Happenings
Malaysia Cage-Free Corporate Implementation Progress Forum & Industry Leadership Awards 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, 20 September 2025 – The Malaysia Cage-Free Corporate Implementation Progress Forum & Industry Leadership Awards 2025 marked a historic milestone in Malaysia’s transition toward humane and sustainable food systems, bringing together producers, corporates, policymakers, and advocates under one roof.
The event opened with a keynote address by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Animal Welfare Advocate and Former Member of Parliament, who launched the Malaysia Cage-Free Commitment Implementation Dashboard. The dashboard, the first of its kind in the region, will monitor and rate corporate implementation progress from one to five stars, creating accountability and momentum across the supply chain. Tan Sri also presented the Industry Producer Awards, recognizing pioneering farms setting the pace for better-welfare production. In his keynote, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye stressed that “future food choices are among better welfare producers to ensure sustainability,” underscoring that Malaysia’s leadership in humane production will shape consumer trust and regional trade opportunities.
The formal launch of the event was officiated by Dato’ Seri Norazman Bin Ayob, Deputy Secretary General (Policy), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who unveiled the Malaysia Cage-Free Pullets and Hens Production Guidelines. The guidelines serve as a crucial reference for producers to align with international welfare standards while positioning Malaysia as a leader in better welfare farming in this region. Dato’ Seri also presented the Industry Corporate Awards, honoring leading hospitality, retail, and food service groups for their pioneering commitments. “Future global trade is making way for better-welfare produce, and Malaysia must support better-welfare production as part of sustainable farming,” Dato’ Seri Norazman remarked, highlighting the government’s vision for better welfare farming as a part of food security and export competitiveness.
Producers celebrated for their commitment to better-welfare egg production included TC Poultry, Liang Kee, Huat Lai, N&N Agriculture (Singapore), and Fresh Food Goodness (India), alongside several small producers. In addition, six outstanding cage-free brands—Telokia, Genki, TC Cage-Free Pasteurised Eggs, JS Cage-Free Eggs, Betagro, and Uncle Rani Chicken were honored with producer awards for their exemplary efforts in advancing better welfare farming standards.
Corporate champions awarded for advancing cage-free sourcing and implementing movers included W Hotel, Mandarin Oriental KL, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Grand Hyatt KL, Farm Café, and Melia Kuala Lumpur, with recognition also extended to others driving change across the sector. New cage free commitments were received from Sunshine Kid, Impiana KL, Traders Hotel, Okd Town White Coffee, MYDIN and Beacon Mart, while distributor awards were presented to SunSpectrum and AJMC. In the equipment category, Vencomatic and Big Dutchman were honored for advancing cage-free infrastructure in Malaysia and the wider region and Agri Biz World received a special award for exemplary better-welfare journalism
A significant highlight was the announcement of a new cage-free commitment by SunShine, which pledged to nurture better-welfare production values among young minds and to transition to 100% usage of cage-free eggs across all its centres by 2028. This bold commitment reflects the growing influence of consumer awareness and corporate responsibility in shaping the future of Malaysia’s better welfare food system.
The Producer Forum featured voices from Liang Kee, TC Poultry, the Malaysia Cage-Free Egg Producers Organisation (MCFEPO), and the Cooperative movement, highlighting practical pathways and challenges in transitioning to cage-free systems. The Corporate Forum brought insights from the Executive Chef of KLCC, the Executive Chef of W Hotel, ESG experts, Farm Café, and others, emphasizing the critical role of corporate buyers in driving better welfare supply chains.
Two significant Memorandums of Understanding were signed during the event. The first was the establishment of the Malaysia Centre of Excellence for Cage-Free Production, a collaboration between Humane World for Animals, TC Poultry, and the Malaysia Cage-Free Egg Producers Organisation (MCFEPO), witnessed by Dato’ Seri Norazman. The second was a smallholder in-situ training collaboration between MCFEPO and the Axon Foundation, witnessed by Dr. Saravanakumar S. Pillai, Senior Principal for Policy & Engagement, Humane World for Animals.
Dr. Saravanakumar S.Pillai emphasized the urgency of collective action, noting that “Malaysia is moving from commitments to concrete implementation. The leadership shown today by producers, corporates, and policymakers is shaping a new standard for food systems one that is better welfare, sustainable, and future-ready.” MCFEPO Elect Chairman Meor Ezree Syazrin bin Meor Abdul Ghani added that “our producers are committed to aligning with better-welfare practices. With clear guidelines, corporate demand, and government support, we are building an ecosystem where farmers thrive and consumers trust the eggs they buy.”
This landmark event underscores Malaysia’s determination to be at the forefront of better welfare farming in Asia, ensuring that better-welfare production is not only a consumer choice but a national standard.