Govt to import eggs to meet domestic need

The government has agreed to import chicken eggs from several foreign sources as a short-term solution to meet domestic demand.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said in a statement today that the ministry had identified a number of sources to ensure the supply of chicken eggs in the market.

"The ministry will also ensure that chicken eggs are safe to consume and meet the set standards. All protocols and procedures set by the government must be followed without compromise.

"Eggs are a protein-rich daily food which is popular among Malaysians, with an average consumption rate of 968 million eggs per month," he said.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said several measures would be implemented to reduce the cost of living including reducing the price of chicken eggs.
 
Mohamad said the initiative to bring in chicken eggs from outside sources was not to add pressure on local chicken egg industry operators but rather to ensure that the supply in the country was not interrupted as well as to look after the welfare of the people.

He said the need to bring in chicken eggs from outside sources will be reviewed once the supply of chicken eggs has stabilised, adding that he has asked agriculture and food security secretary-general Haslina Abdul Hamid to look at the impact of importing chicken eggs from outside sources on the local industry.

Mohamad said Agrobank has also been asked to submit proposals to help suppliers and small entrepreneurs remain competitive in the industry.

"The ministry is always working with various approaches to ensure that the country's chicken egg supply will be stable again at competitive prices. The ministry is confident that the issue of lack of chicken egg supply can be resolved in the near future with the cooperation of all parties," he said.