The Council of Agriculture invites representatives from the Egg Farmers and Egg Merchants Association to discuss egg production and marketing. From left, Huang Qinghe, vice chairman of the Chicken Raising Association of the Republic of China; Lin Tianlai, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

(Photo by reporter Yang Yuanting)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Report from Taipei] The Council of Agriculture invited representatives of egg farmers and egg merchants associations this afternoon (7th) to discuss the production, marketing and supply of eggs. Zhang Jingwei, director of the Animal Husbandry Department, said that the price of eggs is determined by the "Republic of China Chicken Raising Association Taiwan Layer Hen Lin Tianlai, chairman of the Beishi Egg Merchants Association, and Wu Tianfu, director of the Republic of China Egg Marketing Cooperative, said that the Council of Agriculture fully respects the market mechanism and is also a member of the appraisal committee. , An egg price evaluation committee will be held within a week, and the egg price will be announced to the public at that time.

The price of domestic eggs is 40.5 yuan per catty, and the daily supply is 116,000 boxes (200 eggs per box). A few days ago, some media published an oolong report that the price of eggs would rise by 3 yuan and then canceled it, causing social concern about eggs. For issues such as price and supply, the domestic egg price is determined by the Egg Price Evaluation Committee. More than 20 members include representatives from the Central Animal Production Association, egg farmers’ groups, egg merchants’ association, and scholars. Zhang Jingwei said that the Agricultural Committee has not sent They also said that egg prices are determined by the Egg Price Review Committee, and that the Council of Agriculture will only balance production, marketing and supply.

Please read on...

The Council of Agriculture invited representatives of the egg farmers’ group and the Egg Merchant Association to a meeting this afternoon. During the meeting, the relevant representatives accepted media interviews. Some media said that the price of eggs was originally going to increase by 3 yuan, but it was temporarily canceled because the Council of Agriculture was behind the scenes. Lin Tianlai said that the price of eggs in Taiwan is mainly dominated by the Taipei City Egg Merchants Association. To adjust the price of eggs, but because there are many factors that have not yet been determined, he personally decided to freeze the price of eggs and rise first. "This is my personal director's action, and it has nothing to do with the Council of Agriculture."

Wu Tianfu, chairman of the Egg Marketing Cooperation Council of the Republic of China, said that egg prices have long been determined by the Egg Price Review Committee, but this year due to factors such as large climate temperature differences and increased costs, there is a lack of eggs in scheduling, especially now that the environment is affected As a result, the egg production rate is lower than the previous 70-80%, which is why the Egg Merchants Association is asked whether the price can be raised.

Zhang Jingwei said that the conclusion reached at the current meeting is that the production, marketing, supply and demand of eggs must return to market conditions, that is, egg farmers, egg merchants, and distributors will assist in supplying and stabilizing the market, and the Council of Agriculture will fully respect the market mechanism. The price will also be announced after discussion by the Egg Price Evaluation Committee, and the Council of Agriculture will not make any intervention.

As for when will the egg price evaluation committee, which is usually held once a month, be held?

Zhang Jingwei said that the meeting will be held as an ad hoc meeting depending on the situation, Wu Tianfu said that it will be held within a week, Lin Tianlai said that the results of the meeting will be announced to the public.

As for the egg production price of 40.5 yuan per catty, will it be the floor of the future egg price?

Zhang Jingwei said that the price of livestock products must respect supply and demand and production capacity supply, and it will also be affected by factors such as weather and epidemics. However, if the environmental control of chicken houses in Taiwan can be more resistant to adversity, the egg price will be appropriate as the egg production rate increases. As for the price of feed, he said that due to the impact of the exchange rate, he believed that there would be no room for the price of feed to rise.

As for the Chicken Raising Association’s claim that eggs must rise by 3 yuan, Zhang Jingwei said that egg prices still have to return to the evaluation committee to decide, and also called for price fluctuations to be returned to market regulation and supply and demand, whether there is really a shortage of eggs, etc. It still needs to be evaluated by the evaluation committee. He also said that if the price of eggs rises too high, it will affect the buying momentum at the end, and it will also affect the egg merchants.