Ban of chick killing
Since 1 January 2022, the culling of day-old male chicks has been prohibited by law in Germany.
KAT has incorporated these requirements into its standards and applies them not only in Germany but also to farms outside Germany that produce under the KAT system.
Eggs bearing the KAT logo originate exclusively from laying hens:
- whose male chicks have been reared, or
- whose sex was determined before hatching (in-ovo sex determination).
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In-ovo sex determination methods
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ELLA (In Ovo)
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RESPEGGT
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PLANTEGG
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CHEGGY ZOOM
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GENUS FOCUS (Orbem)
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Omegga Essential
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Omegga Plus
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Uniform Requirements Across National Borders
The statutory ban on chick culling applies to hatcheries in Germany. However, laying hens may also originate from other European countries where chick culling is still permitted.
The KAT system therefore applies uniform requirements, regardless of the country in which the hatchery or laying farm is located.
In this way, the KAT system helps ensure that all participating establishments comply with the strict German requirements, thereby supporting the objectives of Germany's ban on chick culling throughout the EU. The KAT guides expressly extend the relevant requirements to hatcheries outside Germany that supply female chicks to the KAT system.
Traceability from the Hatchery Onwards
Every batch intended for the KAT system is documented in the central KAT database from the hatchery stage onwards.
Where in-ovo sexing is used, the method applied is also recorded.
After hatching, the birds' subsequent journey is documented in the KAT system—from the hatchery to the rearing farm and then to the laying farm. For male birds, documentation continues throughout rearing until destocking.
Uniform KAT requirements for housing conditions apply to rearing farms as well as laying farms. The KAT Guide for Rearing Farms uses the terms pullets and brother roosters and sets out specific requirements for their rearing and housing conditions.
Compliance with these requirements and the completeness of the records in the KAT database are regularly verified by independent, accredited certification bodies.
In this way, the KAT system supports controlled, transparent and cross-stage traceability throughout the entire hatching and rearing process, thereby helping to ensure compliance with the ban on chick culling. The KAT documentation system records establishment, henhouse, stocking and destocking data across all process stages.