Luckily, we are not the only ones to care. Things have already started to move forward, particularly in Europe, where both public sentiment and animal welfare groups have campaigned to ban unethical practices such as chick culling.
But what led to the current wave of legislation banning chick culling?
Let’s take a closer look at the legislative milestones across Europe and how technology is playing a critical role in reshaping the future of the poultry industry.
The scale of the problem
As a little refresher if you are new here: Every year, 6.5 billion male chicks are culled, of which 300 million are in the European Union. Traditionally, male chicks are culled shortly after hatching because they do not contribute to egg production, and raising them for meat is economically unviable. This practice has been widespread in the poultry industry for decades, but as animal welfare concerns gained more attention, the practice came under intense scrutiny. The culling process, often done through maceration or gas, has been deemed ethically unacceptable by many, leading to clear calls for change.
Germany: The pioneers
Germany became the first country to ban chick culling, marking a turning point in the global conversation about animal welfare. In 2013, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia issued a decree prohibiting hatcheries from culling male chicks. This move sparked a legal battle against two hatcheries in the area. The debate eventually reached the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Germany’s Federal Administrative Court) in Leipzig. In 2019, the court ruled that culling male chicks solely based on their gender was incompatible with animal welfare laws, setting a clear legal precedent.
“This is unfortunately in practice everywhere in the world. But I do not consider this to be ethically acceptable,” said Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner, who proposed the bill. “Therefore, we will be the first country to ban chick culling by law.”
However, the court allowed hatcheries to continue culling temporarily until alternatives, such as in-ovo sexing, became widely available. The final decision, implemented in January 2022, definitely bans chick culling and requires hatcheries to use more humane alternatives like in-ovo sexing, dual-purpose chickens, or raising the males.
The law also restricted the use of sex determination procedures in hatching eggs as follows: from January 1, 2024, it was prohibited to stop incubating male embryos using sex determination from the 7th day of incubation (out of 21 days). This regulation was based on the scientific findings on the sensation of pain in chicken embryos. According to more recent scientific knowledge, the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection concluded that the feeling of pain in chicken embryos cannot be ruled out until the 13th day of incubation and adjusted the ban accordingly.
Driving Forces Behind the Legislation:
- Public Pressure: Germany’s strong animal welfare movement, combined with public opinion, created a fertile environment for legislative action.
- Technological Innovation: The development of in-ovo sexing technologies made it possible to determine the sex of a chick before hatching, thus bypassing the need for culling.
- Government Support: The German government actively supported research and innovation to ensure that hatcheries could transition to these new methods efficiently.
France: Following in Germany’s footsteps
Shortly after Germany’s legislative success, France became the second country to introduce a ban on chick culling.
“The year 2022 will be the year of the end of the grinding and gassing of male chicks. France will thus be the first country in the world, along with Germany, to end the elimination of male chicks. This is a long-awaited step forward that we are implementing today,” announced Julien Denormandie, Minister of Agriculture and Food.
France’s ban went into effect at the start of 2023 requiring all hatcheries to adopt in-ovo sexing technologies, but egg producers received permission to continue culling male chicks from white chicken eggs, estimated at around 10% of all male chicks. Additionally, male chicks resulting from inaccuracies by in-ovo sexing methods can also be culled, contrary to German law, where these chicks have to be reared.
Key Drivers in France:
- Public Advocacy: Much like Germany, France saw increasing pressure from animal welfare groups and the public to address the ethical issues surrounding chick culling.
- Industry Collaboration: The French government worked closely with the poultry sector to ensure that the transition to in ovo sexing would be smooth and allow a fair distribution of costs throughout the chain.
- European Level: It is thanks to the commitment from all stakeholders at the European level, that the practice of killing male chicks can be put to an end as quickly as possible. The French and German ministers presented a joint communication at the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and invited the European Commission to support this approach, as well as the Member States that wish to do so to join in.
France’s legislation further strengthened the wave for Europe-wide changes, signalling that chick culling was on its way out as an accepted practice.
Italy: Preparing for change by 2027
Italy is also moving towards banning chick culling, though its timeline is a bit further down the road. In 2020, Animal Equality Italia launched a campaign signed by more than 110,000 people asking the government and industry to put an end to the practice. Thanks to this work, the trade association of egg producers, Assoavi, declared itself in favour of the introduction of in-ovo sexing technologies in Italy.
The amendment was presented by the MP Francesca Galizia, group leader of the MoVimento 5 Stelle (The Five Star Movement) in the EU Policies Committee, and had the support of many other political forces.
On the 2nd of August 2022, the Italian Chamber of Deputies definitively approved an end to the slaughter of male chicks – a law that will come into play by late 2026 – marking a historic milestone in animal welfare legislation in Italy.
“This is very important news for animals in Italy and is truly historic. We are very happy that Parliament has finally approved this amendment that regulates one of the most controversial aspects of the egg production industry. Animals are sentient beings that can no longer just be considered industrial waste […]”
Alice Trombetta, Executive Director, Animal Equality Italy
Why 2027?
- Gradual Transition: Italy has opted for a more gradual approach, allowing hatcheries and the industry time to invest in and adopt in-ovo sexing technologies. The five-year timeline ensures that businesses can make the necessary changes without significant disruption.
- Technological Preparedness: The extension to 2026 was seen as a pragmatic move to ensure that producers, especially smaller hatcheries, could gradually phase in in ovo sexing without significant economic disruption. This approach mirrors Italy’s broader focus on gradual transitions to more sustainable practices in agriculture.
While Italy’s transition is taking longer, the focus now is on supporting and accelerating the implementation of in-ovo sexing technologies, ensuring that the transition is smooth and effective.
What’s next?
As more countries introduce legislation banning chick culling, the pressure will likely build for an EU-wide approach. With the success of Germany and France and the planned ban in Italy, there’s growing momentum for the European Union to adopt comprehensive regulations that eliminate chick culling across all member states.
If the goal is to stop chick culling, then legislative action and technological innovation are of key importance. In fact, none of these legislative changes would be feasible without the rapid development of in-ovo sexing technologies offering a scalable solution to the problem.
As a final note, we care to highlight that in-ovo sexing is not just about compliance with new laws – it’s about creating a more sustainable and humane future for poultry farming. With the support of technology, the industry can meet both ethical and economic demands, benefiting farmers, consumers, and animals alike.