The issue of the systematic killing of male chicks reaches EU level

In the EU, around 330 million day-old male chicks are killed in the egg industry every year. In Sweden, the figure is around six million male chicks. This is a serious ethical problem – but commercially viable solutions are within reach. One such solution is in-ovo sexing, a technology that can determine the sex of a chick before hatching. Eggs containing male chicks can therefore be sorted out and used for other purposes.

Meeting in Brussels

Yesterday, 13 October, Project 1882, the European umbrella organisation Eurogroup for Animals, a technology company and the Swedish MEPs Jonas Sjöstedt and Pär Holmgren gathered in Brussels to discuss the technology that could help put an end to the systematic killing of male chicks.

Among other things, the meeting discussed the EU’s new Livestock Strategy, in which the European Commission has identified the systematic killing of male chicks as an animal welfare issue that must be addressed. The strategy was published in the summer of 2026, and an announcement regarding measures to tackle the problem is expected by the end of 2026.

We can see that Sweden is lagging behind when it comes to putting a stop to the mass killing of male chicks. Other countries have already made progress through legislation or by implementing technology capable of in-ovo sexing, and the European Commission has now also begun to look into the issue. What is needed now is for the industry and politicians to join forces to introduce this new technology.

- Sebastian Wiklund, Director of Public Affairs at Project 1882.

This is what Project 1882 wants

• Ban the killing of male chicks in favor of early egg sexing methods
• Support the implementation of early egg sexing technology in Sweden
• Push for comprehensive legislation at the EU level
• Ban production-oriented breeding that causes animal suffering
• Promote plant-based production and consumption as sustainable alternatives to replace eggs