High-profile global campaigns led by animal welfare NGOs throughout the mid to late 2000s sought to eliminate caged-hen egg production.

In Brazil and China two of the world's largest egg producers, much of the industry is made up of small- and medium-scale family farms. Often with limited access to training, technical support, and investments needed to successfully transition to cage-free production, there is a risk that the animal welfare benefits of cage-free systems, may not be fully realised. Transitions can also create economic and social pressures for farmers, with European experience suggesting that developing the skills and management practices required can take up to 10 years.