful if farmers receive effective support. Many are still worried about the lack of visibility regarding the financial and technical aid to enable them to adapt their farms. He would therefore like to ask what measures the government intends to put in place, with what resources and within what timeframe, to guarantee the effective transition to cage-free farming in France, and to ensure that the European Commission keeps its commitment to ban this practice throughout the Union.
Answer: In an ever-changing world, animal welfare and climate issues have become major societal concerns in many countries. The "End the Cage Age" European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) called on the European Commission to bring forward legislation banning the use of farrowing crates and stalls for sows, cages for laying hens, rabbits and palmipeds, and calf crates. In its response to the European Citizens' Initiative, the Commission undertook to present, by the end of 2023, a legislative proposal to phase out and eventually ban the use of cage systems for all animals mentioned in the initiative. Improving animal welfare and combating animal abuse are priorities for the French government. There is a strong and growing societal expectation on the part of consumers and citizens on animal welfare issues, and this must be met. Improving animal welfare is a key factor for the future of the French and European livestock industries. France supports the Commission's proposal to determine the manner in which cages will be phased out, based on scientific advice and an impact analysis. Accordingly, on March 10, 2023, the Government initiated a preliminary consultation with stakeholders as part of the review announced by the European Commission of legislation on animal welfare and protection, with the aim of identifying points of convergence between the many players involved in animal protection in France, and promoting the French experience and particular features to European actors. Several principles underpin the government's action. First, one of the challenges is to preserve a level playing field. To this end, we are concentrating on two levers: support for European harmonization, and ensuring that animal welfare requirements within the European Union are matched by equivalent rules for animals whose products are imported. Second, transition has costs. These additional costs must be shared by all involved in the livestock industry, including distributors and consumers. Last, the government wishes to give sufficient advance visibility to operators, particularly to the next generation, so they can plan for the future and invest. With just under 27% of hens still farmed in cages, France is ahead of its European partners and well on the way to ending the use of cages. The poultry industry is also committed to this goal, with a target of 10% of hens still in cages by 2030. To this purpose, the French government is supporting a number of research projects, some of which are aimed at ending cage use. Investment aid schemes such as the Competitiveness and Adaptation Plan under the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy and the France Relance Plan offer support to farmers who plan to change their production methods from caged to free-range poultry. Generally speaking, investment aid is required to support farmers wishing to make the transition to cage-free farming, and government-sponsored work must help French farming to achieve the transition needed to meet society's expectations in terms of animal welfare and adaptation to climate change.
