Fur Free Day: Mushika Foundation Joins End the Cage Age

Fur-Free Day

Fur-Free Day, observed on November 25, is a yearly reminder that animal suffering in the name of fashion must come to an end, and this change is truly happening. Across Europe, more and more countries are phasing out fur farming, while social, scientific, and ethical pressure continues to grow. In Poland, the pace of change is also accelerating, and we want to be part of it.

That is why the Mushika Foundation has joined the international End the Cage Age coalition, a movement working toward the complete elimination of cages in farm animal agriculture. This is another step in our mission to build a world where respect knows no species, and where animals, including those who remain invisible in everyday life, have the right to live without unnecessary suffering.

Why End the Cage Age?

End the Cage Age emerged from a European Citizens’ Initiative launched in 2018 by Compassion in World Farming. Its goal was to introduce legislation banning the use of cages in farm animal production across the entire European Union. More than 170 organizations quickly united around the initiative, forming a powerful social movement fighting to end the era of cages in animal farming. Behind this movement are people. Over 1.4 million EU citizens supported its demands. The initiative was officially submitted to the European Commission on October 2, 2020.

Thus, the End the Cage Age movement was born, aiming to create a world in which laying hens, rabbits, calves, sows, ducks, geese, and all other farm animals are no longer kept in cages.

Nearly One and a Half Million Signatures

The task of the coalition is to combine the strength of many organizations, their knowledge, experience, and voices, so that this goal becomes a real systemic change rather than just an aspiration. The movement has achieved breakthrough successes. More than 1.4 million verified signatures were collected for the European Citizens’ Initiative. In 2021, the European Commission committed to phasing out cages. In 2024, a complaint was filed with the Court of Justice of the European Union over delays in implementing these commitments, maintaining strong political and institutional pressure. This makes End the Cage Age one of the most visible social movements for improving animal welfare in the history of the European Union.

Caged Farming Conditions – Why Must This Change?

According to an EU animal welfare report prepared by Compassion in World Farming, hundreds of millions of animals are still kept in cage systems that prevent them from fulfilling even their most basic species-specific needs. Cages mean a lack of free movement, no space to turn around, stretch wings, or move freely, chronic stress and injuries, stereotypies understood as repetitive and unnatural behaviors indicating suffering, as well as isolation and sensory deprivation. Animals are cut off from stimuli necessary for normal functioning. They cannot explore, forage, play, build nests, or perform behaviors typical of their species.

The EU directive on the protection of farm animals already states that restriction of freedom of movement must not cause unnecessary suffering. In practice, however, cage systems clearly fail to meet this requirement. That is why we need not a cosmetic change, but a systemic one.

End the Cage Age Goals for 2026

The End the Cage Age coalition has clearly defined its updated goals for the coming years. By the end of 2026, it seeks to ensure that the European Commission presents draft legislation introducing a ban on the use of cages for laying hens, breeding hens, sows, calves, rabbits, ducks and geese, and other farm animals kept in cages. The transition is to take place with reasonable transition periods defined individually for each species.

The coalition also calls for a requirement that all products imported into the European Union meet the new cage-free standards. This is essential so that European producers are not disadvantaged by products from outside the EU that are produced under lower welfare standards. Another goal is to establish a system of financial support and incentives for European farmers during the transition, ensuring that the shift to cage-free farming is fair, feasible, and supportive rather than burdensome. The coalition also works to ensure that new regulations pass smoothly through the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Why Did the Mushika Foundation Join End the Cage Age?

We believe that animal welfare is a cornerstone of a responsible society. We know that cages, whether on fur farms or in industrial agriculture, are a symbol of outdated practices that must be replaced with modern, ethical, and safe solutions. Joining End the Cage Age is a natural extension of our mission to speak up for animals who remain invisible, to challenge systems built on suffering, and to act at the European level, where decisions can be made to end the era of cages once and for all.

Poland: Time to End Fur Farming

Fur-Free Day is also a good moment to recall the situation in Poland. We are still waiting for a statutory ban on fur animal farming, a solution that enjoys public support and has already been introduced in much of Europe.

The Mushika Foundation has submitted an official position to the President of the Republic of Poland supporting the draft law banning fur farming. This is a clear message that we want real change, not merely declarative promises.

What’s Next?

As members of the End the Cage Age coalition, we will support European campaign activities, take part in advocacy efforts, share knowledge and analyses, and support the transformation of agriculture toward cage-free solutions. The era of cages, both in fur farming and in industrial animal agriculture, should become history, and we are consistently working together with other organizations to make that happen.

The Mushika Foundation has supported the dynamically operating organization Open Cages with a donation of 100,000 PLN. This organization has for years been fighting to improve the living conditions of farm animals and to bring about real change across the entire industry, both in Poland and internationally.

The Bulgarian organization Nevidimi Zhivotni, also known as Invisible Animals, working to protect animals, has also received support from the Mushika Foundation. We donated 15,000 euros for a campaign.