The Government has confirmed it will launch a public consultation as early as January 2026 on proposals to phase out cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers.
In a written ministerial statement published earlier this week by Emma Reynolds, the Defra secretary of state set out the first tranche of planned animal welfare reforms under the new Animal Welfare Strategy for England. That strategy includes a commitment to consult on moving away from “confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens”.
Reynolds described the Government’s strategy as the start of “the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation,” with a broader timetable aiming to improve standards for all farmed animals by 2030. The statement also indicated that other consultations on livestock practices, such as farrowing crates for pigs and lamb welfare procedures, will follow later in the year, but did not yet provide firm dates for those.
Defra officials emphasise that the outcome of the consultation will inform future legislation and industry transition plans, with policymakers promising engagement with producers across the sector.