On 8 July 2025, the European Commission officially registered a new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Good Food for All. An initiative to push the EU to adopt bold, systemic changes to its food system: from protecting small-scale farmers and tackling food poverty to boosting sustainability, public health and animal welfare.
We contributed directly to the Initiative’s key demands, including:
- Strengthening the welfare of farmed animals by phasing out cruel practices, including the asks of the End the Cage Age ECI, and introducing concrete measures to reduce the production and consumption of industrial animal products.
- Promoting healthy and sustainable diets, supporting greater consumption of fruits and vegetables.
What is an ECI?
The European Citizens’ Initiative is the EU’s main tool for direct participatory democracy. It allows citizens from across the Union to come together and formally request legislative action on issues within the EU’s competence.
The collection of 1 million validated signatures across at least seven EU countries is expected to begin in January 2026. If successful, the European Commission will be legally required to respond and the European Parliament may hold a public hearing.
Only a handful of ECIs have ever succeeded. Among them is the End the Cage Age ECI, signed by 1.4 million Europeans. In response, the Commission committed in 2021 to ban cages for farmed animals. Despite this, the legislative follow-up remains delayed and uncertain, illustrating the gap between citizen mobilization and political delivery.
This new ECI Good Food for All builds on that momentum, but with a broader, systemic vision. It is not only about banning harmful practices, but about re-imagining EU food policy: prioritizing equity, health, environmental responsibility and the well-being of animals.
Why It Matters
At a time when public trust in the EU institutions is being tested, and when political space for animal welfare and food transition is threatened, democratic tools, such as the EC, are more important than ever. They give citizens a direct voice and a way to hold policymakers accountable to the values embraced by European citizens.
The future of food must be democratic, plant-rich and fair to animals. We stand behind this Initiative with enthusiasm and will work actively to support its success in 2026 and beyond.