In order to meet the domestic demand for eggs, Chen Jizhong, chairman of the Council of Agriculture, said that the inter-ministerial committee of the Political Yuan will coordinate to expand the project to import eggs, and import 1 million to 2 million eggs per week.

(Photo by reporter Yang Yuanting)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Taipei Report] According to the latest statistics from the Council of Agriculture, the daily output of eggs has reached 111,000 boxes (200 eggs per box). Because the domestic demand for eggs is between 118,000 boxes and 120,000 boxes per day, the Council of Agriculture Chairman Chen Jizhong said today (10th) that the inter-department of the Political Yuan will assist the project to import eggs, and will import 1 million to 2 million eggs per week from next week. The Animal Husbandry Department added that the imported eggs include shell eggs and liquid Eggs will be supplied to food processing-related businesses in the form of "exchanging imported eggs for domestic eggs".

Chen Jizhong went to the Legislative Yuan to accept questions. Before the meeting, when asked by the media about the current shortage of eggs in China, he said that according to information from the chicken associations and production areas, the domestic bird flu epidemic has been brought under control, and chicken farms and egg farmers have also They are all increasing production and hatching, and domestic egg production will begin to pick up. However, there is a certain gap between domestic egg production and demand, and domestic eggs will have to wait until May or June to meet the gap. Zhou will import 1 million to 2 million eggs, and the Council of Agriculture will fully dispatch the eggs to meet the needs of catering, processing and consumers.

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The Animal Husbandry Department of the Council of Agriculture added that the import of 1-2 million eggs per week will include shell eggs and liquid eggs, and will be used to exchange imported eggs for domestic eggs to supply processors. A large number of eggs will be shipped next week. The egg supply gap has been extended from the original March to May and June, because in addition to the previous bird flu epidemic, it was also affected by the weather. The recovery rate of laying hens this year is indeed not as fast as in previous years, and it is now the time for migratory birds to return north. , and the characteristics of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, coupled with the continuous evolution of the virus, there is still a certain risk.

Regarding the increase in the price of duck eggs from 45 yuan to 48 yuan per catty, Chen Jizhong said that the increase in the price of duck eggs due to the increase in feed costs is a normal market reaction, because many duck eggs will be used for processing, and the relevant industry will also Prepare before the Dragon Boat Festival.

Lin Tianlai, chairman of the Taipei Egg Merchants Association, supports the Council of Agriculture's strategy of expanding the import of eggs. He said that because imported eggs are mainly supplied to processors to replace domestic eggs, it will not affect egg prices and can also make eggs available in the market The gap has narrowed. He pointed out that because Taipei City is a consumption area and accounts for 60% of the consumption of domestically produced eggs, the supply of eggs in Taipei City is currently relatively tight. He will not overbuy eggs due to anticipation. He also pointed out that because the price of domestic eggs is cheaper than imported eggs, the current government will import eggs because there is a gap in the country. Domestic eggs.