A new EU-wide survey shows that 81% of Swedes want the EU to be cage-free by 2035. Only 4% of Swedes would accept the cage lobby’s plan to keep hens in cages until 2045. Project 1882 is working alongside animal welfare organisations across Europe to secure a ban on cages in the EU.

World Octopus Day is celebrated every year on 8 October. Although plans for the world’s first commercial octopus farm in the Canary Islands have been abandoned, Project 1882 continues to call for a ban on octopus farming throughout the EU.

A new investigation reveals that the chicken meat industry is dominated by large companies, which controls the whole system. The individual factory farms have little bargaining power, despite carrying the financial risk. This stands in stark contrast with the ambitions of the EU’s Vision on the Future of Agriculture and Food – and increases animal suffering.

Phasing out the EU’s fur industry would cost considerably less than introducing new animal welfare regulations. This is shown in a new report which highlights Sweden as a leading example.

In a letter to the Swedish Government, Project 1882 urges the ministry to advance the important work being done in the EU to end the cruel transport of live animals.

A new European Citizens’ Initiative aims to strengthen the protection of stray dogs and cats, as well as animals living in shelters. The initiative calls on the European Commission to introduce measures that improve animal welfare and reduce suffering for vulnerable animals, both within and outside the EU.

Imports of goods from Russia have been partially halted by the EU following the invasion of Ukraine. However, an exemption was introduced over the summer – for Russian sable fur. At the same time, funds linked to Russia have been found within the fur industry’s EU lobby. Project 1882 believes this highlights the need for a clear ban on fur imports.

An open international letter calls on the European Commission to propose a cage ban in 2026. Among those who have signed the letter are Project 1882 and animal welfare experts and researchers in Sweden.

Project 1882's new photos and videos from Finnish fur farms show that monster foxes are still being bred in the fur industry. The material is being released as the European Commission considers the future of fur farming in the EU.

The European Commission has published a Roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The urgency of this major undertaking is underscored by distributed visual materials showing the harsh conditions animals are subjected to during routine toxicity testing. Project 1882 welcomes the initiative but warns that important gaps remain.

Plans to build the world's first commercial octopus factory farm on Gran Canaria, Spain, have now officially been abandoned. The decision comes after years of pressure from Project 1882, alongside scientists, experts, and other animal welfare organisations. This marks a significant progress for animal welfare and means that up to one million octopuses a year will be spared from being bred and killed in industrial production.

On 7 July, the European Commission presented two major initiatives: the new “Livestock Strategy” and the “Protein Action Plan”. Together, they set the direction for the future of Europe’s food system – with major implications for animals, the climate and how our food is produced. There is now an indicative timeline for phasing out of cages in the EU including an import ban on cage eggs.

A major step forward for hens in Ukraine: McDonald’s Ukraine has announced that it is now 100% cage-free following discussions with Project 1882. The commitment means that all eggs used across McDonald’s more than 120 restaurants in Ukraine now come from cage-free systems instead of hens confined in cages. It is a significant milestone in a country where around 98% of the egg-laying hens are still kept in cages.

The European Commission is stepping back from plans to revise the REACH chemicals legislation. According to Project 1882, the decision could slow progress toward a future without animal testing, but it may also create an opportunity for a faster phase-out.

In a letter signed by eleven leading animal rights and animal welfare organisations, the Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs is urged to safeguard animal welfare. This is to be achieved through a ban on cages and fur farming.

Over 190,000 responses were collected in the EU's open consultation. The responses send a powerful signal that current EU legislation is inadequate and that citizens want to see comprehensive reforms to improve conditions for animals in factory farms.

Today, on 5 March, a hearing was held at the Court of Justice of the European Union. The case concerns the European Commission’s failure to act on its clear promise to phase out the use of cages in the food system, as requested by the successful European Citizens’ Initiative End the Cage Age. Project 1882 welcomes the legal proceedings and was present in Luxembourg for today’s hearing.

This week, Europe’s largest fur producer Poland banned fur farming. For the first time ever, Fur Free Friday took place in a Sweden free from fur farms, and an EU-wide ban on fur farming was debated in the European Parliament. A Fur Free Europe is getting closer.

Project 1882 has submitted our response to the European Commission’s call for evidence for the review of the EU animal welfare legislation. This is an opportunity to improve the lives of billions of animals in Europe’s factory farms and to possibly impact globally through new import regulations. Project 1882 calls for the revised legislation to ban cages, phase out Frankenchickens, establish strong welfare regulations for aquatic animals, and guarantee all farm animals the right to outdoor access.

Switzerland introduces mandatory animal welfare labeling to provide consumers with clearer information about whether animals have been subjected to certain types of suffering during rearing and slaughter. The labeling could guide the way for a European animal welfare label.