POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta – The government has officially issued Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) Number 32 of 2025 concerning the Implementation of Animal Welfare (Kesrawan). This regulation serves as a vital legal framework for adopting livestock management practices oriented toward animal welfare principles, including the development of cage-free egg production systems.

The Director of Veterinary Public Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, I Ketut Wiratha, stated that the increasing demand for food must be balanced with livestock production systems that are not only efficient but also uphold ethical and sustainability principles. According to him, the implementation of animal welfare is closely linked to livestock productivity, food safety, and consumer trust.

“Animal welfare is not just a moral issue; it is a critical part of maintaining food quality and the sustainability of the livestock sector. This is also in line with Indonesia’s commitment within the One Health framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Ketut said during an online event on Wednesday (Dec 31, 2025).

He added that growing public awareness regarding the ethical treatment of animals demands continuous education and supervision throughout the food production chain. Consumers are becoming increasingly critical of how animals are raised and produced.

Following the issuance of the regulation, the government will draft technical guidelines for animal welfare certification and prepare the necessary human resources. The certification is planned to be carried out by local governments through departments responsible for livestock and animal health.

“One of our future focuses is preparing animal welfare auditors in various regions. This way, socialization and certification can be carried out more massively and effectively. This certification is expected to open new market opportunities and increase the competitiveness of national livestock products, particularly cage-free eggs, in both domestic and global markets,” he explained.

Previously, the Lead of the Animal Welfare Implementation Team at the Directorate of Veterinary Public Health, drh. Septa Walyani, M.Si., emphasized the importance of the cage-free system as it allows laying hens to express natural behaviors, a key indicator of animal welfare.

“Various studies show that cage-free housing systems can reduce stress levels and disease risks in laying hens. Consequently, antibiotic use can be suppressed, contributing to efforts to prevent antimicrobial resistance,” Septa stated in Jakarta on Thursday (Dec 11, 2025).

This aligns with findings from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which stated that the risk of Salmonella is higher in battery cage systems compared to cage-free systems. Based on an analysis of approximately 5,000 farms across 24 countries, EFSA noted that Salmonella contamination levels in cage-free farms can be up to 25 times lower for certain strains compared to conventional systems.

Responding to the regulation, Sustainable Poultry Program Manager at Lever Foundation, Sandi Dwiyanto, appreciated the government’s step, which he considers to be in line with global dynamics. He believes this regulation sends a strong signal to businesses that animal welfare issues are increasingly integrated with market demands.

“In recent years, the commitment of global food companies to using cage-free eggs has increased significantly. This regulation provides direction and certainty for a more structured transition in Indonesia, while strengthening Indonesia’s position in meeting global market expectations,” he said.

This trend is reinforced by a consumer survey conducted by Lever Foundation and GMO Research in July 2025. The survey showed that 72% of respondents believe hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and food companies should only use cage-free eggs in their supply chains. Furthermore, 71% of respondents expressed a willingness to pay more—ranging from 10–40%—for cage-free eggs.

In a restaurant context, 72% of respondents were willing to pay more for menu items using cage-free eggs, with an acceptable price increase ranging from 5–20% per serving.

In line with this trend, an increasing number of food companies and global hotel chains in Indonesia have committed to using cage-free eggs, including KFC, Burger King, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Nestlé, Hyatt, Marriott, The Peninsula Hotels, and the Aman Group. Swiss-Belhotel International Indonesia has also announced a commitment to transition fully to cage-free eggs across its 91 hotel locations.

In addition to multinational corporations, several Indonesia-based businesses such as Superindo, Ismaya Group, Bali Buda, and Jiwa Jawi have also begun implementing or are in the process of transitioning to cage-free egg policies.