General Assembly

The World Assembly,

Noting that some member states in the multiverse engage in industrial farming of chicks, ducklings, goslings and other species for consumption of their eggs and/or meat (hereafter, collectively for convenience, "chicks" for all newborn and younger members of such species);

Concerned that in industrial farming, chicks of a particular sex are frequently culled after birth for economic reasons through techniques that may be considered inhumane, such as maceration, cervical dislocation and asphyxiation, and that alternatives such as raising male chicks for egg-laying breeds to full grown size may not be economical against breeds of bigger cocks specifically grown for meat;

Noting that recent advances in technologies regarding low-cost in-ovo sexing (the determination of the sex of chicks inside the egg prior to hatching) in some member states allow eggs that are not viable commercially to be destroyed before hatching, thus substantially reducing concerns over the welfare of chicks;

1. Hereby requires any member state that engages in industrial farming of chicks that has gained access to in-ovo sexing technologies, or other more advanced technologies that reduce animal suffering, to:

   1. start adopting such technologies as soon as reasonably practicable after it gains access; and

   2. to phase out the use of post-hatching chick culling techniques (including, but not limited to, maceration, cervical dislocation, asphyxiation and other less humane culling techniques), in favour of in-ovo sexing technologies, or other more advanced technologies, as soon as reasonably practicable;

2. Further, hereby encourages:

   1. Any member state that has in-ovo sexing technologies or other more advanced technologies to license or transfer such technologies to other member states lacking such technologies on reasonable commercial terms;

   2. Any member state that has not yet gained access to such technologies to acquire or license such technologies, as soon as reasonably practicable;

   3. Further research by member states into new technologies that improve animal welfare in industrial farming;

3. Hereby clarifies that this resolution does not affect any culling of chicks on the grounds of affecting public health and hygiene.