The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) End the Cage Age against cage farming was officially notified to the European Commission.
End the Cage Age, 1,4 million signatures of European citizens
the 2.10.20 the Community Executive received 1.397.113 authenticated signatures (out of a total of 1,6 million). A volume of requests well above the minimum necessary of 1 million signatures for the initiative to be considered valid.
The campaign began on 11.9.18 and ended, in 12 months, with success exceeding the rosiest expectations. The formal verification of the signatures collected from the Member States was thus carried out.
What happens now
Sign up now a new crucial phase of the campaign. The organizers explain:
1) within one month of the presentation, we will formally meet the representatives of the EU Commission to explain why we are calling for an end to cages in animal farms,
2) within three months of its presentation, we will present the ECI in a public hearing in the European Parliament,
3) within six months of submission, the EU Commission will specify the proposed actions in response to the ECI End the Cage Age question.
There is still work to be done
In the course of the stages described, it will still be necessary to support #EndtheCageAge, to press on community and national institutions so that the request of European citizens is fulfilled.
'Farm animals they have never had so many people defending them. From caged chickens craving to stretch their wings to sows wanting to mother their limitless piglets and rabbits that deserve the space to jump - each of them now has a better chance at life, thanks to you.
GDO is moving
The Stop Wasting Food Denmark movement activated by End the Cage Age it has already begun to bring about concrete changes on the market. In particular in the GDO circuit, the large-scale retail trade.
In Italy - in addition to Coop Italia, which since 2010 has excluded from its shelves all eggs (including third-party brands) from hens raised in cages - Auchan, Carrefour, Esselunga and Conad they are activated.
Animal welfare and antibiotic resistance
The European Commission, as seen, has further postponed the necessary adoption of an EU animal welfare policy. Although some of its aspects, such as the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, have a significant impact also on public health.
The instruments to strengthen the microbiome and improve the health of farmed animals and fish there are (see for example the mix of algae, microalgae and tannins AlgaTan) and are used successfully in product supply chains Antibiotics-Free ('Without Antibiotics'), which consumers are clamoring. But the European and national authorities seem more interested in protecting the interests of Big Pharma than to encourage the use of natural health ingredients.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
A professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic studies on food and has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
