Have your say: Help end cage animal farming in the EU 

While the New Zealand Government is moving to weaken our animal welfare laws and keep cruel cage farming practices in place, the European Union (EU) is heading in the opposite direction. The European Commission is now seeking public input on reforms to strengthen on-farm welfare – including proposals to phase out the use of cages altogether. 

The European Commission has launched a public survey that is now open to everyone, including Kiwis, but it closes on 12 December 2025, giving us a short but crucial opportunity to speak up. 

Why should we take part in animal-welfare reforms for another continent? Because our voices can help shape the future for more than 300 million animals still confined in cages across the EU each year. And just as importantly, when influential nations and key trading partners raise the bar for animal welfare, it puts real pressure on New Zealand to lift its standards too. By speaking up, we’re not only helping animals overseas – we’re helping drive the change desperately needed here at home. 

The survey will ask for your views on a range of issues – including whether certain farming systems prevent animals from expressing normal behaviours, whether EU rules should better reflect society’s expectations for the treatment of farmed animals (such as phasing out cages), and whether the routine killing of male chicks in the egg industry is ethically unacceptable. 

Don’t worry if you’re unsure about some questions – it’s completely fine to mark ‘No opinion/don’t know’ for those. Every submission still makes a difference. 

How to make a submission 

We’ll be upfront – the survey isn’t the easiest. It’s a bit clunky, it takes around 30 minutes to complete, and you’ll need to create an account on the European Commission’s website. However, every submission counts, and your voice could help influence a major step forward for animals enduring unimaginable suffering. 

1. Register with the European Commission website for public consultations. 

• Enter your name and email address to create an account. 

• You will see a notice that says, “Thank you for registering, you will receive an email allowing you to complete the registration process.” 

• When you receive the email, click on the link to create a password. 

• Keep the password safe for the next step. 

1. Go to the survey on the European Commission website. 

• Click on the link “Respond to this questionnaire”. 

• Enter your email address and password. 

• Choose an option under “Choose your verification method“. If you don’t know what this means, choose “Password” from the drop down menu. 

• Fill in the survey.