ROME—The Italian members of the “End the Cage Age” coalition, including Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly called Humane Society International) are calling on the Italian Government to support an amendment to the 2026 Italian Budget Law, that would create a fund to support the transition to cage-free animal farming systems. The amendment is sponsored by Senator Domenica Spinelli (FDI).
The proposed fund would help farmers gradually phase out cages for confining farmed animals—an outdated system that fails to meet basic animal welfare standards—in favor of housing that better respects animals’ behavioral needs. The plan allocates €3 million for 2026 and €5 million annually starting in 2027. Currently more than 40 million farmed animals in Italy are confined in cages, restricting their freedom to move or engage in natural behaviors.
“For years, we have been working towards a cage-free Europe and Italy,” the coalition’s members said. “This is a major opportunity to move in the right direction. After years of dialogue, Italy can take a historic step towards more welfare-friendly animal farming.”
The initiative builds on the momentum created by Bill AS. 1633, which also proposes a dedicated fund for cage-free animal farming. The bill, sponsored by Senator Stefano Patuanelli (M5S), has garnered cross-party support from Senators Michaela Biancofiore (Noi Moderati), Ilaria Cucchi (AVS), Simona Malpezzi (PD), Domenica Spinelli (FDI), Julia Unterberger (SVP/for the Autonomies) and Manfredi Potenti (Lega)—a clear sign of growing institutional commitment to animal welfare.
At a time when Europe is debating the revision of animal welfare legislation, approving this fund would position Italy as a leader, ahead of EU-wide changes anticipated from Brussels. Back in 2020, the European Citizens’ Initiative of the same name—the first successful initiative for farmed animal welfare—collected 1.4 million validated signatures, prompting the European Commission in 2021 to support the phase-out of cage systems across EU farms.
“As the most recent Eurobarometer shows, the vast majority of Italian citizens strongly demand improved living conditions for farmed animals and support measures that promote better welfare. This public demand must be translated into concrete political action,” the coalition stated.
A targeted economic intervention, such as the one proposed by the cage-free fund, represents not only a political and financial acknowledgment of the need to promote the sector’s transition, but also an investment in innovation, sustainability and competitiveness to improve the Italian animal farming sector.
“We hope that the Government and Parliament will seize this opportunity,” the organizations concluded, “to make Italy the first European country to actively support the transition of animal farming towards a cage-free model.”
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The Italian End the Cage Age coalition comprises: Amici della Terra, Animal Aid, Animal Equality Italia, ALI – Animal Law Italia, Animalisti Italiani, CIWF Italia, Confconsumatori, ENPA, Essere Animali, Humane World for Animals Italia, Il Fatto Alimentare, Jane Goodall Institute Italia, LAC – Lega per l’Abolizione della Caccia, LAV, Legambiente, LEIDAA, LNDC Animal Protection, LUMEN, OIPA, Partito Animalista, Terra Nuova, and Terra! Onlus.