Since December 1st, the cost of egg sexing, which helps avoid the elimination of male chicks, is directly integrated into the production costs of chicks delivered to breeders. A decision of the CNPO, the French egg inter-professional association.
Ovosexing represents an additional cost of 40 million euros for the sector.
To no longer eliminate male chicks at birth, Since the end of 2022, the French egg inter-professional association has been financially supporting the implementation of egg sexing in laying hen hatcheries.. The financing of this system, which represents nearly 40 million euros per year in additional costs for the sector, was until now based on a contribution collected on sales of shell eggs, carried out in all distribution circuits. Last October 3, the board of directors of the CNPO unanimously decided to anticipate the end of this interprofessional agreement which was to run until September 2026 in order to simplify the financing system, sustain the approach and secure the balance of the interprofessional fund. The cost of egg sexing is therefore now integrated into the production costs of chicks delivered to breeders., then passed on to each link in the chain up to the end user, whether for shell eggs or egg products. This cost pass-on will concern the three main markets in the sector., la distribution, out-of-home catering and agri-food businesses. This new method of financing will be monitored via a new Egalim reference indicator of the cost of production of chicks set up by the independent organization ITAVI and making it possible to objectify this additional cost for the sector..
An approach in favor of animal welfare
For Yves-Marie Beaudet, president of the CNPO, “this is a responsible and courageous decision by all members of the sector, which I welcome and which will make it possible to simplify the system while ensuring the sustainability of an approach in favor of animal welfare, in line with our consumers’ expectations. This new financing system replaces a complex system whose financial balance was not assured and risked jeopardizing the sector and its commitment.. I remind you that to date France is one of the only countries in Europe to have legislated to put an end to the elimination of male chicks.. Our sector is exemplary in terms of animal welfare. Pioneer in the implementation of egg sexing, she continues her voluntary transition towards alternative breeding to cages. In its 2030 plan, the sector thus targets 90% of hens in alternative farms : sol, plein air, red and organic label. Already nearly 75% of chickens in France live outside cages., well above the 39% European average. »
