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As the fulfilment of cage-free commitments potentially stimulates the growth of cage-free production, it is important to understand the factors influencing corporates\u2019 implementation. Drawing on seven semi-structured interviews with representatives from international food businesses and certification bodies operating in China, this study explores the enablers and challenges to implementing 2025 cage-free egg commitments and the role of certification schemes in supporting supply chain transitions. The findings show that access to cage-free certification schemes has supported the development of cage-free egg production and procurement. However, limited traceability and the absence of government regulation on animal welfare and product labelling remain challenges. Key enablers identified include the establishment of cage-free commitments, internal alignment and organisational buy-in, and phased implementation strategies. Despite this, major constraints persist, including high procurement costs, the complexity of transitioning multi-tier supply chains, and concerns about supply stability and continuity. While long-term interventions, such as policy development, producer capacity building, and consumer education, are essential, short-term market-based mechanisms, particularly the cage-free egg credits scheme, may offer a practical interim solution. These schemes can help companies fulfil their commitments and provide financial incentives for producers, thereby accelerating the transition to cage-free production and advancing animal welfare in China.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1017\/awf.2026.10094","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T05:19:22Z","timestamp":1784092762000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Implementing cage-free egg commitments in China: An explorative qualitative interview study of corporate and certification perspectives on cage-free egg procurement"],"prefix":"10.1017","volume":"35","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8394-0644","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Qing","family":"Yang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01nrxwf90","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"The University of Edinburgh Royal Dick School of Veterinary 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