Nearly 50 million male chicks were culled each year in the egg industry.
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As of January 1, 2023, no more male chicks intended for the production of shell eggs will be eliminated in accordance with the commitments made.
It is the announced end of the shredding of male chicks in the laying hen sector which is materializing thanks to the support of the State in favor of innovation in hatcheries and professional solidarity in terms of financing.
The French egg sector is the first in the world, along with Germany, to put an end to this practice.
On the occasion of the professional information day of the CNPO (National Committee for the Promotion of Eggs) this Wednesday, November 9, Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty reaffirmed the commitment of the State, alongside the industry, to implement this ban by January 1.
Since the publication of the decree on February 5, the ministry has worked with the CNPO to identify and deploy technical and financial solutions to support professionals in this major transition.
Thus, the hatcheries have made significant investments in record time and the installation of the necessary equipment is being finalized. This major development will induce annual costs estimated at 50 million euros for the French egg industry.
The State, through France Relance, has supported hatcheries to the tune of 10.5 million to set up new ovosexing techniques to determine the sex of embryos in eggs.
Significant work has also been carried out by the egg industry inter-branch in collaboration with the Ministry to develop a particularly innovative mechanism to finance this transition.
The interprofessional agreement will thus make it possible to pool the costs induced by these new technologies between hatcheries and distribution and without imposing the cost of the transition on breeders.
The Ministry will be engaged through FranceAgriMer to monitor and objectify the costs and to adapt, if necessary, the terms of its support in connection with the sector.
This French initiative is also carried out at the European level to obtain harmonization in all the Member States entering into a similar approach, in particular within the framework of the European regulations on animal welfare announced by the European Commission for 2023.
Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, declared: “The end of the elimination by crushing of male chicks in the egg sector constitutes a major advance in terms of animal welfare. Long-awaited, it responds to strong expectations on the part of citizens, consumers and animal protection associations. The commitments made have been kept and I salute the work carried out by the interprofession and its members to guarantee this collective success.» ■