Sweden eliminates cages in egg production

Photo of Dani Millington in Unsplash

Last month, Sweden became the first country in the world to guarantee 100% cage-free egg production, thanks to a joint commitment from consumers, the private sector, and animal welfare organizations, without the need for a law imposing this ban.

A historic achievement without legislative intervention

The change was driven by sustained pressure from groups such as Project 1882 and Djurens Rätt, which have promoted campaigns, business dialogues, and public awareness since the 2000s. In 2025, it was confirmed that no laying hens live in cages in Sweden.

Since 2008, more than 85 companies, including supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants, have stopped selling eggs from caged hens, freeing more than 17 million birds.

Well-being versus health: challenges of the transition

Although animal welfare improved with the elimination of confinement, the change posed new challenges. Studies from 2001-2004 revealed that hens raised in floor or outdoor systems faced increased risks of diseases such as colibacillosis, coccidiosis, and parasites, and instances of bird-to-bird pecking—a phenomenon known as cannibalism—were more frequent during the transition.

However, researchers agree that good management, biosecurity, vaccination, and staff training are key to reversing these problems.

Sweden as a global model

Sweden is positioning itself as an international benchmark. It has voluntarily eliminated cages, without a legal prohibition, and has used public procurement to encourage change: more than a quarter of municipalities already exclude caged eggs from their purchases.

Animal rights organizations are now urging a definitive legal ban to prevent setbacks, as part of the European-led "End the Cage Age" initiative.

Lessons for other countries

The Swedish case offers three key lessons:

1. Constant dialogue between civil society and the business sector can overcome the need for laws.
2. Infrastructure renewal It was the perfect opportunity to adopt more humane systems.
3. Sweden shows that implementing a sustainable and profitable model focused on animal welfare is feasible, despite health challenges.

The next political step

Now, Swedish organizations such as Project 1882 and the Animal Equality coalition are calling on their government to pass a law that definitively bans cages and extends improvements to meat chickens, ensuring that progress is not reversed in the future.

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Sources:

• Infobae