Document type: article published in The Nordic Times
Author: the editorial team
Preview According to Animal Rights Sweden (Djurens Rätt), Sweden is now completely free from caged hens - despite the absence of a legal ban. This is shown by statistics compiled by the animal rights organization from Swedish county administrative boards and the egg industry. The organization describes it as a breakthrough after more than 50 years of work against cage farming and claims a significant part of the credit for this development. (...)According to the organization, Sweden is the first country in the world to eliminate caged hen farming without an explicit legal prohibition.
"Advocacy work makes a difference"
Opposition to cage farming began in the 1970s. In 1988, the Swedish Parliament decided to ban cages, but when the ten-year transition period expired, cage farming remained - and the law was changed. According to Animal Rights Sweden, this led to an intensification of their work.The organization highlights reports such as "The Hen or the Egg" (2009) and "Release the Cages" (2022), along with recurring information campaigns and corporate dialogues. Another important step was the "Animal-Friendly Municipality" initiative, where all Swedish municipalities eventually opted out of caged eggs in public procurement.Since 2008, over 85 companies in Sweden - including grocery chains, hotels, and restaurants - have rejected cage farming after discussions with the organization. According to Animal Rights Sweden, this has been crucial for the development. They estimate that at least 17 million hens have avoided a life in cages since then. (...)
"Sweden must take the next step "
In parallel, Animal Rights Sweden has been involved in the EU's work to phase out cage farming. The organization has collected over 50,000 signatures for the European Citizens' Initiative "End the Cage Age". A legislative proposal was expected in 2023 but has been postponed to 2026.Even though cages are practically gone in Sweden, Animal Rights Sweden argues that the work is not finished. - We have seen fantastic development, but now Sweden must take the next step. Animal Rights Sweden demands an immediate legal ban on cage farming. There's nothing to wait for now, urges Benny Andersson. Despite the empty cages, many critics argue that Swedish hens still live under substandard conditions - for example, in crowded barns with thousands of individuals, where access to outdoor areas is often completely lacking.
